We will try to post new teacher questions, possible answers and strategies each month, as well as an article to read and a new website to visit. Come back often to see what's new. Our responses will be framed in the following Fundamental Assessment Beliefs, seven principles co-constructed by SD#68 teachers working and thinking together.
See NPBS website for outstanding information about assessment and information about the network. Also check out our new Mid-Island Region NPBS wiki to see what's happening in your neighbourhood: http://midisland.pbworks.com.
Music and Life - Alan Watts
Watch this 2 minute video and think about how we can think about how we can move assessment away from carrots and sticks and toward something more musical.
Fundamental Assessment Beliefs
We believe our assessment must
Involve children in process – voice and choice -- with criteria they develop, understand and use.
Drive instruction: used to improve instruction and FOR student learning
Empower students: “Glance at the weaknesses and stare at the strengths.” (See Mel Levine's article and this video by Marcus Buckingham on focusing on strengths – thanks Kerry!)
Be authentic: Engaging and worthy high-level, open-ended, performance-based tasks that allow students to apply what they have learned.
Beongoing and varied.
Be purposeful (must match learning goals).
Be meaningful to students (descriptive feedback, clear criteria, build out of the work they are doing daily)
District Resources
We have some wonderful resources available in our district. Email sbeleznay@sd68.bc.ca for information on the following:
Dylan Wiliam Video (four 45 minute lectures)
Webcast Archives: Our district can access the wonderful webcasts on assessment developed with BCELC and the Ministry of Education.
Assessment Mini-Series: We have begun to create "mini-webcasts" from the archives. There are THREE available and include a materials and/or a short powerpoint to set the context. The mini-webcast is designed to be completed in 20 minutes.
Six Strategies of Assessment for Learning
Poetry Circles: using assessment to enhance discussion
Learning Intentions
DRC Resources: We have a number of books available on assessment. Go to http://media.sd68.bc.ca to order. Below is a new resource that late intermediate and secondary teachers will find useful.
"Minute by Minute, Day by Day" Assessment Strategies
Reflection strategies allow students to check in about what they know, don’t know and need to learn on an ongoing basis and allows teachers to quickly learn what they need to teach or reteach in a mini-lesson to the whole group, in a small group, or to an individual.
Reeves asks, "What would preventing 1,000 school failures mean to your school system?" The world, we say. But what are we doing? Reeves suggests seven strategies. What do you think? Post your comments below.
The carrot, of carrot-and-stick fame, is not as effective as we've been led to believe. Rewards work under some circumstances but sometimes they backfire. Spectacularly. Read the research on preschoolers.
Comments (1)
kerry Armstrong said
at 1:10 pm on Feb 21, 2010
Achievement indicators in the IRP's help me to create the all important "I can..." statements for the stoplight/greenlight learning outcome document.
Bev Ferner suggested that trick! It saves so much time! Thanks Bev!
karmstrong@sd68.bc.ca
if you would like for me to explain further...
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