Posts Tagged ‘assessment’
Using Conferences to Differentiate
Look inside almost any classroom today and you’ll see a mirror of our country. You’ll find students from multiple cultures, some of whom are trying to bridge the languages and behaviors of two worlds. Students with very advanced learning skills sit next to students who struggle mightily with one or more school subjects. Children with…
Read MoreMath Conferences are Noteworthy
Math conferences are instructional tools that allow us to connect with our students, follow their reasoning, and determine their mathematical understanding. These one-on-one interactions allow us to find out comprehensive information about what a student truly knows and what areas need to be addressed. Conferences can be brief and informal, but are time well spent…
Read MoreQuick Ways to Assess in Math
Assessment is a vital part of teaching. Without feedback teachers don’t have the information they need to see if a child “gets it” or not. However, most educators think of assessment in terms of tests such as those from the state, district, or school. In math daily quick assessments can be easily done without much…
Read MoreBegin with the End
As the fall semester unfolds, our lives at work and at home seem to become busier than ever. One way to keep the stress under control is to be very well planned. At home, this may mean having a calendar that includes all family activities and obligations so due dates are met and events are…
Read MoreUse it or Lose it
It used to be that the word data merely meant something that was stored by a computer. Miriam Webster lists this as one definition of data and the other is “acts or information used usually to calculate, analyze, or plan something.” In our schools and classrooms, we are bombarded by data. Reading data, math data,…
Read MoreEffective Reading Indicators
From the desk of Alice… People often ask me if their child is on track with reading and confess in a whisper, “I don’t know what to look for.” It can be overwhelming for a parent who now has access to more “data” about their child than ever, but really are not sure if the…
Read MoreA Pain in the Assessment
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . For as long as I can remember I wanted to teach. As a little girl, I would strategically place my stuffed animals around the small chalk board in my room and deliver inspiring lessons that prepared them for life. Not once do I ever remember having…
Read MoreTales From Tennis: The Court is the Classroom
From the desk of Alice… I didn’t start playing tennis until I was an adult. I picked it up gradually with a few friends who were patient enough to allow me to “just hit” and not keep score. Over a few years, I was able to keep score and actually win. I thought it was…
Read MoreMy Child Can Read a Level
From the desk of Carol C… My child is reading above grade level. My child is reading at level J. My child is struggling with reading. How could all of these statements be said about the same child? Do they not contradict each other? The answers depend on the definition of the word “reading” you…
Read MoreShare Your Thinking
From the desk of Carol C… Soon teachers will begin reviewing for the end of the year tests. Some of the review will include using multiple choice practice tests. Assigning the work and then checking the answers leaves many students still in the dark about how to find the correct answer. Here’s a way you…
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