November 16th, 20091-Thoughts on BA
Chapter 1:
Please reflect on the following excerpt on page 21 in the CASL book:
A learning team is not a book group…the discussion that occurs during team meetings is a means to the end, and not the end itself. If we don’t commit to trying things out between team meetings, nothing different will be happening in our classrooms…
- As a grade level team, what are some balanced assessment strategies you have been using this year?
- How are these strategies impacting student learning and achievement?
November 17th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Team discussed that teachers have implemented learning targets and “I can” statements. Teachers have had kids track their individual progress (i.e. graphing fluency progress). Descriptive feedback has been most useful in math and writing, although analyzing 9 weeks benchmark tests with the class was also a useful teaching tool. Rubrics can be successful, however translating them directly into percentages can be tricky.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
This year, we have been using rubrics, student self assessment, “I Can” statements, Extended Bloom’s Taxonomy (for critical thinking), and including objective numbers in our gradebooks. These strategies are increasing student awareness and understanding of objectives, and students are taking ownership of their learning.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
What we have done:
-pre-assessments in math, science, social studies, and P.E.
-grouping based on pre-assessment level/data
-rubrics for writing
-i can target statements
-sight word graphing
-feedback on assessments based on learning targets/strands
-P.E. portfolios/journals
Impact:
-excitement for learning and measuring progress
-students are starting see to why they are learning certain things and what they need to do to improve
-students are being more successful
November 17th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
We discussed that when grading items such as projects that we could possibly grade each other’s students for more of a well rounded grade.
When attending a team meeting, each team member prepares ideas to share when planning for the following week. All members preplan and discuss the best ways to teach and assess our students.
Stacy also brings us cupcakes sometimes. The sugar helps.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
We feel that as a kindergarten team, we are already using balanced assessment in our everyday teaching. It’s difficult to articulate the strategies we’ve been using because they’re already in place due to the nature of the age group. Some examples include manipulatives, observational and verbal assessments, and small group instruction. For example, when teaching and assessing the pumpkin life cycle, we used sequencing, modeling, retelling and drawing the various stages.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Different ideas for balanced assessment:
- Weather Instruments Matching: cut & paste
- Manipulative: asking students to come up and point to places on maps, or make observations about a thermometer
- Learning Vests: students review 9wks material by designing and decorating tribal wear with everything they remember from all content areas
- VA General Assembly acting: create in your classroom (Governor, Governor’s council, and representatives) and allow them to vote, talk to the people, and make decisions in class
- Jamestown learning: ask students to create a play using information they’ve learned about Jamestown to teach other classes about Jamestown
- Language Groups Patty Cake: teach students the information about groups using song and patty cake (physical)
- Geometry with food: using pretzels and marshmallows create the different geometric lines and angles
- Life Cycle of Butterfly: creating the life cycle with pasta and making milkweed leaves to label and demonstrate
- Food Chain: create a food chain by making a paper link chain that has the different parts linked
- Place Value: students hold up cards to demonstrate knowledge of place
My team says that’s enough:)