AmazingGrace220How to test students can be a tricky matter. Since students learn in different ways, they must be tested in different ways to find out if they have learned the information taught in class. Assessment must include a variety of methods that will enable the catechist to determine how successfully your students are learning to live out their faith in their daily lives and in communion with the Church.

Formal Testing

1. First determine what will be on the test. Make sure that items in your test have been covered in class and all the students understand the material.

2. Test on the objectives that you had for the lesson.

3. Identify the learning style of your students to determine how to assess your student’s progress. Do your students do better auditorily, visually, doing things orally, etc.

4. Determine what kind of test you will have. The test format could be multiple choice, fill in the blank, short answer, oral, True/False, word bank, essay, matching, etc. Be sure that the test format can be done by each student in your class. Tell the students what kind of test they will have to help them study for the test so they will be prepared for how they will be tested.

5. Review all the material prior to testing.

Informal Testing

Informal testing is a way of testing what the student can do with what they know and how they use it.

1. You can observe the student’s participation in class, specific activities, what they do in groups, and also service to others.

2. Students can be assessed by activities that have them participate in projects, skits, plays, posters, teaching a lesson, reports, making up worksheets and puzzles, etc. to demonstrate their understanding of what you are teaching.


Copyright 2009 Laura Grace