Teachers are in the middle of many fierce battles right now and what they need are some quick, simple ways to find out what students know at the beginning of the year without relying on past test scores. Students may know more than those four option answer tests from last year reveal. What a teacher really needs to avoid is wasting everyone's time teaching objectives and skills that everyone already knows. Ideally, you can and will avoid looking at past report cards because it is your job to get each student from wherever he or she is to the skill sets he or she needs to become a career-finding missile.
This does not just apply to the disciplines that I am most familiar with - language arts, English and history, but science, math, foreign language, physical education, arts, computer sciences - every teacher gains a different perspective of each student because of the diverse objectives of our subject matter. This is why I am an advocate for teaming in high school - don't hate on the former elementary, middle and high school teacher. I realize that subject experts are reluctant to make the next leap and seize the business model with which we are already being evaluated and trained. Most businesses value teaming, brainstorming, flexibility and accountability. Have you ever wondered what it might be like if you did cooperate?
Measurement goals are everything in the education world today and if you want to know where the template comes from, here it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Baldrige_National_Quality_Award
"The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is the national quality award that recognizes U.S. organizations in the business, health care, education, and nonprofit sectors for performance excellence. The Baldrige Award is the only formal recognition of the performance excellence of both public and private U.S. organizations given by the President of the United States."
When Total Quality Management came to my school system in the late 80's, I noticed the forms took on a particular consistency. Then I found out about the Malcolm Baldrige Award. If you check out local real estate web sites, you might find that your school has a report card or a very detailed description based on stats. School boards realized having the school reports meet the Baldrige format made it easy to apply for other awards, grants, school certification and other goodies. However, I digress - quick assessments for the beginning of the year.
I used a simple paragraph about going out for pizza with numbered punctuation illustrating various rules. Just the basics and for two days before, I did a very quick review using a Power Point (used to be a poster) to go over the basic grammar rules. Then I passed out the pizza paragraph and students had to write out the rule or at least name it for the numbered punctuation or grammar rule being illustrated. If I taught math, I would do much the same, but with only twenty problems. Students need to think this is for a grade, but you can weight it very lightly. I usually made three piles: those students who really knew the rules; those who were shaky, but mostly there and finally the ones that really didn't have a clue - even after the review. This was usually a sign that they had reading and writing issues as well.
The beauty of the pizza paragraph is how fast you can grade it. It's not like reading multiple class sets of writing samples to determine the level of applied grammar knowledge of your students.
Also, I used to keep a collection of hats, old costumes and odd props in the room and they came in very handy for this next assessment. I also kept a file of old Scholastic Magazines - they had play scripts in them. I had students volunteer for parts and put out props (this helped students feel less nervous and more motivated to volunteer) and within the first two weeks, I knew which students were comfortable with speaking aloud and perhaps reading and which students were shaky.
Another great source for plays which are royalty free is: http://www.playsmagazine.com/. I was the drama club sponsor and found out about this site. You can order scripts for any grade level for just about anything. Having students perform plays is a great way to get guardians or parents to come to school for a pot luck.
Ideally, within two weeks or less, you'll have a true read on the needs of your students so you can design lessons, assignments, outcome-based projects and the like so that you have a student-centered classroom. Enjoy your summer vacation and I will post the pizza paragraph for you. :-) I will have to find it and retype it so it may be a few days.
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