Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Formative Assessment...

More from Dylan Wiliams.
 Below is a series of 4 videos from Dylan Wiliams on Formative Assessment that I recommend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=029fSeOaGio&list=PL25833319A6BBCE32

1- Content then Process
2-The Classroom Experiment with Lollipop Sticks
3-The Classroom Experiment Challenges
4-The Classroom Experiment Part 1




Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Common Core Formative Assessment Help

Here are some links to Howard County Public School System where there are Formative Assessments with Rubrics/ Curriculum Mapping and Recording Sheets that are all connected to the Common Core State Standards---pretty awesome!!
If you are needing help in this area click into the links below...

Kindergarten--MATH
https://gradekcommoncoremath.wikispaces.hcpss.org/Kindergarten+Home

Grade 1--MATH
https://grade1commoncoremath.wikispaces.hcpss.org/Grade+1+Home

Grade 2--MATH
https://grade2commoncoremath.wikispaces.hcpss.org/Grade+1+Home

Grade 3--MATH
https://grade3commoncoremath.wikispaces.hcpss.org/Grade+1+Home

Grade 4--MATH
https://grade4commoncoremath.wikispaces.hcpss.org/Grade+1+Home

Grade 5--MATH
https://grade5commoncoremath.wikispaces.hcpss.org/Grade+1+Home

Monday, March 31, 2014

Direct Instruction in Kindergarten Math: Making Partners

Norman Elementary's Kindergarten Team is in the process of developing a Math program that will meet the needs of all students in Math.  Below is a snapshot of Direct Instruction from Vicky Bowman, Title 1 & Kelly Stearns, Resource Room as they work with making "Partners of 4"


Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Norman Elementary's Formative Assessment Learning Team

Professional Learning Team Meets...

The focus of this Monthly meeting is Formative Assessments, CAFE & Daily 5.
We had 13 teachers attend this month for the 1 hour meeting.




During the meeting we had Casie Campbell who is a Student Teacher in Mrs. Sweet's 2nd grade classroom, share the Formative Assessments that she has been doing. Her presentation was very impressive and she has agreed to be video taped to share in more detail--so check back, her interview will be posted soon.



Stacy Gilland, one of Norman Elementary's 2nd grade teachers shared what she's been doing in CAFE.




From there we watched a couple videos from Dylan Wiliam. He has become one of my favorite Formative Assessment Specialist...

Assessment for Learning

Every Teacher Can Improve- Dylan Wiliam



After some discussion, we moved on to Jillain Cole, Kindergarten teacher who shared Daily 5, Chapter 4- Read to Self.
We watched "Launching Read to Self" from the CAFE website which included a handout, Read to Self.



Next, Kelly Stearns, Resource Teacher shared CAFE, Chapter 6-Whole Class Instruction.
We watched "Comprehension--Remembering What I Read" from the CAFE website which included a handout on Expanding Vocabulary.



Looking Ahead...
Next Month's meeting will be Monday, April 28th from 3:25-4:25 in my classroom. Please plan to attend and bring something to share that you've been doing in your classroom.
Amilia Vayda who is a Student Teacher in Mr. Mumby's 2nd grade classroom will be presenting on Daily 5-Chapter 5 and Casie will share again, this time reviewing Chapter 7 in CAFE.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Taking Common Formative Assessment School Wide

During Norman Elementary's March "Learning Communities" we will review
Writing Folders as a possible Common Formative Assessment then break into small groups.

Book Share:

 Here's a peek at the Chapters in this book:
Chapter 1- Why Educational Achievement Matters
Chapter 2- The Case for Formative Assessment
Chapter 3- Clarifying, Sharing, and Understanding Learning Intentions and success Criteria
Chapter 4- Eliciting Evidence of Learners' Achievement
Chapter 5- Providing Feedback that Moves Learning Forward
Chapter 6- Activating Students as Instructional resources for One Another
Chapter 7- Activating Students as Owners of Their Own Learning

Here's a quick video clip by Dylan Wiliam--author of Embedded Formative Assessment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3HRvFsZHoo

"Dylan Wiliam stresses the importance of formative assessment as a key process for increasing teacher quality while having the biggest impact on student outcomes. He looks at some of the popular initiatives that aim to increase student achievement, such as learning styles, and presents research that shows formative assessment practices have a much greater impact on educational achievement than most other reforms."

Thursday, January 23, 2014

January Formative Assessment PD

Wow! I can't believe it's mid-January, where has the time gone? I've been slacking...I haven't posted since November. Well, this post will be worth the wait. I've been building my Agendas for our FAME Team & Professional Learning Team meetings which will be held 1/24 & 1/27 and thought I'd go ahead and post some of the items to share with all of you educators.
I'm excited to be able to post links to some great Formative Assessment Videos by Dylan Wiliam. They are very short so please take a few minutes and click in.

"Formative Assesssment" by Dylan Wiliam
http://www.journeytoexcellence.org.uk/videos/expertspeakers/formativeassessmentdylanwiliam.asp


"Feedback on Learning" by Dylan Wiliam
http://www.journeytoexcellence.org.uk/videos/expertspeakers/feedbackonlearningdylanwiliam.asp

"Assessment for Learning" by Dylan Wiliam
http://www.journeytoexcellence.org.uk/videos/expertspeakers/assessmentforlearningdylanwiliam.asp

"Self and Peer Assessment" by Dylan Wiliam
http://www.journeytoexcellence.org.uk/videos/expertspeakers/selfandpeerassessmentdylanwiliam.asp

"Creativity" by Dylan Wiliam
http://www.journeytoexcellence.org.uk/videos/expertspeakers/creativitydylanwiliam.asp

Have you read "Checking for Understanding: Formative Techniques for your Classroom" by Douglas Fisher & Nancy Frey?
Topics that are covered in the book are:
-Why Check for Understanding?
-Using Oral Language to Check for Understanding
-Using Questions to Check for Understanding
-Using Writing to Check for Understanding
-Using Projects and Performances to Check for Understanding
-Using Tests to Check for Understanding
-Using Common Assessments and Consensus Scoring to Check for Understanding

We have been doing a Book Study on the book each month. Its a short book and easy read and I Highly recommend it.

We have also been doing a Book Study on CAFE & Daily 5. We are not only learning how these practices work but we are also learning how they LINK with Formative Assessment. I will have a separate post for Monday's Professional Learning Team meeting. I think that the Team will have lots of great stuff to share along with some pics.
Until next time...
Vicky