Sunday, November 22, 2009
Assessing Quality
I think it is important to send students a message that they need to produce quality work. I have students balk at adding color to sketches and graphic organizers. They are even reluctant to use a ruler and are satisfied in turning in sloppy work! While I don't want to grade these type of skills, necessarily, they are important in producing quality work. If students don't lose points, what holds them accountable? During the second half of the year, I do take points off for common spelling and punctuation errors. It's not enough points to significantly affect their content grade, but it does get their attention. Students should be learning to communicate effectively and that includes writing carefully. I think it is important also to assess quality thinking, as reflected in thoughtful journal writing. My students write in a science journal to start each class. I grade them twice a quarter or sometimes a certain significant entry gets graded against a very simple rubric (4, 3, 2, 1) that emphasizes thinking skills.
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I agree that quality is important. Sometimes students will just guess or turn things in incomplete just so they are turned in on time. I would rather students take longer and turn the assignment in later than not complete an assignment.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I have found working with special education students is that you cannot assume that they know basic writing skills. (Im sure some general education students also fall into this category). Thus it is important that they are given specific expectation especially if you want a report formatted a certain way. I expect to see writing progress during the course of the year. Thus early in the year I set the expectation, model and correct students work without penalty. Towards the middle of the year, I will deduct for certain components. I do not take off for spelling or grammar on in class assignments. However, when students are able to use a computer, I deduct for spelling errors and correct punctuation and grammar. One of my goals for the year is for all students to improve their writing ability. I believe this is important because in science it is vital to be able to communicate your results.
I agree with modeling for the students, and I think it is more important to assess writing improvement/progress over the year. It is hard to figure out the best way to do this, though!
ReplyDeleteI also agree that quality is important. More importantly if the students do not see an assessment of some sort along the way they will not take the lesson seriously--sure, they will pay attention--but will they actively engage if they believe there is no assessment to follow. I also found that varying the assessments is also key for parent/teacher conferences. Parents need to see that we assess learning in a number of ways other than formative and summative assessments. By varying assessments I have made "friends" with the parents and was able to show them the different ways in which their child can learn or demonstrate mastery of the subject matter.
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