PROJECT PROPOSAL

CROSS-CURRICULAR SCHOOL PROJECT 2018-19

Name of School: Seminar School

Proposed site to visit: St Ann’s High School in New York City

Project Title: No Grades Classroom

Date of Presentation February 8, 2018

Names of Team Members:

Farhana Begum
Thomas Zucchi
Alessio Giancola
Marina Di Pratola
 APPLICATION FORM
1

PROJECT OBJECTIVE(S):
The objective of this project is for Seminar School in Montreal to implement a similar
academic assessment to that which is given at St-Ann’s School. Students at St-Ann’s do
not get evaluated based on a grading system in a numerical value, but rather through
constructive teacher feedback. The objective of this kind of approach is to place value on
the academic journey in which each student takes on individually. Thus, instead of grading
the students using a certain percentage for their work and efforts, teachers write full-
anecdotal reports for each student with constant feedback on their work. At times,
numerical values are disadvantageous for students, where they may receive a grade
without knowing the reasoning behind it. On the other hand, this system of evaluation
proposed for students gives them the opportunity to constantly evaluate themselves
through their teachers’ feedback, therefore allowing them to take control of their own
learning experiences. The students at St-Ann’s follow the same curriculum as all other
schools in New York, where they must take core classes as well as other electives.
However, the difference lies within the methods of instruction, where teachers become
facilitators of knowledge, while also consistently encouraging students to pursue their
interests within each subject. Teachers at this school have a thorough ability to provide
constructive feedback to their students, seeing as feedback is the preferred measure of
evaluation used at this school. Not only does this method empower students as self-
regulated learners, it also encourages their motivational beliefs while developing self-
esteem in their own capabilities. Ultimately, this implies that students learn from the
feedback they receive and engage in various activities in a proactive way, therefore
improving the performance of the students.Providing students with consistent feedback
serves many purposes, where the foremost is to inform students of their strengths and
weaknesses. However, this method of evaluation aims to go beyond this, by promoting a
student-teacher relationship that encourages open dialogue about their performances and
necessary improvement measures.
VISIT:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF HOST SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION:

EXPECTED OUTCOME OF VISIT:

APPLICATION FORM
2
PRE-DEPARTURE PROGRAM FORMAT

· Pre-departure activity

It is essential that this project proposal receives feedback from the entire school community
as it affects all involved in the education of Seminar School students. Prior to the departure
of our project proposal team, we will have two separate meetings with teachers and the
school administration, as well as Cycle 1 parents. Active members of the project proposal
will evaluate both meetings and organize the information and questions that arose in them.

· Identify ideas and concepts to be addressed at the pre-departure activity

Teacher & Administration Meeting

A half-ped day would be necessary to inform teachers and the school administration
(especially Cycle 1 teachers) of this project. Their comments and concerns are essential to
this project and will necessarily be communicated to our host school, St Ann’s. At the
closure of this meeting, we will hand out a document including a survey and a “comments
and/or concerns” section.

Examples of questions on this survey include:

- Do you believe that a project of this magnitude can have a positive impact on lower-
achieving students?
- Would you as a teacher follow the concept of this new program, even in its
preliminary stages?
- Do you believe the culture of the school can better itself by implementing this new
project?
- Would you be interested in contributing to the creation of this project in the future?

Parents Meeting

A week-night meeting will be scheduled with Cycle 1 parents. Parents who are considering
sending other children to Seminar School are especially encouraged to participate in this
meeting. Parents in the school community are essential for maintaining a positive culture for
the students and staff. A run-through of the project proposal will be offered by the team. For
the parents, this project offers their children a less competitive environment, suitable for all
grades. By reducing the competitiveness, students graduating elementary school will
experience less of a shock entering high school. Feedback regarding this project and any
possible effects it might have on Cycle 1 students is at the centre of this meeting. Parents
will be provided sheets to contribute or ask questions on the project proposal anonymously.
 APPLICATION FORM 3

STUDY VISIT ACTIVITY

· Identify important questions to address with the school team of the host
school/organization.

