Hi Gina, I would think that you are dead-on-- assessing strategy use is a critical form of formative assessment that should guide our own instruction. Yet, as you point out, this form of assessment could only be a yes-no checklist for identifying whether an individual child is using or not using a strategy. That is very useful information that I always want to know, but perhaps it is not enough to base any sort of reading letter grade upon? Not sure.
So then the question becomes how to arrive at a letter grade and this is what has us all tossing and turning. Is a traditional comprehension assessment the best answer? Perhaps it is the most closely aligned to how they will be judged in state assessments and such, so I do not think it is an inadequate way to grade. Is a project or such, like Gallagher recommends, the best way to do it? It more closely aligns with respecting the reader's interpretation of their own learning, but less closely aligns with district and state assessments of reading. Should we just mark off their reading level on a DRA or other assessment at any given trimester and give a grade accordingly? What a quagmire for us all. I think the answer is to make professional decisions based upon what we think will help us and our students the most. Then, and here is the clincher, communicate clearly to others (students, parents and such) how we are arriving at our decisions. At back to school night this year, I let my parents know I would count effort in the achievement grade in all subjects--even math--even though effort has its own separate grade slot--I still count it into achievement. Nobody blinked. Either they weren't listening or I guess I am okay to do so. I will let you know after the first report card period passes:) -- Sincerely, Bonita DeAmicis California, Grade 5 -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: "gina nunley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > PS > > So could strategy assessment with rubrics be a "formative" assessment which > guides our instruction with individuals? _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org.
