Assessment

Assess More,
in Action
Grade Less A Guide for
Parents/Guardians

When you think of

assessment, you may
recall letter grades and
report cards. This is only
one small aspect of
assessment. Here,
assessment is a vital part
of the learning process,
and it is used to enhance
your child’s learning
experiences. In our Contact Info
classroom, we assess Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX
more and evaluate less,
which has been proven Email: dmailloux@tdsb.on.ca
to improve student See what your child is doing in the
achievement. classroom, visit Room14.blogspot.ca.

What are the types of
assessments you will use?
Assessment AS Learning occurs when children
assess themselves. They monitor their own progress
in relation to learning goals and success criteria. They
develop skills to self-monitor, set goals, and self-reflect
on their own learning. This helps build a sense of
independence and accountability in your child.
Examples: journals, graphic
organizers, self-checklists,
goal-tracking sheets, peer
feedback
Assessment FOR Learning is gathering and
interpreting evidence of student learning that will
help me decide where your children are at in their
learning; where they need to go next; and how
they will get there. Its purpose is to provide valuable,
descriptive feedback to students as they are gaining
and practicing new knowledge and skills. The
information I receive from these assessments also
assists me to adjust my instruction to ensure your
child’s progress.
Examples: teacher
observations, student-
teacher conferences,
admit/exit passes
Assessment OF Learning is where your child’s
grades come into play. This is when I evaluate your
child’s work and assign a letter grade that best reflects
the quality of their learning. These evaluative
practices occur usually at or near the end of a learning
period, when your child should be ready to
demonstrate their learning.
Examples: projects,
demonstrations,
presentations, rubrics, tests,
quizzes
How do assessments help
improve my child’s learning?
When assessments are done on an ongoing and timely
manner, students…
 Grow more aware of their strengths and areas needing
improvement, and what they need to do to close gaps in their
learning;
 Become more self-directed and independent;
 Are more confident and motivated to participate and complete
learning tasks;
 Have more opportunities to practice new skills and receive more
feedback prior to evaluated tasks;
 Develop understanding of desired outcomes, learning goals, and
success criteria, which help to focus their learning;
 Acquire life skills, such as critical thinking, self-regulation, self-
reflection, and goal-setting;
 Understand the relevance of what they are learning.
Student-Led
Conferences
Every year,
students present
their learning
portfolios to their
parents/guardians.
Students choose
what goes into
these portfolios that best represent their
learning. These “artefacts” will also include the
assessment tools used. This is your opportunity
to discover what your child is learning. I
encourage you to ask your child questions
during your conference, such as “Can you
explain this assessment?” You will be very
impressed with the way your young learner
articulates their thinking and learning!
What is my role as a
parent/guardian?
Students attain more meaningful learning
experience when both home and school are
involved. To support your child’s academic
growth, you can:
 Ask your child to explain what the criteria
on assignments in his/her own words (and
in his/her first language too!).
 Review the criteria and ask your child if
he/she has completed it all. Be sure they
understand they know what to do.
 Have your child read his/her work to you,
or read it aloud to him/her. Provide
feedback on what he/she did well and what
he/she can improve on.
 If your child does not understand their
grade, please get in contact with me.
 Remain positive when discussing grades
with your child. Focus on strengths and talk
about what he/she needs to work on.
 Avoid giving your child the “right answer.”
Encourage your child to explore the
question independently or together as a