I am More than just a SCORE: Assessing the Child as a WHOLE

Test! Test! Test! Everything seems to be about test for children these days. Standard test that puts them in a percentile that some parents do not understand. Lessons that are geared toward making sure that class does the best so they can have a pizza party at the end of the year. It has all become a bit overrated for my own liking. What happened to seeing the child for the whole person that they are?
Children should be assessed in creative ways not a "one size fits all". Standard test are all written the same way from child to child. However, some children learn and understand differently.
A primary example is my older son. He is 7 going on 8. I help him with his homework and watch as he scratches his head and smoke slowly begins to come out his ears. He may become frustrated or feel like he can not do it. However, the next day he can come home with a "blue print" of his newest invention and sit down and tell my husband and I how it would work and what he would need and the purpose and benefits of such an invention. It amazes us each time how his mind works. This is something that as we assess children we need to take into account. We need to look at each child as a whole and what their strengths and abilities are. Children should be assessed verbally, physically, and written. Children are more that a multiple choice bubble test. However, we are not the only ones who have "state test".

Russia also has a committee if you will that meets to make sure standards in education are being up held and to make sure their state test meets their educational standards that in which they had set forth. In Russia with their state test that is similar to what we would consider our state test. It is the same test across the board and given at the same time at 9th grade. These test, a bit different from our own wonderful standard test, measure the children on multiple levels. The outcomes of these test is similar to a little path that the child may take in helping them to decide what their focus for secondary school will be.

I find having assessments that help the child to better their skills and desires is much more important then trying to fit multiple colored gum balls in one gum ball machine. Sure, it all looks fun, festive, and colorful, but ultimately not all the gum balls taste alike. Appreciating each "gum ball" which in this case is the child for their own unique abilities will be a better factor in helping a child to reach their full potential. We must allow the whole child to shine!