Last year, at the end of one of my presentations on proficiency sequences, during the question-and-answer period, a participant paid me a compliment. They told me how impressed they were by my attention to detail and how usable my proficiency sequences seemed to be. My cheeks flushed slightly, and I expressed my gratitude for sharing … Continue reading But are you an island?
Tag: formative assessment
I’d like a number 1 meal, light on the equality, extra equity
At McFast, a new fast-food joint with a fresh name, employees are training in all things fast food before being put on the line. Before opening their doors, each employee goes through training in various areas of the restaurant. In week one, employees are trained on French fries: how to drop them into the hot … Continue reading I’d like a number 1 meal, light on the equality, extra equity
Extending Our View of Extending
Lately, as I've engaged in conversations in person, webinars, works, and social media, I’ve noticed hesitancy about last level on proficiency scales. You know the one. It's called Extending, Exceeding, Advanced, Exemplary, Expert, or Mastery on a four- or five-point scale. The level that comes just before this last level is called Meeting, Applying, Proficient … Continue reading Extending Our View of Extending
A Proficiency Sequence in Action
In my post, "I want to change the world one proficiency sequence at a time,” I explained that with regards to proficiency sequences, “the real beauty is in how unpacking the standard and developing the process gives teachers the chance to teach each level.” A proficiency sequence, then is a useful tool for students, but … Continue reading A Proficiency Sequence in Action
Striving to Assess the Write Way
Striving to Assess the "Write" Way Last quarter, while I was sitting alone in my room, a former student of mine came to chat with me. She had been in my English 11 New Media class last year and was currently wrestling with English 12, eagerly anticipating graduation which was just a few short weeks … Continue reading Striving to Assess the Write Way
The Case for Standards-Based Grading
Seems like on most days when I hit social media, I’m bombarded by the same chatter—grades are “meaningless,” “don’t measure learning,” and “are corruptive.” And the comments don’t stop there. There’s negative chatter about all forms of grading practices, including standards-based grading. While I agree that outdated and ineffective grading practices like using a 101 … Continue reading The Case for Standards-Based Grading
Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3…
I have a thing about tests. I understand that tests are one form of summative assessment for skills or content, I just don’t think it should be the only way. I also think teachers shouldn’t use them under the pretext that teaching "test-taking" is some kind of real world life skill that must be bolstered. … Continue reading Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3…
Popcorn attendance, learning opportunities, and mulligans: musings about teaching in a quarter system
For the first month of quarter one, I saw approximately 50% of my English 8 students. No joke. I’d take attendance and hit an equal number of Absent as I did Present into Myed. After putting my heart and soul into planning a quarter and being stoked to be back in the classroom face to … Continue reading Popcorn attendance, learning opportunities, and mulligans: musings about teaching in a quarter system
Backwards design to survive our quarter course reality
Quarters. Copernican. Ten weeks. These are the words many high school teachers across British Columbia have heard in the last few weeks instilling intrigue, fear, and anxiousness for the new school year. Sure, it’s the same number of teaching minutes, but it’s not so easy to just double the lessons and call it a day. … Continue reading Backwards design to survive our quarter course reality
Content, A Fairy Tale
Once upon a time, in a far away gradebook, oh about fifteen to twenty odd years ago, there was a keen and eager teacher who wanted to create an assessment for an English 9 short fiction unit. She laboured over the assessment and decided that a test would be the finest of fits for her … Continue reading Content, A Fairy Tale