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Assessment-Powered Teaching
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Assessment-Powered Teaching



November 2010 | 160 pages | Corwin

"There is now compelling research that assessment can be used to improve both student learning and professional practice. Nancy Sindelar provides practical examples of how teachers, teams, schools, and districts are using assessment to drive continuous improvement."
—Richard Dufour, Educational Author and Consultant

"This book provides specific strategies to unlock the mystery of data, outlining step-by-step processes on how to use it to impact teaching and create tools to keep students actively involved in their improved learning."
—Gail Gorry, Principal
Frontier Elementary School, Payson, AZ

Podcasts:
 Education Talk Radio: 3/7/2011

 We Are Teachers: 4/2011

Everything you need to become an assessment-powered teacher is right here!

Knowledge is power, and this book puts assessment data and instruction together in a step-by-step format. Instead of dreading the time testing takes from teaching, you can harness its power to define learning targets, build standards-based assessments, gather and use test data in the classroom, and develop data-driven teaching strategies. Assessment expert Nancy W. Sindelar provides practical tools that help teachers:

  • Use formative and summative assessment results to enhance instruction
  • Motivate students by providing clear learning targets
  • Utilize technology to analyze students' progress
  • Raise test scores

Included are testimonials from teachers, numerous data analysis examples, rubrics, and a chapter on culturally diverse schools. Designed to be adaptable, this book is a powerful resource for teachers, teacher teams, and all educators dedicated to enhancing student learning.


 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Introduction
 
1. Using the Power of Assessment
Step One: Become Familiar With Student Assessment Data and Learn to Use It to Enhance Your Teaching.

 
Step Two: Develop an Efficient System for Collecting Meaningful Student Test Data.

 
Step Three: Learn How to Use Student Test Data as an Individual Teacher, a Team Member, and as Part of a Schoolwide Initiative.

 
Chapter One Rubric: Using the Power of Assessment

 
Reflections

 
 
2. Creating a Data-Driven Instructional System
Step One: Define Your Learning Targets

 
Step Two: Begin Building Your Standards-Based Assessments

 
Step Three: Align Your Curriculum With Learning Targets and Assessments

 
A Word About Curriculum Mapping

 
Chapter Two Rubric: Creating a Data-Driven Instructional System

 
Reflections

 
 
3. Making Data-Driven Decisions in the Classroom
Using Formative Assessment Data to Immediately Inform Teaching

 
Using Formative Assessment Data to Inform Teaching Over Time

 
Benchmark Assessments

 
Test Reports

 
Rubric-Graded Assessments

 
Chapter Three Rubric: Making Data-Driven Decisions in the Classroom

 
Reflections

 
 
4. Empowering Students With the Results of Their Learning
Step One: Eliminate "Mystery Teaching" by Providing Students With Clear and Consistent Standards-Based Learning Targets and Assessments

 
Step Two: Give Students Specific Feedback Regarding Their Progress Toward Learning Targets in a Timely and Caring Manner and in a Format That Is Understandable to Them

 
Step Three: Give Students Opportunities to Self-Assess and Improve Their Work

 
Step Four: Provide Interventions to Help Students Reach Learning Targets in a Timely Manner

 
Chapter Four Rubric: Empowering Students With the Results of Their Learning

 
Reflections

 
 
5. Powering Achievement in Culturally Diverse Classrooms
Step One: Become a "Cultural Broker"

 
Step Two: Analyze the Needs of Subgroups Through the Use of Disaggregated Test Data

 
Step Three: Address the Needs of Subgroups by More Accurately Measuring What Students Know Rather Than Their Ability to Communicate Their Knowledge in Standard English

 
Chapter Five Rubric: Powering Achievement in Culturally Diverse Classrooms

 
Reflections

 
 
6. Harnessing the Power of Collective Wisdom
Data-Driven Changes in Curriculum and Instruction

 
Data-Driven Staff Development Initiatives

 
Data-Driven Student Interventions

 
Making the Most of Team Time

 
Chapter Six Rubric: Harnessing the Power of Collective Wisdom

 
Reflections

 
 
Glossary of Terms
 
References
 
Index

"In these pages you will find specific strategies to unlock the mystery of data—outlining step-by-step processes on how to use it to impact teaching and create tools to keep students actively involved in their improved learning."

Gail Gorry, Principal
Frontier Elementary School, Payson, AZ

"This book offers a step-by-step approach to becoming a Power Teacher."

Diane Callahan, Retired Teacher
West Chester, OH

"This book is a must-have for any group of educators that wants to get into the 'nuts and bolts' of what students are learning (or not learning); it sets teachers up for success."

Donna Adkins, Teacher
Louisa E. Perritt Primary School, Arkadelphia, AR

"There is now compelling research that assessment can be used to improve both student learning and professional practice. Nancy Sindelar provides practical examples of how teachers, teams, schools, and districts are using assessment to drive continuous improvement."

Richard DuFour, Educational Author and Consultant
TBD

“The author effectively shows how data-driven decision making works and presents practical examples of how this would work in a school. The examples of data collection “systems” provided are easily understandable.”

Stephen Armstrong, Social Studies Department Supervisor
West Hartford Public Schools, West Hartford, CT

It didn't have the depth on particular topics (such as developing assessments, properties of assessments, etc) for pre-service teachers. This seems better suited to current teachers seeking to improve teaching through learning from assessment.

Dr Elizabeth Farley-Ripple
School Of Education, University of Delaware
October 15, 2012

This book did not have enough meat for my graduate class. It would make a nice supplement to a course, however.

Dr Julie Delello
General Education Dept, University of Texas at Tyler
October 6, 2011
Key features
(1) Shows classroom teachers how to use assessment analysis to inform teaching, provide motivational feedback to students, and monitor student's progress toward learning targets and standards.

(2) Provides numerous data analysis examples and shows the power of using technology for data collection and analysis.

(3) Appropriate for use with teacher teams as well as individual teachers.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Preface

Introduction


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ISBN: 9781452235820

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ISBN: 9781412992084
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This title is also available on SAGE Knowledge, the ultimate social sciences online library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial.