CURRICULUMTRANSFORMATION

and COMMUNICATING STUDENT

LEARNING

Cambridge ElementarySchool Blog: cambridgelearns.comSchool Twitter: @CambridgeLearnsSchool Facebook: facebook.com/cambridge36

Goals for tonight…

To help you gain a better understanding of:

• The rate of change in education• Changes to B.C.’s Curriculum• The research on Letter Grades• Importance of descriptive feedback

FACT: Rate of CHANGE

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES overFACTS AND MEMORIZATION

Slide by Bill FerriterThe Tempered Radicalblog.williamferriter.com@plugusin

TO

Engaging students inmeaningful, personalized learning experiences

Understanding andProcess

ENDURING…BIG IDEAS and Competencies

Ongoing Descriptive Feedbackand Individualized Assessment

FROM

Coveringcurriculum

Memorization andContent

FIXED…LearningOutcomes

Measuring andGrading

THE SHIFT

Using 24 multilink cubes,what rectangular solids

could be made?

How could you determinewhich of these solids had

thesmallest surface area?

In what ways doletter grade define a learner?

In what ways doletter gradesshut down learning?

MYTH: If we don’t give letter grades, students will not be motivated or engaged.

Slide by Bill FerriterThe Tempered Radicalblog.williamferriter.com@plugusin

Letter Grades:• Do Not inform learning.• Tend to reduce students’ interest

in the learning itself. • Tend to reduce students’

preference for challenging tasks.• Tend to reduce the quality of

students’ thinking. (Kohn, 1999)

Is there a better way to communicate student learning?

• Descriptive and personalized• Ongoing rather than an “event”• Authentic learning artifacts• Shows growth over time• Invites and promotes communication between

students, teachers, parents• Supports future learning• Student voice

So…what can you expect?• Ongoing and timely feedback regarding your child’s learning and

progress• A visual “window” into the classroom• An opportunity for you to be involved in your child’s learning• Descriptors regarding whether your child is approaching, meeting, or

exceeding the widely held expectations for learning, rather than letter grades

• Ongoing suggestions regarding ways to support your child• Regular parent/teacher/ student meetings in December and April• Student-led conferences in February• ONE final summative report which you will receive in hard copy and which will be filed