Week+7+-+Linking+curriculum,+instruction+and+assessment

=Week 7 Thoughts and Reflections= Another interesting lesson and a wonderful source for reflection. Thanks to Hazel for managing the evaluation logistics.

Assessment and evaluation are two topics that new teachers often find the most troublesome to get a handle on. I hope that the discussions and activities today helped ground these activities firmly within the curriculum, research (from the articles) and in a practical manner through our development and subsequent use of the "**check-bric**". Many thanks for the feedback to the **T-Shirt Design** problem; I have made changes to the instructions and drawings that should make it a more engaging and shorter activity. Feel free to use it and anything else on the site as you see fit.
 * Assessment and evaluation**

You may also wish to take a look that the EQAO link on the website to their **Student Assessment** booklets and **Scoring Guides**. It will help you to see how they create an evaluation rubric based on the categories that best suit the problem, and then how it can be applied to actual students' work. This is a great place to start your foray into assessment and evaluation and an excellent resource for problems.

During your **observation week** try and identify the elements of your associate teachers' classroom "script". For instance, see how they chronologically structure the class activities, what student groupings are used and when, and identify where assessment (diagnostic and formative) opportunities are included and embedded into class lesson plans. It may be interesting to see if and when your associate teacher uses rubrics or other checklists during their assessment. The **lesson plan template** included on the web (along with the .doc version) in this week's handouts may be a useful way for you to think about organizing your class activities when you are teaching - if you can use it then it has served its purpose.

First of all, a big thanks to the group of 8 for the four activity stations; there was a lot of work and preparation that went into these so that you for engaging so thoroughly with the assignment. So that you can concentrate on the practicum observation, your activity with curriculum connection can be submitted prior to or on the day of our next class. **Electronic (Word (.doc) or PDF) submission please.**
 * Activity Stations**

After speaking with Joel and Rodger after class, I have posted the presentations and worksheets for two workshops that I gave in 2008 and 2009 //Transitions To Practice Workshops//. They cover the use of Algebra Tiles and Linking Cubes for secondary mathematics and I hope that you find them useful. See the Links Page
 * IMPORTANT**

//**Don't forget to read Boaler & Humphreys – Chapters 8 & 9 for our next lesson**//

Best of luck at your practicum sites,

Until next time... Adrian