Tuesday Teaching Point January 21

Tuesday Teaching Point

January 21, 2014

·       Equitable Access to Rigorous, Standards-based Instruction

·       Results-focused Professional Learning and Collaboration

·       Strong Partnerships with Families and Community

·       A Culturally-Responsive Organization

Teaching Point:

As you know assessment takes many forms from a final summative demonstration at the end of a term, or merely asking students a question as they enter the classroom. What’s the appropriate assessment at any given time? I do not know that I can tell you how to gauge that.

Certainly academia has identified two categories of assessment (Which you very well know); Formative and Summative. But within these domains it is truly your pedagogy that helps you determine the nature of a “check along the way” or a final examination of what was learned at the end of a unit.

In Danielson 1F, Designing Student Assessments, the Proficient teacher’s plan for student assessment is aligned with the instructional outcomes; criteria and standards are clear. The teacher also has a well-developed strategy for using formative assessment and has designed particular approaches to be used.

Furthermore, the Distinguished teacher will show evidence that there was student participation and contribution toward the development of the assessment.

Teaching Standard:

Danielson Framework for Teaching by the Washington State Criteria. SC 6: Using multiple student data elements to modify instruction and improve student learning, CDIF 1F

Teaching Assessment:

I have seen the distinguished approach in classrooms. I have observed a teacher using the final unit review with students to design and literally write out the final exam. Can the teacher incorporate distinguished elements into the more formative brand of real-time classroom assessment? Please let me know what you think by email or in personal response.

Professional Collaboration and Learning:

Alt Ed Leadership has scheduled this Friday’s collaborative time to be independently directed. New Start Leadership Team will be meeting at 1:00. Please let me know how you will be collaborating with colleagues this Friday, January 24.

A Quote for the Monday Holiday in Honor of MLK Jr:

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education."  Martin Luther King, Jr.

Have a wonderful week,

Your Instructional Leader,

Mike