Assess, Analyze, Instruct

When you think of the word assessment, does it have a positive or negative vibe to it?
Do you think of assessment as a necessary evil or do you consider it a vital component of instruction? With the advent of No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, and Common Core State Standards, more often than not, assessment carries a negative connotation. Parents and teachers alike worry that more time is spent on testing rather than teaching.

As educators, we also worry about over-testing.  However, we believe in the power of appropriate  evaluations as opposed to lengthy, needless, or redundant assessments. When employed judiciously, assessment can and should guide instruction in order to yield maximum learning results.

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