1. What are some of your evaluation/assessment methods?

2. How do you create your rubrics?
3. Do all teachers and staff members agree with this method of assessment?
4. What are some advantages of this method of assessment?
5. Can you provide examples of what positive feedback and negative feedback look
like?
6. What are their grades compared to regional/national averages?
7. Do the students perform well in standardized tests?
8. How do parents/guardians feel about this type of assessment?
9. Does it prepare students for post-secondary education?
10. How do students appreciate this method of evaluation? Are they receptive to it?
11. Is there a particular training that needs to be done with new teachers?
12. Does the type of feedback differ between ages?
PLANNING STRATEGIES

Outline strategies to be used while at the host organization (interactions with host
organizational members, recording and documenting of observations and interactions and
reflection and analysis, communications with home school, home and host community
involvement, etc.)

It is important that we first begin conversations with the administration of the host school.
Our trip will consist of three days, where each day will focus on a different perspective of
the program. On the first day we will meet with the principal of the school and discuss
overall administrative duties that are required with this type of program in the school. These
responsibilities include training teachers, efficiently organizing the education department of
the school, and standardized testing procedures (how they compare to national averages).
We will also ask the administration about the various successes and failures that were
encountered in order to establish such a flourishing program, as well as concrete guidelines
that Seminar School may use to appropriately instruct teacher on how to provide feedback
to students.

Afterwards, the second day of the visit will be dedicated to analyzing the instructional
methods used by teachers throughout the school. This therefore includes examining how
the teachers gives feedback, including feedback on both formative and summative
assignments, class discussions and overall informal types of feedback. We will also
interview educators that teach core courses such as math, science and history, where
grades are obtained through ministerial examination in Quebec. For instance, questions
such as how to prepare their students to take standardized tests will be addressed, as well
as the rate of performance for such evaluation methods.

Finally, on the last day of the visit, interviews will be conducted with a variety of students
who attend St-Ann’s school. Students will be asked about their thoughts on the program
they are studying in, the instructional methods they are receiving, as well as their opinion on
such methods in comparison to formal evaluation practices. Several parents/guardians of
the students will also be invited to meet with us as well, providing us with a more
comprehensive understanding of the role of a parent in this educational context.
APPLICATION FORM 4

REINVESTMENT ACTIVITY

Determine ways how you will share with home school colleagues and community
members, other schools within your school board, and any other institutions that may be
interested.

Upon returning to the Seminar School, a document compiling all relevant information of the
visit to St Ann’s will be created. This document will have responses to the questions and
concerns brought up by parents, teachers and administrators in the pre-departure
meetings. The findings must primarily be accessible for parents and teachers, but also
accessible via email to other interested institutions and the school board. None of the
findings are meant to be kept private, but rather inform all those interested. Keeping school
members informed is vital in order to encourage inclusion and success in this project. A
one-hour meeting on a pedagogical day should be made available to brief teachers and
administrators of the status of the project.
EVALUATION (Strategies that will be used to assess whether the cross-curricular project
objectives have been met)
This initiative will be implemented as a pilot project for the secondary one students in the
2018-2019 school year. Students will be evaluated through the use of constructive
feedback, as seen at St-Ann’s school. Such feedback will aim at improving the overall
performance of students across a variety of subjects taught in school. While the students
will not be receiving numerical grades for their work throughout the school year, the
students will however take part in the end of year Ministry exams. By doing so, the
performance of the students for these exams will be compared to the results of previous
years, in which the students received formal method of evaluation using numerical values
rather than the learning tool of constant feedback. Teachers will be given numerous hours
of training on how to give constructive feedback by attending several workshops as well as
by using the information and recordings gathered at the host school. In order for students
to benefit from the feedback provided, the teacher must give clear guidelines of what is
expected, and of the level at which they should perform. This will allow students to
compare their actual level of performance with the intended level or standard, while actively
engaging students in specific action that will improve their performance or reduce the gap
between their current level of performance and the intended level of performance. After this
project has seen success upon the completion of the secondary one pilot program, it will
then be implemented in all classrooms for the entering students in the following years.

APPLICATION FORM
5
TIMELINE

Introduction by Principal: September 1st

Project Proposal Development: September - November 15th

Submission of application to Principal: November 15th

Response from School Board: December 15th

Pre-departure activity: September 20th

Visit: October 9th - 13th

Reinvestment activity: October 22nd

BUDGET $7,500.00

4 Teachers x 200.00 Substitution Rate x 4 days = $3,200

Travel costs for participants

Greyhound bus: $200 per teacher, round-trip ticket = $800

Other Costs
Air BnB room in New York City: $200/night x 4 nights = $800
Taxi services: Approximately $400
Meals: $150/teacher every day x 4 = $2,400