Philosophy and Goals of Assessment



Liberty Middle School IB Middle Years ProgramAssessment PolicyPhilosophy and Goals of AssessmentAt Liberty Middle School, we believe the time needed for students to demonstrate proficiency in content and skills needs to be varied to meet the learning needs of individual students. One of the most important aims of assessment is to support and encourage student learning by providing feedback on the learning process. Teachers continually monitor student progress and adjust instruction in order to improve achievement. Interventions for struggling learners as well as extension opportunities for students who learn quickly need to be provided so all students are appropriately challenged.We aim to provide students with a variety of assessment experiences. Most students are versed with fill-in-the-blank, multiple- choice, short-answer, school-based-type assessments. However, we strive to provide authentic, performance-based assessments that allow students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in real-world contexts. When developing assessments, we ask our teachers to place students in real-world scenarios that will require thought and reflection.What Is Assessed: TEKS and IB ObjectivesTwo types of learning objectives are assessed at Liberty: (1) the Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills, or TEKS, and (2) the IB objectives designated for each subject group.TEKS - These are the state standards for what students should know and be able to do as outlined by the state of Texas. The only course at Liberty that does not adhere to TEKS is the IB Design class that all students participate at all three grade levels; the learning standards for this course are the four IB objectives. To access the TEKS for any course, go to . Scroll to the bottom of the page, and under “Parent Resources” click on “Curriculum Standards.”IB Objectives – Along with the TEKS, each subject has four IB objectives that must be assessed twice per school year. Most of the IB objectives correlate with the TEKS. The IB objectives for each subject are listed in the following table: IB Subject GroupLiberty CourseIB ObjectivesArtsArt, Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theatre Arts, DanceUsing knowledgeDeveloping skillsThinking creativelyRespondingDesignDesignInquiring and analyzingDeveloping ideasCreating the solutionEvaluatingIndividuals and SocietiesWorld Cultures & Geography, Texas History, U.S. HistoryKnowing and understandingInvestigatingThinking CriticallyCommunicatingLanguage AcquisitionSpanish, Mandarin ChineseCommunicating in oral formInterpreting visual textComprehending written textCommunicating in written formLanguage and LiteratureEnglish Language Arts and Reading (ELA/R)AnalyzingOrganizingProducing textUsing languageMathematicsMathematics, Algebra, GeometryKnowing and understandingInvestigatingCommunicatingApplyingPhysical and Health EducationAthletics, Physical EducationUsing knowledgePlanning through inquiryApplying and performingReflecting and demonstratingSciencesScienceUsing knowledgeInquiring and designingProcessing and evaluatingReflecting on the impacts of scienceTypes & Methods of AssessmentsDiagnostic/Pre-Assessments - Teachers will often assess students’ prior knowledge before beginning a new unit of study.Formative (School) - Formative assessment is a process used by teachers that provides feedback to adjust ongoing teaching and learning toward the achievement of intended instructional goals. During this process teacherscontinually evaluate their students’ progress and needs. Formative assessments help teachers identify students’ levels of understanding, target students for intervention, and adjust their instruction. Students are encouraged to reflect on their learning, set goals, and take ownership for their own academic growth. In some cases, formative assessments are not graded, but are used for feedback to students and for teachers to modify strategies, as needed. Teachers track the learning of individual students on each state standard and MYP subject criterion.Summative (School) - Summative assessment occurs at the end of a unit of learning and is planned in advance. Some assessments are fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice, short-answer, school-based-type assessments; many of these are designed to give students practice with the format of the state assessments. Others are authentic, performance-based assessments. These types can take many different forms, including debates, essays, exhibitions, investigations, journals, presentations, projects, research, scientific experiments, and speeches. These assessment tasks give students an opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have learned during the unit of study.Required State and Local Assessments – The state of Texas requires end of the year assessments for all students in grades 3-8 for mathematics and reading. In addition, there are state-mandated assessments for 7th Grade Writing, 8th Grade Science, 8th Grade Social Studies, and Algebra I. The State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) is aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Classes for high school credit, such as Algebra are required to take End Of Course (EOC) state exams. These score reports from state assessments are sent home to parents by the school, usually during the summer.Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD also requires benchmark tests in ELA (Language and Literature), Social Studies (Individuals and Societies), Science, and Mathematics twice a year. Data from these tests is shared with teachers and administrators. Teachers use this data to analyze the effectiveness of their instruction. Students often analyze their results to identify strengths and weaknesses in their learning prior to the state-mandated assessments.Reporting MYP criteria – Interim assessment criteria will be collaboratively developed by content teachers for years 2 for each subject area criteria. A school generated Record of Achievement based upon MYP criteria will be reported to parents at semester and at the end of the school year.1International Baccalaureate Organization (July 2011). Academic honesty: guidance for schools. Accessed August 28, 2012 from 2Baker Middle School Corpus Christi ISD. Accessed June 3, 2019 from isd.us 3PFC Robert P. Hernandez Middle School Roundrock ISD. Accessed June 3, 2019 from hernandez. ................
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