Assessment-Powered Teaching

Nancy W. Sindelar - Consultant

Other Titles in:
Data Analysis | Decision Making Tools | Teaching Methods & Learning Styles

January 2011 | 160 pages | Corwin

The purpose of Power Teaching is to change teachers' attitudes toward testing by illustrating the power that meaningful assessment brings to the art and science of teaching. The book also shares efficient and practical tools and strategies for using formative and summative assessment results to actually enhance teaching effectiveness and students' learning. Using testimonials from "power teachers," the text shows classroom teachers how they too can use assessment analyses to inform their teaching, provide motivational feedback to their students, and monitor their students' progress toward learning targets and standards. This handy reference argues that testing can be a power tool for helping teachers rather than an intrusion on academic freedom and valuable instructional time. A key distinction of the book is its coverage of using technology to collect and analyze assessment data.

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

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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

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