Authentic Assessment for English Language Learners

Lucid, practical, and theoretically sophisticatedstrategies for implementing authentic assessment in the classroom and the school as a whole Jim Cummins Professor, Curriculum Department Ontario Institute for Studies in Education This practical resource book will familiarize teachers, staff developers, and administrators with the latest thinking on alternatives to traditional assessment. It will prepare them to implement authentic assessment in the ESL/bilingual classroom and to incorporate it into instructional planning. Overview and rationale for authentic assessment. A solid, research-based framework linking assessment to instruction. Specific issues in the assessment of English language learners. Practical approaches for using portfolios, self-assessment, and peer assessment, accompanied by guidelines for grading practices. Practical, effective strategies for assessing oral language proficiency, reading, writing, and the content areas. Reproducible scoring rubrics, checklists, and anecdotal record forms that can be adapted for local assessment needs.