Authentic Assessment In Action: The Challenges, Success, And Discoveries Made In A 5Th Grade Classroom

Kristen I. Hendrickson
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:57:28 PDT

This research study focuses on the success, challenges, and the discoveries I made implementing authentic assessment in my 5th grade classroom of Alaska Native, English Language Learners (ELLS). The primary goals of this study are to provide students, parents, and education professionals with a more accurate picture of students' academic and language knowledge and skills; and to share my own experience implementing authentic assessments into my classroom. Standardized assessment scores, authentic assessment results, interviews, observations, and my research journal provided the bulk of the data that was analyzed. Two learner profiles were constructed for each participant. The first profile was constructed based on the student's standardized test scores. The second learner profile was constructed from the information obtained about the learner through authentic assessments. This study concludes with my reflections and recommendations regarding the feasibility of implementing authentic assessments in a classroom.