Artifact 4.A. “Issues of Assessment for ELLs,” is from my ESC 761 class that I took at Lehman College. This particular assignment asked that students write an analysis about the NYSESLAT exam. The aim of this assignment was for us to analyze if this particular assessment was an accurate assessment of the necessary skills for academic success, of ELLs.” Additionally, based off of our responses, we had to write if the NYSESLAT exam is an adequate assessment of ELL’s ability to do well in mainstream content classes at the secondary level.
This artifact is pertinent to the required Standard, 4.A., where candidates had to demonstrate understanding of assessment issues as they affect ELLs. In this case, I got a chance to analyze the biases, testing, language proficiency, and accommodations in formal testing situations for ELLs. This chosen artifact demonstrates that I have met the required standard because it demonstrate my understanding of assessment issues as they affect ELLs.
The artifact contributed to my professional understanding by giving me a first-hand look at the issues, accountability, accommodation, and biases of assessments for ELLs. For example, all ENL students are required to take the NYSESLAT where they are tested on the four modalities of language (reading, listening, speaking, and writing). While this is pertinent to language acquisition, in terms of expressing one’s thoughts, making coherent sentences, and being able to use facts and ideas to express one’s self, and explain what they have learned, however, I do not believe that it thoroughly assess the students command of English, such as English rules, and grammar, which are important components of English. This impacted my own thinking and understanding that not only should I teach so that the students can acquire the language, but to teach so that the students can do well on these exams. For example, the NYSESLAT grades students on how well they can put what they have learned in their own words, by using simple and complex sentences. In that, I will need to teach students how to write summaries, and use a variety of manipulators that will enable them with analyzing and summarizing.
Yes, completing this artifact impacted students and students learning because after completing an analysis of the NYSESLAT artifact I was able to adjust my teaching, and teach according to the test. This new knowledge will allow the students to do better on future NYSESLAT exams. Seeing that I teach ELA and ENL, this artifact is a good segue way into helping me to differentiate between how I teach ELA content and language to the students, and what skills they need in order to be successful on both the NYSESLAT and ELA exams.
