Everyday Writing to Assess Everyday Writing to Assess Comprehension in the Comprehension in the Content AreasContent Areas
Where learning and writing collide
Presented by Kathleen Kopp & Gail Bockiaro
Forest Ridge Elementary School, Citrus County, FL
The Butter LadyThe Butter LadyHow does Mrs. Podunk motivate
her reluctant writer?What will Mrs. Podunk learn about
the class’s learning regarding Florida pioneer life?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of having students write to demonstrate learning vs. reading and taking a multiple choice test?
P-M-I (Plusses, Minuses, Interesting)P-M-I (Plusses, Minuses, Interesting)
““I can use writing as another way to I can use writing as another way to assess my students’ subject matter assess my students’ subject matter comprehension.”comprehension.”
PLUSSES MINUSES INTERESTING
The Definition of The Definition of AssessmentAssessmentTwo-column Notes
Mine TheirsWikipedia
Wiggins
Popham
Similarities
Differences
The Definition of The Definition of AssessmentAssessmentPersonal
◦ Write, Pair, ShareWikipedia
◦ the process of documenting, usually in measurable terms, knowledge, skills, attitudes and beliefs.
Wiggins◦ A means to improve student performance.
Popham◦ A process by which educators use
students’ responses to make inferences regarding students’ knowledge, skills, or affective status.
Essential QuestionEssential Question
Did they get it? How do I know?◦Tests
Multiple choice – Choose two to justify/explain
◦Performance Tasks Projects Problems Prompts
Plan AheadPlan Ahead
Determine the essential outcomes or knowledge.
Plan what and how you want to assess before assigning a project or writing task.
Design a project or task that matches the essential learning.
Students should know how they are being assessed (rubric, rating scale, checklist) before they begin writing.
Support and Scaffold Support and Scaffold Student WorkStudent WorkProvide a model.Support students as they begin
writing.◦Planning sheets◦Dialogue and discussion
Provide time to conference with students about their work.◦Teacher-to-student◦Student-to-student
What do performance tasksWhat do performance tasks look like? look like?Open-endedEngagingApplication of content area
instructionApplication of writing skillsVariety of writing genresClear and compelling standardsProvide a model, if possible
Writing to Assess Student Writing to Assess Student LearningLearningBefore Learning During Learning After Learning
PMI Chart NotesProjects, Problems, Prompts
“Summer Vacation” Learning Logs Columbus
Learning Journals Book Report “Now Showing” Poster “Ask the Expert” Button
Foldables Famous Person Reading (“Jackie Mitchell”) Famous Explorer
“Ask the Expert”
Table Talk The Butter Lady
Performance Task Resources Performance Task Resources Worth a LookWorth a LookLearning Through Writing Kathy
Kopp, Maupin House, Inc.Everyday Content Area Writing
Kathy Kopp, Maupin House, Inc.Reaching the Reluctant Writer
Mike Artell, Maupin House, Inc.Summarization in Any Subject,
Rick Wormeli, ASCD
BibliographyBibliographyEducational Leadership; December
2007/January 2008: Informative Assessment (vol. 65 no. 4).
Ahead of the Curve: The power of assessment to transform teaching and learning; Edited by Douglas Reeves; Solution Tree, 2007.
Educative Assessment; Grant Wiggins; Jossey-Bass, Publishers, 1998.
Modern Educational Measurement: Practical guidelines for educational leaders (3rd ed.); W. James Popham; Allyn and Bacon, 2000.