Growing in Formative Assessment
Issue 30: Jan./Feb. 2016
What Teachers Really Need to Know About Formative Assessment by Laura Greenstein
In her book, What Teachers Really Need to Know About Formative Assessment, Laura Greenstein shares the fundamentals of formative assessment. It is a great read for administrators, but for your teachers as well.
Find out more using the following link.
Formative Assessment is...
Formative Assessment is...
Formative Assessment is...
instructional Coaches
8:30-3:30 at various locations (be sure to check Eduphoria)
- *February 9 - virtual
- March 3
- May 17
SPRING Point People
Spring Meeting Formats for All!
March Learning Walks for Elementary
Elementary Learning Walks: March 14-18
The google sign up link below, provided by Amber Jones, will contain all the needed information to sign up for learning walks.
MATH - KERISE RIDINGER @KERISE_RIDINGER
Growth Mindset - Resources - Teaching Strategies - MAP Learning Continuum
Does a Growth Mindset Make Students Better Math Problem-Solvers? Here is an article on some of the most current brain research.
Valuable Resources-
TEA has released the supporting information documents for K-5th grade which are available on projectsharetexas.org. The supporting information documents list the grade level TEKS and provides some additional information and clarification. These are the most up to date documents from TEA providing guidance on the TEKS. These documents give us the best picture of what is expected of students in our new TEKS.
Looking for proven teaching strategies?
Region 13 hosts theteachertoolkit.com to provide lots of teaching strategy ideas along with video examples to help support the use of the strategies in your classroom.
MAP Texas Learning Continuum-
Great News! NWEA completed work on a Texas Learning Continuum. Here is some additional information on the new TEKS correlated learning continuum
SCIENCE - MARIE HAYES @SCIENCEHAYES
Science in Forethought - Hidden Gems
As Eric Jenson reminds us “strong teaching connects learning in ways that inspire kids to learn more.” That is our goal in the science classrooms of McKinney ISD. With a plethora of science resources built into our district curriculum, our teachers are set up with the tools they need to design engaging opportunities to build these connections for our students. I would like to highlight just a few of these resources that may have been hidden until now.
Projects tab
· Rubrics – All TEKS for each grade level have been broken down in into a 1,2,3,4 rubric using blooms. These are excellent for ELM design, pre-assessment, quick checks, and formative assessments, assistance with standards based grading for teachers.
· Investigation Videos Google site – at least 6 recorded science investigations per grade level, of the more difficult to teach/hard to learn elements. These can be used as DIYs, stations, reteach, pre-teach, make-up labs for Alpha students, and many more…
· Engineering is Elementary (EiE) – this link provides access to information about district resources that combine science and engineering in engaging real world situations, perfect for ELM. These available to borrow and can easily be integrated into science lesson designs in various grade levels.
· Science FUSION link – our textbook has some really amazing digital resources that can be assigned to the students for DIYs, stations, homework, etc… This link in Forethought was created by one of our own teachers to provide a step by step on how to utilize this in their classes.
Some of other elements that can be found in Forethought have also been shared during various point people meetings and with Instructional Coaches as well –
· Differentiated learning opportunities with pre-assessment strategies
· Vocabulary picture cards
· Assessment reflection documents
· Additional Activities tab – additional resources to be used in stations, centers, and more
· CAP activities at the end of the unit that can also be used for review, reteach, and even as a basis for ELM design.
As you now are inspired to explore Science in Forethought, feel free to reach out to your point people for guidance along the way. Also know that I am always here as well to help you on that journey.
SOCIAL STUDIES - STACIE NICKOLS @SNNICKOLS
Formative Assessment - Point People - Thinking Maps - Authentic Audiences
Formative Assessment
As we consider the importance of assessing student learning along the way to continuously determine student needs and adjust instruction, these examples of formative assessment might be helpful. This link takes you to the West Virginia Department of Education, highlighting the importance of formative assessment as a process, giving specific examples, and listing other resources. Formative Assessment
Point People-Looking at Student Work
During our Point People meetings we focused on looking at student work using a protocol called ATLAS from School Reform Initiative. We had great discussions through this protocol and also started the discussion of calibrating student work according to the rating scale of our report card.
Thinking Maps
If you are interested in training your campus in Thinking Maps, please let me know. I am a trainer and would be happy to talk with you about the benefits for student learning that occur through the implementation of Thinking Maps in all content areas and in all grade levels. You can visit the website to learn more. http://thinkingmaps.com/
Authentic Audiences
Have you and your teachers gotten hooked on Podcasts? How about creating Podcasts? Click the link to view the Alan November’s information about Podcasts: https://goo.gl/Wyi10M
ELAR - MONA SAVAGE @MONA_RSAVAGE
Q3 Survey - District Assessments - DRA MOY - Workshop Models - Spelling Bee - CHEER!
Trainings:
ELAR Design Teams PK-5 completed Quarter 4 sneak peek trainings. Each training gave teachers a sneak peek at the curricular documents within Forethought: Instructional Focus Documents (IFDs) and Exemplar Lessons (hardest to teach, hardest to learn) and other documents for the quarter. A huge THANKS to those campuses who hosted these trainings presented by the design team members!
Feedback is essential as we have updated the curriculum. Teachers are encouraged to complete a survey at the end of each quarter.
District Assessments:
- Grade 5: March 18 - April 8 (Unit 11: Comparing Genres)
Grade 3: April 22 - May 6 (Unit 9: Comparing Genres)
- Grade 4: May 6 - May 20 (Unit 7: Comparing Genres)
- Reminder: Scantrons are in Aware two days prior to opening of assessment window
DRA2 MOY
- Thank you for entering all data for DRA2 - MOY into Aware. Having data to review trends in grade levels, student groups, etc will certainly assist as we aim at strategic interventions when using the DRA2.
- If you have any additional needs for your teachers or have questions about scores, please contact me
Writing Workshop:
Is it Shared Writing… OR… Interactive Writing?
- Shared Writing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXRCmSR2dPc
- Interactive Writing – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09BA8bwOArA
Reading Workshop:
Guided Reading video to watch! After viewing ask the following questions:
1. What did the teacher and students do during the PRE-reading?
2. What did the teacher and students do DURING the reading?
3. What did the teacher and students do AFTER the reading?
Spelling Bee:
Thank you for those campuses sending a campus winner(s) to this year's Collin County Spelling Bee. It was also great to see MISD administrators and teachers there to support their students. It was a long night and ended with a county winner at 11pm. The Plano student represented Collin County at the regional spelling bee hosted by WFAA - Dallas Morning News. It is always exciting to see all the amazing spellers!
Campus Cheer and Support:
I have enjoyed visiting campuses, while using Literacy Walk-through tool, to support in locating specific areas that would benefit a team and/or campus.
Thanks to those instructional coaches who have scheduled an ELAR Learning Walk! These are instrumental in the coaching conversations shared with teachers. In addition, using the Balanced Literacy Tool encourages common language we want to hear with ELAR instruction.
I am here to support in building literacy capacity as well as celebrate literacy growth happening on your campus! Here are some amazing learning pics I have snapped as I walk through and see amazing literacy growth in the models!
Thank you!