A Teacher as an Assessor

How often have we started a lesson plan with the organization of activities as opposed to the assessment tool that will be used to measure student learning? Educators will need a paradigm shift to begin the planning process as an assessor, in stead of an activity planner. We all have those creative lessons we hold dear in our hearts; however, it is time to let them go and begin to design lessons that truly measure the expected outcomes. Developing assessments around the essential questions that link learning to the standards can be a shift in mindset for many teachers. Let's not forget to mention that in earning that teaching degree, courses were not structured towards creating assessors. It will take patience, courage, support and time to develop educational assessors in our schools. Today's true educational leaders will grasp the concept of being an assessor, not an activity planner.