Dramatic academic growth
Academic gains are the ultimate door opener – they are the foundation of a truly transformational teacher. Students make dramatic levels of academic growth (that is measurable and rigorous). Families know the level of rigor necessary for college and career readiness in the 21st century.
Introduction
Transformational teaching is rooted in high expectations for academic growth. A transformation teacher incorporates data gathered from high quality and rigorous assessments to drive impactful instruction. Objective measures of growth are the foundation of impactful instruction. I use two types of assessment to evaluate growth: the first assessment for tracking growth is the ACT. This nationally recognized college-readiness exam is used for state accountability across the school, and students’ performances on this test determine their post-secondary options. The second assessment used to track student progress is On-demand Writing assignments. This assessment tends to my district’s literacy goals by pushing students to explain mathematical thinking through writing.
Students are tested regularly so that they can incorporate feedback into their work. They are active participants in their learning and are closing gaps in their content knowledge and skills in order to master the challenging assessments they take. Students work on literacy skills to refine their approach to challenging math problems and incorporate mathematical thinking into their daily lives.
Follow the links below to learn more about how the assessment used in my classroom leads students to dramatic academic growth.
Conclusion
I use multiple methods of assessment to gather both quantitative and qualitative growth data from my students. Students’ academic achievement comes in multiple forms, so it is vital that students have a variety of ways to represent their growth. High level analysis of quantitative data from the ACT demonstrates my students’ increasing readiness for college and careers beyond high schools. The literacy work I have done in my classroom is demonstrated through On-demand Writing assignments. Both pieces are vital for painting a complete picture of my students’ dramatic academic growth.