160 likes | 243 Views
Fostering Conversations about Student Progress with the Assessment Wall. Roberta Buhle, Ed.D. Shari Frost, Ed. D. The Assessment Wall is….
E N D
Fostering Conversations about Student Progress with the Assessment Wall Roberta Buhle, Ed.D. Shari Frost, Ed. D.
The Assessment Wall is… …a visual representation of student progress in reading and/or writing. Each child is represented by a colored coded card. Colors are assigned by grade levels.
Getting started • Select a baseline assessment to all students • Use an assessment that will provide a reading level (ISEL, DRA, F&P Benchmark) • Administer the assessment • Make a card for each student. Each grade level will get its own color • Post the cards in a non-public area in the school* • Set benchmarks for achievement
Student Cards Each card contains the following information: • Student’s name • Reading level and date • Changes in level with the date • Special instructional issues that affect the student • ELL, SBPS, IEP, retained, etc.
Using the Assessment Wall • Hold grade level meetings in the room where the assessment wall is located • Designate one grade level meeting each month to talk focused on the assessment wall • Have teachers move their students’ cards as soon as they entered the room • Select a topic of discussion based on the current showing of the assessment wall
Questions to Guide Assessment Wall Discussion • What do you notice? • What percentage of our students are achieving at expected levels? Above expected levels? Below expected levels? • What can we do to better meet the needs of our struggling students? Our students who are excelling? • Where were we last year?
Benefits of the Assessment Wall • Encourages and supports formative assessment • Provides a framework for discussion about instruction, best practices, and grouping • Puts the focus on grade levels, rather than individual classrooms or students • Helps to identify trends • Generate awareness of students who are “falling through the cracks”