Designing+Student+Assessments

This first newsletter will be brief, since you’ve already read my ‘Welcome’ letter! I want to give students and parents a simple outline of each month’s curriculum and the breakdown of how I will evaluate students this year. In the second and fourth terms, there will be formal, school-wide testing that will be worth 20% of those terms’ grades in English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Arabic or French. This month in English, we will be working on an Autobiography, reading the novel __Holes__, by Louis Sachar, and working through weekly spelling lists. English will be evaluated each term: Spelling: 10% Creative Writing: 40% Reading 40% On-going Assessment* 10% In Mathematics, we will begin our year with a review of the basic operations using whole numbers. In September, we will get through Unit 1 in our textbook, __Math Advantage__. Look for your child to bring home work to complete from the day’s lesson, or be reviewing for quizzes and weekly tests. Students will be asked to record the dates for upcoming tests, etc. in their planner. Mathematics will be evaluated each term: Special Mathing 10% Daily work & quizzes 40% Chapter & Unit Tests 40% On-going Assessment* 10% Our year in Science focuses on Earth Science. Our first month will cover an introduction to the study of Earth Science and begin a unit on Mapping. Our year in Social Studies will examine Ancient Civilizations. We will begin with Mesopotamia, then work our way through many of the key civilizations in the Middle East, Africa, India and China. Both Science and Social Studies grades will be determined as follows: Major Projects 25% Textbook work 25% Tests and Exams 25% On-going Assessment* 25% * On-going Assessment includes class participation, students doing homework, keeping orderly notebooks, etc. I have an ‘On-going Assessment Rubric’ in each student’s file. I will attempt to keep track of students’ progress and also have these available for Parent/Teacher Interviews. **In the above copy of this past year's September Newsletter, I have demonstrated my competency in designing clear criteria and standards for my student assessment. Monthly newsletters have made the school year much more transparent for parents, students and my administrator. Working together, parents are able to anticipate due dates, student responsibilities and my expectations.**
 * __ September News/ Course Outlines  __**