Assessment and Homework Policy

Transcription

1 Assessment and Homework Policy Oregon Trail Academy Oregon Trail Academy Proctor Rd. Boring, OR Fax:

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3 Assessment Assessment is the gathering and analysis of information about student performance. Our philosophy of assessment believes that assessment should support student learning. Specifically, we believe assessment Is an integral component of the curriculum Drives and informs instruction Is used in a variety of forms: pre-assessment, formative and summative assessment, evaluative Is an on-going objective process May be a way to communicate growth and needs to teachers, parents and students Must be targeted to a specific goal or learning outcome and based on research based best practices Are consistent across grade levels and aligned with IB program requirements. Will be explicitly explained to teachers new to the school. This training will include exemplars and an opportunity to practice. policy is under constant review We believe the purpose of assessment is For students: To demonstrate their learning To show progress and trends over time To provide accountability To reflect For teachers: To determine students beginning instructional level and background knowledge; establish a baseline To plan instruction based on student need To reflect and evaluate on the effectiveness of instructional practice For parents: To communicate what kind of support can be provided at home To know their student s level of achievement To monitor their student s growth over time Characteristics of effective assessment at OTA: Age and developmentally appropriate Differentiated to meet the needs of different learners Have criteria that are known and understood in advance Allow students to synthesize and apply their learning, not merely recall facts Promote student reflection and self-evaluation

4 Focus on the production of quality products or performances Highlight student s strengths and allows them to demonstrate mastery and expertise Allow students to express different points of view and interpretations Provide feedback regarding every stage of the learning/teaching cycle Based on student needs, interests and learning styles (student-driven_ Involve collaboration between students and teachers Produce evidence of student growth and learning that can be clearly reported and understood by children, parents, teachers and administrators Identify what is worth knowing Begin with the end results in mind (backwards design-what students should be able to know or do by the end of a learning unit, lesson or process) How do teachers grade and record student progress? PYP Teachers use a variety of assessment tools to record student progress in the PYP, including: rubrics, checklists, task or subject-specific criteria, forms, benchmarks/exemplars and narrative records. MYP & DP In the MYP and DP teachers use the common practice of applying the IB assessment criteria to determine grade levels. Teachers use rubrics that contain criterion from each subject area. These marks are then entered into Managebac and converted to an IB grade (1-7) and finally, a local grade (A-F). Across all grades levels it is the common practice to have the most current grades available on Managebac with progress reports ed out every four weeks. In addition, there are required statewide assessments administered once every year in grades Currently, the SBAC test is administered for English and Math while OAKS is administered for Science. These tests are scored, normed and reported to families by Oregon Department of Education personnel. OTSD district-wide work samples for writing, math, science and speech are required for each of the grades 6-10 as well. Classroom teachers score and report out the results to parents. How is student growth reported to parents and students? Report cards (two times a year) The IB learner profile reflection is included in the progress reports for the PYP. Parent-Teacher, Teacher-Student and Parent-Teacher-Student conferences as needed (held throughout the year)

5 Teacher communication with parents via notes home, newsletters, and phone calls For MYP and DP students Managebac is available for continuous review by both parents and students. Homework Policy: Yes, we believe in homework at OTA! Research consistently finds that regular homework expectations will assist your child in school. Homework is a necessary part of classroom teaching, and all students can expect to receive homework on a regular basis. Homework is intended to reinforce work covered in class, practice skills and to help students develop important habits of self-discipline, organization and self-reliance. Different teachers and grades will have different amounts, depending on the assignment. Always check with teachers if you see too much or too little in homework assignments. (Each year we routinely hear as many concerns voiced over too much homework as we do with not enough homework.) Parental feedback is an important way that we monitor homework to get the amount right. Help us to assure that all homework assignments are completed. PYP For grades K-5, each student is required to read every evening. In addition, homework can take on a variety of forms: Homework may be teacher-developed or work between student and parent. The type and amount of homework is dependent upon the age of the child. Teachers will determine the schedule for assigning homework, including Mandarin and P.E., and communicate clearly with families. The homework will have meaningful application for what is being taught and learned in the classroom. Parents are critical partners in teaching and learning successes. Please contact your child s classroom teacher when questions about homework arise. Our goal is to work together to cultivate independent learners who complete work with academic honesty. If a student struggles to complete homework consistently, the teacher and family will communicate in attempt to find a resolution. If requirements are still not being met, a meeting between the family and the principal (student included) may be arranged. Some ways you can help your child with homework include: Act as a guide for problem solving by asking your child questions related to their work Preview any online resources your child might find or be interested in Structure time each day devoted to homework

6 Help your child to focus on quality of work over correctness MYP & DP Homework assignments are developed in keeping with the IB framework and serve an important purpose in developing students learning skills and personal responsibility within the IB and beyond. Assignments such as reports and projects take many weeks of careful planning and good organization on the part of the students. Because of this all students are encouraged to use a planner or assignment book of their choice to keep track of tasks, projects and deadlines. The amount of homework given will vary across the school but in general MYP students can expect: Grade hours per week. Grade hours per week. Grade hours per week. Grade 9 & 10 up to 15 hours per week. Due to the extra demands of the DP program students should expect to spend more than 15 hours per week and will need to manage their time outside of school accordingly. The school does not operate a homework timetable for students, although deadlines for major tasks are shown on OTA s Managebac site at In line with our policy of fostering independent learning and striving to develop the dispositions of the IB Learner Profile, we promote a collaborative approach to the setting of homework, through which teachers will plan homework schedules at regular curriculum planning meetings and will, as appropriate, involve students in the setting of deadlines. Students are responsible for organizing their time appropriately to manage long-term projects. Parents are encouraged to assist in monitoring student progress toward the completion of assignments but should not do the students work for them. Parents can be most helpful to their children by providing a routine time and place that are conducive to undisturbed study.

7 Students can seek help in developing more effective study skills from their teachers, and the other staff. It can be assumed that students will always be required to be reading set texts in preparation for lessons and reading around all of their subjects as a matter of course. Students are also expected to proofread all written tasks. Getting work done on time requires careful planning, organization, determination and self-discipline. These qualities are important to the later working careers of students and in their personal lives. To promote the habit of punctuality, our policy is that: Teachers clearly communicate to students the guidelines, expectations and use of criterion for homework or coursework, as well as actively encourage the students use of the planner. Students are responsible for finding out about any and all missed assignments. All missing assignments must be made up. Assignments due during an absence should be submitted during the first lesson upon return. Any work assigned during an absence is due on the regular due date unless prior arrangements have been made with the teacher. If a student is present in class when a test or quiz is announced, the student is expected to take the test or quiz on the day of his or her return to school, if the teacher wishes. Special arrangements for exams will only occur due to sickness or bereavement. Any assignments due the day of a field trip must be submitted prior to the field trip or extra-curricular activity. Students who fail to do homework assignments in any subject on a repeated basis will receive first a verbal warning by the subject teacher. After that if assignments are still not completed on a regular basis a homework slip is sent home. This slip requires the parent/guardian to sign acknowledging that they are aware of this fact. Further failure to complete homework assignments by a particular student leads to a meeting with the student, parents/guardians and the programme coordinator to look at reasons for the student s failure to follow the school s homework policy and to set into place a series of agreements that will lead to the student being able to successfully complete homework on time.