MCMR

By: Michael M. Yell
// Writing Assessments // // Rubrics // // Projects // // Differentiation // // Tests and Quizzes // To read the original article, please follow this link: [|Multiple Rubrics.pdf]
 * Assessment isn’t necessarily something that should occur at the end of a unit, nor consist of multiple choice, true/false, short answer and short essay questions; it should be part of the learning experience.
 * The best means of utilizing assessment is by engaging in multiple methods at numerous points in a unit.
 * Assessments can be taken of creative and formal writing, individual and group projects, and quizzes/tests.
 * __ Response Notebooks __ : useful for different formal and informal writing exercises, seed questions (stemming from material and instruction), meaningful sentences employing vocabulary. Can eliminate worksheets!
 * __ I-Search Essay __ : builds from questions that students would like to research and write about including seed questions, previous lessons, or instructor suggestions.
 * __ Creative Writing with a Twist __ : writing about a factual event/occurrence in the form of a diary/journal entry, a newspaper account or editorial, a dialogue between characters, a poem, or even a comic strip.
 * Students may want the rubric categories of unacceptable, minimally proficient, proficient, advanced, and exceeds expectations related to letter and number grades, which are easier to understand and more meaningful.
 * By using the rubric, students can improve their writing by examining at the criteria achieved and adjust it to meet the established criteria for a higher grade.
 * Students should be allowed to exercise some degree of choice over the work, which can incorporate both their knowledge and higher order thinking. When the availability of choices increases, this also requires that multiple rubrics be developed.
 * Because students learn and progress in different ways, curriculum and instruction should be tailored to help the individual student.
 * Differentiated individual projects, that include both rubrics and checklists, should be a component of assessment, especially for gifted students.
 * Multiple choice questions should go beyond recall and ask students to compare, sort, and classify.
 * Essay questions should focus on processing, such as comparison and explanations, as well as offering choices of topic.
 * An instructor can combine resources by having students use their notebooks and other sources to go over their tests and correct the mistakes for an improved grade.