One of the really cool things about SRG is that because you are grading skills and not assignments, an assessment can be anything – a formal test or quiz, a conversation or class discussion, a project – anything that allows a student to demonstrate their understanding and gives you the opportunity to provide feedback!
At this point you've determined your classroom learning goals (standards). Now it is time to determine how you will assess your students on these goals. There are two types of assessments to consider: formative assessments and summative assessments.
Types of Assessment to Consider
Summative Assessments (often called Assessments of Learning) are tests or projects that evaluate student learning once an instructional period is complete. They are typically infrequent, generally occurring at the end of a unit or grading period. Examples include:
Formative Assessments (often called Assessments for Learning) can be anything that helps your student demonstrate their current understanding and help them know what they need to do to reach the final goal. These assessments are frequent – occurring as often as every day. Examples of formative assessments include:
Recording formative assessments is optional. However, since formative assessment and SBG are both about giving students frequent and meaningful feedback, recording formative assessments provides an excellent opportunity for helping students, and parents, to track learning. What can results is an ongoing conversation between teacher and student about what specific skills the student understands and where the student can improve.
(I would recommend a conversation about what is important to "grade" in the sense of what affects a students overall grade, within a class, as long as a traditional grading is in place within the district- see articles on effective grading policy.
"When practice work is part of the overall grade, students don't take risks, and teachers don't get valuable glimpses into their understanding." -How to Create a Culture of Achievement in Your School and Classroom.)
**Informal assessment (such as observations) can be used in SBG, and can be useful in instruction and overall assessment. Here are some articles that might stimulate thinking.
**Authentic Assessments is also an educational movement worthy of some time and effort. Here are a couple articles to start or build interest in this avenue of assessment (also our eMINTS instructional coach could be a great person to talk to).
Types of Assessment to Consider
Summative Assessments (often called Assessments of Learning) are tests or projects that evaluate student learning once an instructional period is complete. They are typically infrequent, generally occurring at the end of a unit or grading period. Examples include:
- Chapter or Unit Exam
- Final Project
- Standardized Test
Formative Assessments (often called Assessments for Learning) can be anything that helps your student demonstrate their current understanding and help them know what they need to do to reach the final goal. These assessments are frequent – occurring as often as every day. Examples of formative assessments include:
- Quiz
- In-class activity
- Discussion
Recording formative assessments is optional. However, since formative assessment and SBG are both about giving students frequent and meaningful feedback, recording formative assessments provides an excellent opportunity for helping students, and parents, to track learning. What can results is an ongoing conversation between teacher and student about what specific skills the student understands and where the student can improve.
(I would recommend a conversation about what is important to "grade" in the sense of what affects a students overall grade, within a class, as long as a traditional grading is in place within the district- see articles on effective grading policy.
"When practice work is part of the overall grade, students don't take risks, and teachers don't get valuable glimpses into their understanding." -How to Create a Culture of Achievement in Your School and Classroom.)
**Informal assessment (such as observations) can be used in SBG, and can be useful in instruction and overall assessment. Here are some articles that might stimulate thinking.
- Informal Assessments Strategies
- Types of Informal Classroom-Based Assessment
- Boston Public Schools Resources
- Informal Assessment Methods (education.com
**Authentic Assessments is also an educational movement worthy of some time and effort. Here are a couple articles to start or build interest in this avenue of assessment (also our eMINTS instructional coach could be a great person to talk to).