Daily Reading Records are very simple and easy-to-keep records of daily reading done by your students. Their purpose is to give the teacher an idea about how well students are progressing in developing positive reading habits. Students also gain a better sense of their own reading habits. I have attached some links to some great resources. The first one I think you will find most helpful. There is a free printable sheet of a daily record sheet already put together for you as well as instructions as how to use them.
Daily Reading Record Teacher Observation Page: Includes a printable ready to use sheet and instructions on how to complete this type of assessment.
http://dk091.k12.sd.us/Reading_files/Daily%20Reading%20Record.doc
Materials to purchase for Daily Independent Reading Record Sheets.
http://www.buyteachercreated.com/estore/product/8722
Great information on Scaffolded Independent Reading
http://www.ncte.org/Library/files/Free/recruitment/ST0102January05.pdf
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Monday, July 9, 2007
Political Stances on Education
I thought it was interesting when I was looking at two of the front runners for the Presidential Election in 08. I looked at Hilary Clinton's stances on education and Barack Obama's. Although this is not an exact assessment tool, I think it is important to look at what these candidates have in mind for our schools as well as the NCLB act that was established during Bush's adminsitration.
- Attracting and supporting more outstanding teachers and principals, and paying them like the professionals they are.
- Reforming the No Child Left Behind Act. This law represented a promise -- more resources for schools in exchange for more accountability -- and that promise has not been kept.
- Giving new parents support and training to promote healthy development for their children.
- Increasing access to high-quality early education and helping to create Early Head Start.
Innovating Teacher Pay and Teacher Support
School districts across America face systemic barriers to attracting and putting the best teachers in schools where they are needed the most. Although the federal role in education is limited, one way the federal government can make the most of its scarce resources is by fostering innovation -- identifying the best programs and practices, and helping expand them around the country. Senator Obama introduced the Innovation Districts for School Improvement Act to award grants to school districts that try new methods to improve student achievement and reward effective teachers. Under this initiative, 20 districts across the country would get grants to develop innovative plans in consultation with their teacher unions. High-performing teachers would be eligible for pay increases of 10 to 20 percent of their base salary. These innovation districts would be required to implement systemic reforms and show convincing results. These best practices would provide models for other school systems to adopt.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Quality assessment is described by the National Forum for Assessment as:
"High-quality assessment must rest on strong educational foundations. These foundations include organizing schools to meet the learning needs of their students, understanding how students learn, establishing high standards for student learning, and providing equitable and adequate opportunity to learn."
I think it is important to look at alternative or authentic assessments in a standardized world. Alternative assessments are qualitative. Some alternative assessments that are more "performance-based assessments" include essays, oral presentations, open-ended problems, hands-on problems, real-world simulations and other authentic tasks. Some examples are portfolios, experiments, mathematical computations, artwork, designs, journals, and performances to name a few.
What types of authentic or alternative assessments are you using? Do you feel that they give you a clearer picture to what your students are capable of? Why are you for or against this type of assessment?
To learn more about alternative assessment and types of assessments visit the following sites:
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/assment/as800.htm
http://www.emtech.net/Alternative_Assessment.html
"High-quality assessment must rest on strong educational foundations. These foundations include organizing schools to meet the learning needs of their students, understanding how students learn, establishing high standards for student learning, and providing equitable and adequate opportunity to learn."
I think it is important to look at alternative or authentic assessments in a standardized world. Alternative assessments are qualitative. Some alternative assessments that are more "performance-based assessments" include essays, oral presentations, open-ended problems, hands-on problems, real-world simulations and other authentic tasks. Some examples are portfolios, experiments, mathematical computations, artwork, designs, journals, and performances to name a few.
What types of authentic or alternative assessments are you using? Do you feel that they give you a clearer picture to what your students are capable of? Why are you for or against this type of assessment?
To learn more about alternative assessment and types of assessments visit the following sites:
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/assment/as800.htm
http://www.emtech.net/Alternative_Assessment.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)