Tagged: assessment

Make the Shift to 1:1 Teaching & Learning

In Power Up, Diana Neebe and Jen Roberts offer a 1:1 teaching framework that will guide teachers from the implementation process to a technology-rich learning environment. The online companion PD resources are extensive, says reviewer Sandy Wisneski.

How to Create Formative Classroom Assessments

Teacher-Made Assessments: How to Connect Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Learning (2nd Ed) by Gareis and Grant gets reviewer Anne Anderson’s gold star for usefulness and practicality with its guidelines offering plentiful techniques and examples.

What School Should Really Be About

It remains unclear to Mary Tarashuk how rampant standardized testing is actually helping her fourth graders become successful and enthusiastic learners. As she prepares for her own evaluation, Mary shares pushback from parents, students, and HBO’s John Oliver.

It’s Time to Update Math Education

The NCSM book It’s TIME offers a framework for math education that can help schools and districts ramp up CCSS-M instruction. But district math coordinator Jami Garner says it fails to address resource issues and Response to Intervention implications.

Giving Parents Accurate and Honest Assessments

With the fall marathon of parent-teacher conferences finally done, Mary Tarashuk logs onto the district portal to input student grades for the first marking period. And then she finds herself pausing to wonder what authentic assessment truly means – when we’re talking to the people who care most.

Grading Smarter Not Harder Is Liberating

Myron Dueck’s new book, Grading Smarter Not Harder, not only explains what fair assessment is but provides the teacher with student friendly strategies to achieve it. Reviewer Joanne Fuchs says the book is “the map for your assessment journey” and provides lots of useful details!

A Well-Lit Path to Better Writing Asssessment

Writing Pathways: Performance Assessments and Learning Progressions can help K-8 educators at the grade, school and district levels develop effective collaborative writing programs, says reviewer Linda Biondi. Teachers will find extensive resources to build student ownership of writing.

Aha Moments on the Road to Better Teaching

Often what stands in the way of teacher change is a lack of awareness about what needs to improve. Sharing some aha moments, ‘Smarter Grading’ author Myron Dueck tells how he changed the way he tests and assesses students and manages project learning.