"I don't want to need it someday. I need to want it now."

If school is preparation for work, and work is what we do to live, then when do we live? Viewing school as something we do to prepare for the "real world" or for some career in "the future" we lose sight of the present. Today's activities are not done solely to achieve some nebulous future goal. […]

Student-Generated Report Cards in Student Focused Assessment Series (pt 5)

This is the fourth of six articles on the assessment and reporting practice used at my school for the past 15 years This post explores student generated report cards we called, "Growth Statements."   While things have evolved over time, and recent changes to our provincial reporting requirements are challenging the way we do things, […]

Media Literacy Must Include Social Media

After reading only the first paragraph of Emily Gover's article, "The Importance Of Education In A Facebook World" I hit an intellectual wall I knew I had to get over if I was to be effective at helping my students navigate the murky waters of social media. She encountered a story posted by a friend that […]

Portfolios in Student Focused Assessment Model (pt4)

This is the fourth of six articles on the assessment and reporting practice used at my school for the past 15 years This post explores Portfolio development and assessment. While things have evolved over time, and recent changes to our provincial reporting requirements are challenging the way we do things, this is a snapshot of […]

"Paper Blog Foldable" illustrates parts of a blog

Learning Activities and Self-Reflection in Student Focused Assessment Model (pt3)

This is the third of six articles on the assessment and reporting practice used at my school for the past 15 years This post explores day-to-day student engagement, reflection, and self-assessment. While things have evolved over time, and recent changes to our provincial reporting requirements are challenging the way we do things, this is a […]

Goal Setting in Student Focused Assessment Model (pt2)

This is the second of six articles on the assessment and reporting practice used at my school for the past 15 years This post covers the Goal Setting element. While things have evolved over time, and recent changes to our provincial reporting requirements are challenging the way we do things, this is a snapshot of […]

Success because of, or in spite of...? Nobel Prize Winner's Grade School Report

I have occasionally experienced this headmaster's frustration with students and in my early years may even have penned one or two comments with a similar sentiment. It's unclear whether the intent was to motivate or ridicule - probably a bit of both.   This is young John Gurdon's report card. Gurdon recently won the 2012 […]

Overview of Student Focused Assessment Model (pt1)

This is the first of six articles on the assessment and reporting practice used at my school for the past 15 years or so. While things have evolved over time, and recent changes to our provincial reporting requirements are challenging the way we do things, this is a snapshot of the ideal, our grand goals, […]

90% Test Mark. Yay! Right? Not always.

This is the example I give to explain why an overall percent doesn't tell the whole story, and can sometimes slow progress. Three students take a math test of 100 questions: ten questions each for ten different units. Here are the results: Each of the students achieves an average of 90% on the test. They all got the same grade, […]

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