Assessment Philosophy

Both my mother and I are currently earning online degrees. I am earning a Master’s degree and my mother a doctorate. Thus far our classes have been exciting, frustrating and mostly time consuming. We both knew what we signed up for and I think my father explains it best, “You two are crazy!” Both my mother and I have personalities and our opinions on education are closely tied. Due to our demanding classes, my mom and I don’t get to talk as often as we would are used to. However this weekend we were able to share some schoolwork with each other.

I showcased a paper in which I used Howard Gardner’s seven levers (2005) to change a person’s mind to believe in evolution. (If you are interested in reading the paper just email me or leave a post.) My mom however had to create a philosophy of assessment. My mom claims she is not creative though I disagree. I think her philosophy is optimistic and I found it uplifting!

Assessment Philosophy:
Teacher and Kite Maker

Created by Kari Krueger (personal communication, April 25, 2009)

A teacher and a kite maker,
similarities I do see.
We start with raw materials,
constructionists are we.

We start with raw materials,
bright colors with big dreams.
Bending, shaping, building…
individuals, groups, and teams.

Bending, shaping, building…
our dreams are all to fly.
The lessons are for taking,
we learn to live and die.

The lessons are for taking,
how will we know ‘they know’?
We test and test and test and test,
or learn to let that go.

We test and test and test and test,
or maybe choose to not.
But look at other methods,
create learning on the spot.

But look at other methods,
that teaches them to soar.
The job is the big picture,
let’s help them out the door.

The job is the big picture,
don’t hold the string too long.
For kids and kites are meant to fly,
we must not do them wrong.

Kids and kites are meant to fly,
we send them with our heart.
To fly and soar around the world,
their new life now to start.


Gardner, H. (2005, May). Multiple lenses on the mind. Paper presented at the ExpoGestion Conference, Bogota, Columbia.