Assessment

What is assessment about?

Assessment is a measure of students learning. It provides educators with both objective and subjective data in order observe student progress and skill mastery and is defined as how well students have mastered a skill or improved. Assessment is different from evaluation and there are many types such as assessment of learning, for learning and as learning. Assessment is the ongoing gathering of information whereas evaluation is the judgement based on that collection of data.

Why is it important? 

Assessment is important because its helps students learn. When students are able to see how they are doing, they can determine for themselves if they understand or not. Also by seeing hows students are doing, this can motivate them to improve. 

I believe assessment is a very important aspect as we need to know how our students and how ousels are doing in order to better ourselves and improve. 

What I would like to further understand about assessment is how we should go about assessing our students and what they key factors to look for in our students progress are. 

GROWING SUCCESS POLICIES	My Professional Learning Goals	Strategies For Meeting My Goals	Annotated Resources 2 sources for each policy
Fundamental Principles	I will learn and understand the fundamental principle so that I am able to lay a rich foundation for challenging practice and promote student engagement to improve student learning.  I will provide on-going descriptive feedback that is clear, specific, meaningful, and timely to support improved learning and achievement;	I will gather meaningful information based on student observation in order to inform instructional decisions for student learning.	EduGAINS.” EModule:  Fundamental Principles, www.edugains.ca/newsite /aer/eModules/courseEngine /fundamentalPrinciples.html. -outline main points and strategies of the fundamental principles “Http://Www.edugains.ca/ ResourcesKIN/PLF/Training Resources/Spring2016Training /FundamentalPrinciplesOf PlayBasedLearning.pdf.” Edugains, www.edugains.ca/resourcesKIN /PLF/TrainingResources /Spring 2016Training/Fundamental Principles OfPlayBasedLearning.pdf. -incorporates fundamental principles in an engaging way
Learning Skills & Work Habits	I will learn about the ways of different students learning skills and work habits so that I am able to evaluate my students based on their individual development demonstrated through their skills and habits.	I will meet with my associate teacher to discuss their strategies as well as observe my students.	“EduGAINS.” Learning Skills  and Work Habits, www.edugains.ca /newsite /aer/collaborativeinquiry project/ cipquestions/ LearningSkills and WorkHabits_ RCDSB.html -educators investigate the learning skills and work habits through collaborative inquiry - www.bing.com/cr? IG=6D 061AD 622 964 7EEA821432B76FB 7537&CID=030CB5F 6BA2 169ED1C 68B ED9B B27685 D&rd= 1&h=mxhOOZ RzTC-c5Vb9Fe V96zf7daiF SYhXu5Ip5vH9FF8 &v=1&r= http %3a%2f%2fwww. yrdsb.ca%2fAb outUs%2fReporting Student Achievement %2fDocuments%2f LearningSkillsandWorkHabits Brochure.pdf&p=DevEx,5065.1. - outlines the development for learning skills needed for our students to succeed
Performance Standards: The Achievement Chart	I will learn to provide a basis for consistent and meaningful feedback to students in relation to provincial content and performance standards so that students can have a better understanding and learn and progress from clear feedback.	I will gather information from my associate teacher and observe, review and compare her grading process and methods as well as feedback based on observations of the students in order to understand how to provide feedback to students on a variety of tasks.	http://www.edugains.ca /newsite/aer/eModules/course Engine/performance Standards. html -outlines the key features of the performance standards / achievement chart “Assessment for Learning;  Gathering the Evidence.” www.bwdsb.on.ca/ assessment/downloads/ AL_Section3.pdf. -how to gather evidence for assessment to determine achievement
Assessment FOR Learning & AS Learning	I will use assessment to inform instruction, guide next steps, and help students monitor their progress towards achieving their learning goals so that see their own progress and understand their learning.	I will establish where the learners are going in their learning, where they are in their learning, and establish what needs to be done to get them to where they are going in order understand what type of assessment to use to benefit that particular student.	“Assessment for Learning;  Gathering the Evidence.” www.bwdsb.on.ca/ assessment/downloads/ AL_Section3.pdf. - how to gather evidence for the different types of assessment and the understanding of the criteria for each level “Assessment of, for and as Learning Learning.” curriculum.gov.mt/en/ Assessment/ Assessment-of-Learning/Documents/ assessment_of_ for_as_learning.pdf. -provides explanations and explains the teachers role for each type of assessment and how to provide feedback
Evaluation	I will learn to accommodate and modify expectations for students who require alternative expectations and evaluation of achievement.	I will observe those students in my placement who do require modifications and accommodations and meet with my associate teachers to see how she meets these requirements.	“PUTTING THE ‘I’ IN IEP Collaborative Teacher Mini- Inquiry.” Edugains, www.edugains.ca/resources SpecEd/ IEP&Transitions/BoardDeveloped Resources /IEP/Board Projects/Collaborative Inquiry /IEP_ImprovementResource Packagefor Educators.pdf. - a fantastic document all about dealing with the IEP Oxley, Jackie. “Accommodations and Modifications.” Special Education Ontario, specialeducationontario.wikispaces.com /file/view/Modifications+and+ Accommodations+by+Jacki+Oxley.pdf. -document by Special Education Ontario outline the need to knows about  modifications and accommodations
Reporting Student Achievement	I will learn how to repot on student achievement in a valid, fair and consistent way.	I will observe reports made by my associate teacher in my placement classroom and within another classroom to understand how they are consistent.	“Reporting Student Learning Guidelines for Effective Teacher-Parent-Student Communication.” Edugains, www.edugains.ca/resourcesAER/ PrintandOtherResources/Reporting Student Learning_Engfinal.pdf.  -a resource which outlines the importance of teacher- parent communication, and provides examples of report cards for all types of students “Questions and Answers about the Progress Report Card.” Edugains, www.edugains.ca/resourcesAER/ PrintandOtherResources /ElementaryReportCardsQsandAs_ Sept2011.pdf. -addresses questions all student teachers have about how to report on student achievement
Students With Special Education Needs	I will devise a plan or a program for students with special needs to improve their student learning.	I will work with the in-school special education assistant to: -specify and verify the student’s needs -support accurate decisions about the student’s program -support a range of other decisions, such as those relating to referrals, screening, classification, instructional planning, and determining next steps -help determine particular interventions that may be necessary to enable the student to demonstrate achievement.	“Teaching Students with Special Needs: Advice for Teachers (Grades K-12).” TeacherVision, www.teachervision.com/ special-needs/teaching-students-special-needs. -tips and advice for teaching students with special needs“EduGAINS.” Special Education Advisory Committee, www.edugains.ca/newsite/ SpecialEducation/ systemleader/ seac.html. - explores current Ministry policies, district school board processes and practices for Special Education Plans
English Language Learners	I will  understand the distinction between modifications and accommodations as well as the importance of providing either or both, as needed, to English language learners.	I will further explore modifications and accommodations specific to the of ELLs.	“EduGAINS.” Supporting English Language Learners Grades 1- 8 Video and Print Resources, www.edugains.ca/ newsite/ell/ supportingenglishlanguage learners.html.  -advice on how to support english language learners through an exemplary teaching practice Support for English Language Learners, edugains.ca/newsite/rssfeed /xmlmail/ell/rss_Summer_Symposium.html. -another document which provides support for ELLs
The Kindergarten Program	I will promote the healthy development of all children and students, as well as enabling all children and students to reach their full potential.	I will do this by sustaining a learning environment that is healthy, caring, safe, inclusive, and accepting to support not only children's cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development but also their mental health, their resilience, and their overall state of well-being to help them achieve their full potential in school and in life.	Kindergarten Program . www.edugains.ca/resourcesCurrImpl/ OntCurriculum/kindergarten_english.pdf.  -a thorough look at the kindergarten program “EduGAINS.” Frequently Asked Questions, www.edugains.ca/newsite/ Kindergarten/faq.html. - frequently asked questions that address the kindergarten program

