ST MARYS JUNIOR SCHOOL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1
ST MARYS JUNIOR SCHOOLASSESSMENT INFORMATION

• Why do we assess?
• Types of assessment used at St Marys
• Methods of assessment
• The use of Rubrics in assessment
• Reporting on assessment
• Reports at St Marys
• Report Time

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WHY DO WE ASSESS?

• To gather information about individual progress
  towards achievement of outcomes
• To measure growth and development of individual
  knowledge, skills attitudes and values
• To record information in a systematic way
• To report on the level of performance of
  individuals
• To maintain standards by recognising areas for
  professional development

3
TYPES OF ASSESSMENT

• SUMMATIVE marks collected from tests and exams
• FORMATIVE develops students awareness of own
  progress and guides them to improve future
  performance and develops teacher awareness of the
  range of individual needs and empowers them to
  provide differentiated input
• CONTINUOUS all assessments taken into account
  to sum up performance of a student

4
METHODS OF ASSESSMENT

• Teacher assessment
• Self-assessment
• Peer assessment
• Parent/guardian/community involvement in
  assessment

5
THE USE OF RUBRICS AND RATING SCALES IN ASSESSMENT

• Rating scales are designed to evaluate student
  performance
• Consist of criteria that describe expectations of
  the task
• Provide transparent descriptions of levels of
  quality required by a specific task
• Should be presented to students at commencement
  of task so that they know what to aim for when
  completing the task

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REPORTING ON ASSESSMENT

• Three reports per year describe the progress of
  each child
• The information describes the outcomes of the
  learning area and how the individual child has
  performed
• Constructive feedback on the whole child is
  provided
• Parent meetings provide parents with a
  comprehensive picture of the students
  capabilities and include strategies for support,
  if required

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Reports at St Marys

• Course description describes learning programme
  for term
• Skill Development Narratives highlight the
  specific assessment criteria for the term and are
  rated according to achievement
• Personal comments for Maths, English, Sotho, Zulu
  Afrikaans Part of the Fundamental aspect of
  the FET
• Integrated Academic Comment developed at
  progress meeting with all class and specialist
  teachers. Strategies for development included
  here if necessary.
• Personal and Social Development Comment
  developed at pastoral care meeting with input
  from all teachers who have contact with the
  student.
• Headmistress Comment personal comment to
  commend and support teacher comments.

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Evaluating our Report

• Any changes made, have been to embrace the
  National Curriculum Statement and maintain
  academic excellence
• Much thought was put into the changes and
  stimulated much discussion
• IEB recommend a child friendly report with levels
  of achievement
• School of Education at Wits commend the changing
  Skill Development Narratives and highlight the
  benefits of these to a childs learning
• Are we there yet? A good reporting and
  assessment plan is non-static but dynamic
  positive change is inevitable

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REPORT TIME

• Report reading at school Grade 4 to 7
• Make it a constructive experience
• Read the report with your daughter and praise her
  she is learning continually
• Be proud of your daughters achievements and
  focus on the positives
• Discuss any personal and social comments
• If you have any concerns, speak to the teachers
  at Parent Interviews DONT be critical in front
  of your daughter, as she loves her school

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ASSESSMENT IS CATCHING CHILDREN AT THEIR BEST

• Assessment at St Mary endeavours to
• Provide indications of student achievement in the
  most effective and efficient manner, and ensure
  that students integrate and apply knowledge and
  skills. Our Assessment intends to assist students
  to make judgements about their own performance,
  set goals for progress and provoke further
  learning.