Leprechauns and Assessments
As Saint Patrick’s Day approaches, I thought discussing the fairy tale of leprechauns and the value of real-life authentic assessments would be fun. Let’s start with leprechauns. Did you know these magical little people "existed" before St. Patrick's Day even came to be? Leprechauns were initially written about in 19th-century Irish fables where they are described as short men who just happened to be exceptional shoemakers. After making money, they were said to hide their coins in pots of gold at the end of rainbows. I can’t help but smile. Just an aside, although leprechauns have been spoken of in literature since the 1800s, they’ve only been associated with St. Patrick's Day since 1959, when Disney released a film called Darby O'Gill and the Little People . While leprechauns dwell in the fairy world, authentic assessments keep our students grounded in reality. These assessments involve applying knowledge and skills in real-world situations, scenarios, or problem