Curriculum

=General Curriculum Resources=


 * What do you think is the primary purpose of grading?
 * [[image:http://mail.springvillegi.wnyric.org/exchweb/img/clear1x1.gif width="40" height="16" link="@http://mail.springvillegi.wnyric.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dokcDlruhsedmNegfCzdegfCwEBz"]] || To communicate academic achievement to students and parents. ||
 * [[image:http://mail.springvillegi.wnyric.org/exchweb/img/clear1x1.gif width="40" height="16" link="@http://mail.springvillegi.wnyric.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dokcDlruhsedmNesfCzdegfCEnhC"]] || To motivate students to put forth their best effort. ||
 * [[image:http://mail.springvillegi.wnyric.org/exchweb/img/clear1x1.gif width="40" height="16" link="@http://mail.springvillegi.wnyric.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dokcDlruhsedmNeEfCzdegfCNqwn"]] || To indicate each student's status in the class. ||
 * [[image:http://mail.springvillegi.wnyric.org/exchweb/img/clear1x1.gif width="40" height="16" link="@http://mail.springvillegi.wnyric.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dokcDlruhsedmNeQfCzdegfCXOBm"]] || To convey how well students have achieved standards. ||
 * [[image:http://mail.springvillegi.wnyric.org/exchweb/img/clear1x1.gif width="40" height="16" link="@http://mail.springvillegi.wnyric.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dokcDlruhsedmNfcfCzdegfCjGNP"]] || To reflect whether students are doing their work and following directions. ||
 * [[image:http://mail.springvillegi.wnyric.org/exchweb/img/clear1x1.gif width="40" height="16" link="@http://mail.springvillegi.wnyric.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dokcDlruhsedmNfMfCzdegfChnvd"]] || To show progress and improvement from the last performance. ||
 * [[image:http://mail.springvillegi.wnyric.org/exchweb/img/clear1x1.gif width="40" height="16" link="@http://mail.springvillegi.wnyric.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dokcDlruhsedmNfYfCzdegfChXGw"]] || Other ||

November 2011 | Volume **69** | Number **3** Effective Grading Practices

Marge Scherer writes in this month's Perspectives column that "there is no doubt that our society believes in grades. We look for four-star movies, five-star restaurants, top-10 colleges, and even Grade A eggs. Although we tend to think of these ratings as objective, we know that it's important to read the full reviews—and look for cracks in the shells. This issue explores both the promising practices and the cracks in our grading systems."

On January 10th, 2011, the Board of Regents approved the recommended additions to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy and Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, plus a new set of Prekindergarten Standards. The documents can be accessed below. []



This Ladder of Student Involvement, and the focus it has on “Degrees of Participation”. True participation is based on shared leadership and empowering students. There are real parallels here to what we are seeing today with //meaningful// technology integration. (Ideally) real participation involves students being initiators of what needs to be learned and then working with their teacher to determine ways to demonstrate and assess the learning. At both the classroom and the school levels, how much do we empower students and how much do we limit their participation in their own learning? Excerpt from: []

Project-based learning combined with social responsibility: A new partnership between Microsoft, the Smithsonian and Taking ITGlobal creates student projects to solve real-world environmental challenges. [|http://shoutlearning.org]

Babylon.com offers dictionary and translation services to schools free of charge []

Teachers' Domain is a free digital media service for thousands of media resources, support materials, and tools for classroom lessons, individualized learning programs, and teacher professional learning communities. [|http://www.teachersdomain.org]

**Grade your school ** Are schools delivering what's necessary to keep students healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged? ASCD offers a resource to help education professionals and community members evaluate schools from a whole-child perspective. Get your school's report card.

**Research a Topic: Differentiated instruction** Intended for educators of every level, the differentiated instruction (DI) Research a Topic page on ASCD.org offers a collection of themed resources and learning tools. Use the page to connect with ASCD EDge users interested in DI discussion, find articles from past ASCD publications, explore DI-themed online courses and more. Visit the DI page.

**Elevating the essentials to radically improve student learning ** Why haven't decades of reform efforts yielded meaningful results for our schools? ASCD author Mike Schmoker says it's because resources have been directed at implementing the latest education fads, not improving curriculum and instruction. On his ASCD author's page, Schmoker discusses concepts from his recent book -- "Focus: Elevating the Essentials to Radically Improve Student Learning" -- to help educators refocus on student achievement without getting sidetracked by the latest trend.


 * Visit the author's page.


 * Read sample chapters from his book.

Teachers should use formative assessments often and during new lessons -- rather than after -- to check for student understanding, Edutopia consulting editor and educator Rebecca Alber writes in this blog post. Alber suggests creating checklists for students, having them write down the "big idea" of the lesson or asking them to summarize lessons in one sentence. Alber also suggests checking for student misconceptions and observing their behavior during class. Edutopia.org/Rebecca Alber's blog (2/15) ||
 * **How formative assessments can help ensure student understanding **

**ASCD Conference video -- Harvey Silver on who taught you to think** ASCD author Harvey Silver reflects in this video on the importance of thought and consideration in the learning process.

How should learning be assessed in project-based lessons? Education writer Suzie Boss considers the importance of effective assessments and how they can be used to measure student learning on project-based lessons. A new classroom guide developed by Edutopia offers tips and resources for assessing learning at each stage of a project-based lesson, from project planning to a culminating event when students present their conclusions. Edutopia.org/Suzie Boss' blog (3/24)