Performance Assessments in the Classroom

Last Wednesday during practicum, I saw the 5th grade students take a math test which was to establish the Tier that they should go into. This test had students use diagrams to show fractions and to solve fractions with multiplication and using the vocab "of" for word problems.  My practicum teacher tried to show me how to grade the tests but was too complicated because some students were given partial credit for getting the correct answer but not showing their work and how they found the answer. It was interesting seeing the students take the test because a lot of the students could not answer most of the tests and left it blank. The hardest part of watching the students take this assessment was not being able to help them find the answer but only being able to read them the answer or clarify the instructions. Many of the students needed extra help but were not given it in the classroom and were not pulled out for extra time. Also, when I observed the Tier that scored 100 percent and higher on their math tests take this test , I noticed that one of the students struggled the most with this exam and had a lot of pressure on him to do well from his parents and just by being in this specific class group. It was hard to see some students want to give up and not try their best on this test because they didn't think it was worth it to try on the test even when they knew they were going to fail and didn't get most of the material. I have always struggled with testing and thought that my test scores defined who I was but they are still just a number and even if you don't do well on one test does not mean you are a failure and a lot of the students I worked with thought that and was heartbreaking to hear and see.