Learning Unleashed

We believe student learning is maximized when assessment guides the next steps in learning through a continuous process of feedback and measuring growth. Check out these resources to brush up your assessment practices and bring students into the process:

• 4 Types of Activities-Assessments That Every Teacher Should Know and Use
• 3 Ways Student Data Can Inform Your Teaching
• 7 Ways to Show Students Their Academic Growth
• Using Student Data to Inspire Goal-Setting
• Documenting Learning Through Portfolios

Did you know that “When implemented well, formative assessment can effectively double the speed of student learning” (Wiliam, 2015). Dig a little deeper into formative assessment with these resources:

• Benefits of Formative Assessment
• 7 Smart, Fast Ways to Do Formative Assessment

As January 2025 is upon us, so is MoY Universal Screener testing. These assessments give teachers valuable information to inform instruction. Knowing where your students are strong and where they need scaffolding is important. Equally important is students understanding this same information.

There are two things that teachers can plan for to really help students own their screener data and use it to set instructional goals for themselves.

1. Spending a little time discussing the purpose of the assessments and what information the student and teacher can learn from them can go a long way. A day or two before the test, talking about this can set students up for success.
2. After the assessment, allow for students to review their strengths and their areas of growth in both reading and math. Students can gain a better understanding of specific skills they want to focus on to grow and get better at reading and problem solving. Giving them these opportunities develops their ownership. As always, reach out to an ELA or Math curriculum staff member for any support.

Not only will these strategies give you more valid and reliable snapshots of student learning, it can help us on our journey to ensuring students are owning their own data and learning.

Formative assessment is considered the "linchpin" of the PLC process because it provides the essential data that allows teachers to collaboratively analyze student learning, identify areas of need, and adjust their instruction accordingly, enabling them to collectively improve teaching practices and student achievement across the team. Consider some of these reflective/coaching questions to support your team's progress toward "PLC Bright":

• When and how will we analyze the common assessment data as a team?
• What student work samples and/or formal/informal data will we bring to discuss as a team?

• What patterns do we see in student work? In proficient samples? Below proficient? Above proficient?

• What connections can we make between student performance and the instructional strategies we used?

• Which students need interventions and/or extensions on specific targets? What is our plan to provide it?

• What tools will students have to prepare themselves for and show mastery on assessments?

• How will students engage with their assessment results and feedback?

If you haven't tried it out already, now's your chance to look at MagicSchool.AI! Use tools like the Rubric Generator, Multiple Choice Assessment, DOK Questions, or the Math Spiral Review, among many others, to help you assess student learning. You can also check out our new page on the Empowered Learning Knowledge Base.

Navigating assessments that are meaningful for all students is not something that comes stocked in all new teacher toolbelts. No matter where you are on the journey of crafting assessments, the purpose is to guide the teacher and the student for next steps in learning. Give yourself permission to collect evidence of learning in a variety of ways and include your students in the process of tracking their mastery of targets. Watch this Edutopia Session of a panel of educators who target what is important to consider when navigating the complexities of assessing students.

Check out past editions of Learning Unleashed.

Let us know what you think about this edition or what you'd like to see in future editions of "Learning Unleashed."

For more opportunities for professional learning provided by Leander ISD, check out Eduphoria Strive.

Email: professional.development@leanderisd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/leanderisd.org/professional-learning/home
Phone: 512.570.0209
Twitter: @LISD_IPL