Assessment

One of the most difficult parts of being a pre-k teacher is assessment. How do you assess the knowledge a three-year-old has gained throughout the year? You can't give them quizzes, tests or essays, and being in a Montessori classroom we use very little paper sheets. So how do you "grade" hands-on, concrete work? Well, the job of a Montessori teacher is not only to teach but to observe. Every classroom uses different techniques but we all have the same end goal, daily observations for each individual student. I use a daily observation grid with each child's name on it and my co-teacher and myself right down each work we observe the child doing. It is a great resource having a co-teacher because it is impossible for one teacher to observe all 20 students at one time. At the end of each week, we share our grids with each other and compare our notes. The reason for these observations is not only to note what the child is working on but to see if they mastered that particular material. We have a key to know when this happens.

/-introduced the material

 X-practiced by themselves

 Ⓧ-mastered the material

Throughout the year we fill out each students' 3-year record keeping form. The form consists of material/work in the Practical life area, Sensorial area, Math area, Language area, cultural area (science and social studies) to name a few. The goal is for the child to work on or master all of these materials.

We also use this form to help write our two progress reports the focus on the child's social/emotional growth, Fine and gross motor, practical life, sensorial area, math, and language.

It is always important to remember it is not about the product it is about the process.