The New Year: A Time for Reflection

According to Assessment for Learning (from Education Services Australia), students who use self-assessment: recognize that learning is associated with a very positive kind of difficulty, which increases motivation rather than destroying it experience an increase in self-esteem experience an improvement in their learning because they come to know how they learn rather than just what they learn Teachers who encourage students to self-assess: see the responsibility for learning shifting from them to their students recognize an increase in student motivation and enthusiasm for learning and a corresponding decrease in behavioral problems are able to use feedback from their students about how they learn to shape lessons to individual and group needs rather than teaching to the mythical class as whole Strategies to Enhance Student-Self-Assessment Check out these strategies to enhance student self-assessment: reflection activities, student-led and three-way conferences, rubrics, graphic organizers, learning targets, and time management. “Be Sure To”: A Powerful Reflection Strategy A video from the Teaching Channel: The new year is a great time for reflection and goal setting. Watch Julie Manley walk her students through the “Be Sure To” strategy, allowing them to think about what they learned in class and use that knowledge to plan for the future. Daily Reflection Here's a quick formative assessment that helps students reflect on a daily basis: The Stoplight Method from Teaching Channel. Setting Goals Based on Peer Review This video is filmed in a kindergarten classroom, but if these little guys can give and receive peer review suggestions and set goals so successfully, imagine how we can use these same strategies with older students! Portfolio Assessments A great way to encourage students to be metacognitive about their learning is to assign a portfolio assessment mid-year and end-of-year. Here is a model portfolio assessment and rubric that you are welcome to adopt/adapt: Portfolio Assessment Assignment "Dear Reader" Rubric The Teacher's Role in Portfolio Assessment: An Article