Assessment Project: Stage 1
Jeff Jakob
I teach world history at the seventh grade level at Jefferson Middle School in Champaign Unit 4 School District. As our district continues to introduce standardized multiple choice tests in the light of No Child Left Behind, I feel that alternative assessments must be included as well. With such high importance placed on reading, math, and writing, our district suggests that all classes work on these subjects to better prepare our students for ISAT testing.
I would like to help students become better readers and writers through social studies. I feel the inclusion of these skills throughout the curriculum will increase reading comprehension and through alternative assessments, students can practice these skills while proving what they have learned in the context of social studies.
Project objectives
Students will improve reading, writing, and critical thinking skills
Students will be able to creatively exhibit their knowledge of the content
Students of all subgroups will score proportionally to the general school population
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Students do not like tests; many feel punished while many feel the test did not measure all that they learned. |
How can we make tests a measurement of what a student has learned rather than punishment for not learning the questions on the test? |
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Reading and writing are difficult skills for many students. |
If we incorporate reading and writing skills into the curriculum AND assessment, will students become better readers and writers? |
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Our subgroup students are over-represented in the “failing” category and under-represented in “A” category |
Can alternate assessment styles 'level the playing field' or allow students to find success in an area they typically do not (tests)? |
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Our school struggles to meet AYP. |
How will alternate assessments in social studies affect AYP in reading? |
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Students take many multiple choice tests in Unit 4 Schools |
How will a new test format be accepted by students? Will they view it as negative? |
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My students have a wide range in level of ability and many have IEPs, making test writing difficult. |
Will rubrics/alternate assessments allow students to be tested according to his or her ability/IEP? |
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