Educational Insights: February 8, 2010

…developing individuals to meet the challenges of a global community

Assessment is an important part of Garden County Schools’ educational program. There are two basic types of assessments: formative and summative. Both are invaluable in maximizing student learning and should be balanced within a quality instructional program.

Formative assessmentis part of the instructional process. When incorporated into classroom practice, it provides the information needed to adjust teaching and learning while they are happening. 

Summative assessments are given periodically to determine at a particular point in time what students know and do not know. Many associate summative assessments only with standardized tests such as state assessments, but they are also an important part of district and classroom programs. Summative assessment at the district/classroom level is often an accountability measure.

This month spurs the onset of several types of summative testing. Here is a brief overview of what can be expected:

• Students in grades 4, 8, and 11 will have completed their statewide writing assessment by the end of this week. All respond to a state provided prompt and have two sessions to complete their writing. 4^th graders write a narrative essay, 8^th graders compose a descriptive essay, and 11^th graders a persuasive essay. Their writing is scored in Omaha by six-trait trained scorers using a holistic rubric. (Refer to http://reportcard.nde.state.ne.us/Main/Links.aspx for more details.) In late spring, the district will receive notification of how many students were proficient, based on state cut scores determined annually.
• In March, all students in grades 2-11 will take their computerized standardized MAP tests (additional NWEA MAP information is available at http://www.nwea.org/products-services/computer-based-adaptive-assessments).
• These are administered in the fall and midyear to measure progress in reading, language, math, and science and identify areas of strength or concern. Students’ academic growth and scores are nationally normed, with individual and class results being available in end of the year reports.
• This April will mark the first year of a statewide reading test (NeSA) in grades 3-8 and 11 taken online. Results of this new state assessment will be available in late summer. Next year, math will be added and 2012 will include science concepts.

Good teaching is the real foundation for increasing learning and student achievement. Assessments are merely used as checkpoints to see how students and teachers alike are doing in the instructional process. Be sure to contact your child’s teachers or principal for additional information about assessments and results.

Student Responses to Previous Ed. Insights

Response #1
Response #2