Educator Reflection

All the information on my assessment page will be used in my teaching block. Prior to this class, I had minimal, if any knowledge on how to assess students or what assessment was even about. The learning goals I have created can specially be used in my placement so that I am able to keep learning and growing, once teaching. Just like how professional development is important for teachers, continuous self growth is as well. By using my learning goals and the references created in my chart, I can take the experience I’ve gained and apply them back to my original goals and resources so that I never stop my personal growth and development. 

Another way I will use my assessment page in my teaching block is the use of the KWL chart. I will use the L portion of the chart in order to keep up to date with my knowledge and understanding of assessment as within this section of the chart I describe assessment for, as, and of learning, as well as evaluation and learning for all. I can also use the W chart for reflection on the questions I has asked about assessment. Once being in my placement and having some experience, I will reflect back on my original questions I asked I this class, to see if I truly understand these aspects of assessment or if these are questions I still have and need to look into and focus on for my own personal growth. 

One professional learning goal that I will explore in my teaching block is the Fundamental Principles goal. This is how I wil know I have reached my goal: 

• I can use practices that are fair and equal for all students
• I can use practices that support all students (special education needs, ELLs, ESL)
• I can use practices that meet the curriculum expectations and learning goals that meet a diverse style of interests and learning styles
• I can use practices that are clear to students 
• I can provide ongoing feedback that is specific and clear with sufficient meaning and use to support students learning and growth
• I have developed students self assessment skills so that students are able to set their own goals and have a growth mindset