This is a good idea, but it can also lead to burnout. Our kids take a lot of assessments (too many, IMHO), and they start to get cynical really fast. Our school does a comprehensive assessment at the beginning and end of the year to track overall progress (in addition to smaller-scale techniques like the ones you mentioned), which would be fine except that there are so many government-mandated tests* that also have to be given that students start to burn out.
Most professional educators have a pretty good grasp on the pedagogical practices that stress small, repetitive checks for understanding, which-- you're right-- works far better than massive, mind-numbing tests that demand significant student effort.
*Of course, we get the results from these so late that it doesn't give us the ability to make on-the-fly judgements.
I definitely agree there. Just the other day, one of my mother's kindergarten students was drawing pictures of her and her teaching assistant and decided to caption the assistant's with "she helps us with our work" and my mother's with "she tests us."
"Of course, we get the results from these so late that it doesn't give us the ability to make on-the-fly judgements."
And isn't that a bit bizarre? At least the multiple choice portion could be in your email in three days, if these were seriously intended to be used for any sort of guidance.
Most professional educators have a pretty good grasp on the pedagogical practices that stress small, repetitive checks for understanding, which-- you're right-- works far better than massive, mind-numbing tests that demand significant student effort.
*Of course, we get the results from these so late that it doesn't give us the ability to make on-the-fly judgements.