Unpacking a Standard: Assessing and Monitoring

image source unknown

This exercise was a difficult one. Working at an International Baccalaureate school, I was unfamiliar with the standards used in the states to evaluate students. At the IB, each subject has four specific grading criteria which is assessed twice per semester. A student's final grade is determined based on their summative scores; what they actually know and are able to do.

For example, in the subject area that I am interested in teaching, English Language Acquisition:

Criteria 1: Listening, comprehending spoken and visual text
Criteria 2: Reading, comprehending written and visual text
Criteria 3, Speaking, communicating
Criteria 4: Writing, using language

The core standards shared with me were some much more complex and detailed. I zeroed in on writing because I think writing in general proves to bee the most challenging for English language learners, in both practicality and motivation. At least this is what I have observed with the students that I have supported. 

Because I am working with core standards, I then zeroed in on informative writing. Because informational texts tend to be about real-life, the world and human beings, they can include headings, pictures, charts and graphs making it more visually appealing too. This would speak to their motivation to write.

And, in regards to practicality, it’s important for students to be exposed to (reading and writing) informative texts as it builds their disciplinary knowledge. Most of the reading that middle school students do in later years is informational in genre - specific reading and writing practices as presented in their history, science, social studies and technical subjects. Through exposure to informative text, students build knowledge and are prepared to write as they engage in these disciplinary subjects in more detail.

Through this activity, I learned the value in not only designing activities but designing them to allow students to explore cross-curricular and global themes. I also ensured that the students had many different choices when they actually work on their writing. Choice increases student buy-in and engagement. And of course, if the last several posts were not enough, differentiation is so important when designing activities and assessments and helps when and if remediation and extension is necessary.

Unpacking a Standard vlog, take a peek if you like.