Say you observe some learning. Say you grab your phone and take a picture of it. Say you make a few notes - what’s being said, who’s doing what, the dispositions you recognise, etc.
This is you engaging in assessment.
But only if you don’t stop there.
Now you’ve given yourself things to think with. So put your thinking to work. Use it in the service of the kid.
What do these things help you see the kid needs? — time? — a resource? — your help? — a connection? — an experience?
You’ll see more if you play with this process, have fun with it, dance with the ideas a bit.
The information assessment carries is a stick. We usually use it to whack kids, especially as they get older. But we can use it differently — we can hold it out to them, help them grab it and move gracefully with it, with us.
Something to try that might make a difference
This post is really about reflection, and responding to what we see through that process, so ...
Partner with the kid as you think and reflect.
Ask them to sit with you and talk about the photo. Listen to what they say, and think about the detail they’re adding to what you observed.
+ What ideas and insights do you have now?
+ Where do they think this moment could go?