FEEDBACK AND ASSESSMENT DURING REMOTE LEARNING

Focused on Three Key Components:

FEEDBACK:  Students learn best when receiving frequent and specific feedback. Narrative and formative feedback is essential. Focus on words and less on numbers.

CONNECTION:  The purpose of grading is to communicate learning progress. This must be done in the context of continuous and consistent connection between teacher and student. Focus on people and less on products.

COMPLEX REASONING:  The emphasis should be on rich learning experiences requiring complex thinking. Focus on quality and less on quantity; on engagement and less on compliance.

What About High School Placement and Advancement to the Next Grade?

We are not alone in this. Nor are our students. Across the State and country and at all levels from preK through college, schools are closed and learning has been interrupted. There will be gaps in learning. We will prepare for this. The key is communication. We will work with each other and with area high schools to ensure that we are ready to support our students whatever their needs. Current 8th graders WILL go on to high schools in the area. They will join peers from other districts who’ve experienced similar disruptions to learning. They will be OK. Our younger students will advance to the next grade. We will meet them where they are and get them where they need to be. We can and will do this - Together!

DO NO HARM: The COVID19 crisis came at the end of the second trimester for our students. With that in mind, the grades they received in the 2nd trimester should stand as normal grades. Going forward, during this time of school closure, we are taking a DO NO HARM approach to grading. This means that a student’s last summative or collective grade will be considered the year-end grade unless a student has provided evidence that they’ve met a standard they previously were working toward but had not yet met. Going forward, feedback will be narrative in nature. No grades will be detrimentally impacted because of the COVID19 crisis.