ASSESSMENT PLAN

The first grade student has limited ability to read and write. The rubric and tally sheets are teacher tools for summative assessment. The rubric is also used for student self-evaluation during formative assessment while they use the teacher exemplars as models for distinguished work.

The following are strategies, techniques and tools to assess and document student progress:

• Rubric for teacher and student checking.
• Rules for activities to complete a game or worksheet.
• Teacher observation tally sheet.
• The complete integration of writing processes from ELA into science and math so that students have the same rules to follow when writing. These writing guidelines are used when filling out all written parts of the worksheets.

Diagnostic/ Summative Assessments:

• Pre / Post tests
• Scientific sketches
• Written description of an object
• A completed science journal

Pretest / Post Test

The pretest is a diagnostic lesson to evaluate how much children can provide details in their drawings prior to completing the activities in this learning experience. This exploration of observing and noting the shape and details of an object that represents a specimen is the process that mimics how real scientists gather information for their research. The children go through these lessons refining the details in their drawings. The post test shows how much more detailed the children’s scientific sketches communicate the specifics of their specimen.

How to use the Tally Sheet and Rubric

The Tally Sheet is a handy record keeping page that is placed on a clip board and carried around the class while the teacher is observing the students working. Quick notes and formative rubric scoring are jotted on this paper showing students’ daily progress. The Tally Sheet is especially valuable with younger children and special needs children because their written communication skills are not developed. The teacher needs to depend on the notes taken on the Tally Sheet to evaluate daily progress because oral conversations will reveal students’ knowledge more accurately than written responses.

The Seeing With Scientific Eyes Rubric scores a student’s ability in two dimensions; how the student observes a specimen to extrapolate detailed descriptions and information, and how to use this data to draw illustrations and write descriptive sentences and questions.

Students self-score Ball Inquiry worksheets in journal as a formative assessment.

Teacher and students score the Pipe Cleaner Inquiry worksheets in journal as part of the summative assessment.

During the Button Inquiry the teacher scores students by observing how the button illustrations and written descriptions lead to a peer’s success at identifying the button. The Illustration Dimension on the rubric is used during the game as a teacher summative evaluation.

Seeing With Scientific Eyes Journal Writing Rubrics

Teachers should use their discretion when working with children who have disabilities by arranging for a scribe or tape recorder to assist them.

Scoring: Possible score 12 Distinguished: 12-10; Proficient: 9-7; Developing: 6--

Comments:

Tally Sheet Notes

It is very useful if a teacher uses a class list that has a brief outline of the rubric scores across the top on a clipboard. As the teacher monitors the students working, she notes the student’s progress and translates the codes into a numerical score at a later time. These checks will allow the teacher to call smaller groups to develop the skills more closely.

Tally Sheet Scoring Key (Pre-Test)

+ Well Done (4) v Done / Attempted to Do the Work (3)

? Weak Skills (2) U Undeveloped / No Attempt (1)

Name of Unit: Button Inquiry
Class Room: 136
Date: December 2006
Grade: 1

Tally Sheet Scoring Key (Post-Test)

+ Well Done (4) v Done / Attempted to Do the Work (3)

? Weak Skills (2) U Undeveloped / No Attempt (1)

Name of Unit Button: Inquiry Class Room: 136 Date December: 2006 Grade: 1

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Updated: September 8, 2009
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