Quick and Easy Student Self-Assessment of Core Competencies

If you are looking for a way to help your students with self-assessment of the Core Competencies in BC that doesn't feel like a challenge or a burden, look no further! This weekly reflection page has been a game changer in my classroom. Here's how I use it:

In the first few weeks of school, I teach the language of the Core Competencies to my middle schoolers. We break apart all seven sub-competencies and create "I Can" statements that are in student-friendly language. Students won't be able to self-assess if they don't have the language of assessment.

After they are comfortable with the language, we reflect on lessons where one or more competency was really highlighted. For example, in a lesson about finding reliable sources, I can bring the conversation back to the competency of critical thinking.

Then, starting in mid-late October, we begin a weekly reflection of Core Competencies. I use the page below with my students. (If you click on the image, you can access a PDF version of this page).

Every Friday, we pull out our assessment folders and add a new page of the worksheet above. I ask students to highlight one of the "I Can" statements in each of the three big competency categories, then write in the space below how they demonstrated or developed that competency in the previous week. I let them use examples from school or events that happened out of school.

Each week, I challenge the students to choose a different "I Can" statement in each category than the one they chose in the previous week. After about 4 weeks, we can start to see which statements the students are developing well, and which have not yet been selected. We can then use that data to set goals for the future.

When it comes time for report cards to go home, we have a collection of self-assessments that can go home along with the teacher assessment.

If it is report card time for you, check out this selection of FREE report card comments to help cut your writing time in half!

What do you think? How do you help your students to self-assess the Core Competencies?

Looking for more great tips and ideas for middle school? Subscribe to my email list and receive an exclusive FREE sub plans resource. It includes plans for math, ELA, science, social studies, and Core French. Click here to subscribe.

Comments

Come To Canada! A travel brochure using typical Canadian Stereotypes.

As a wrap-up project to a lesson on stereotypes with a Grade 7 class, I decided to have the students create travel brochures for our great country, but they were only allowed to use typical Canadian stereotypes to bring in tourists. Each student had to include information on food, accommodations, sights, and activities to try. It was hilarious to read what they came up with! I was very impressed with their final projects! Some students included typical Canadian advertisements, as well! So, what do you think? Would this work in your classroom? Have you done something similar? Let me know in the comments below. Looking for more great tips and ideas for middle school? Subscribe to my email list and receive an exclusive FREE sub plans resource. It includes plans for math, ELA, science, social studies, and Core French. Click here to subscribe.

Using Disney's "Inside Out" With Middle Schoolers

I love Disney movies! My first memory of going to see a movie in the theatre was with my mom and sister when I was about 3 to see The Little Mermaid. Since then, I've been hooked. I still go to see Disney movies with my sister when they come out in the theatre, but now we also take her 5-year old son (most of the time). When I saw "Inside Out" this summer, I loved it! It takes place inside the brain of an 11-year-old girl named Riley. The main characters are Riley's emotions - Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger. The emotions interact with each other and steer Riley through her days, creating memories. Riley's core memories (important times in her life) create aspects of her personality as Personality Islands. Riley's 5 main personality islands are Goofball Island, Family Island, Friends Island, Hockey Island, and Honesty Island. When Riley was young, Joy was steering most of her actions, but in the course of the movie, Riley's f...

Water Cycle Foldable

My Grade 4's are learning about weather in science. To help them understand the water cycle better, we created foldable water cycles. On each of the four flaps, we wrote the processes of the water cycle, and under the flaps, gave definitions of the process or information about that part of the water cycle. My students enjoyed making the foldables, and now have a better understanding of the water cycle. This activity was a great supplement to the weather pack I created. The class is working through that pack, but when we came to the water cycle section, a significant group of them were still confused about the processes. Instead of simply memorizing the water cycle, they were able to engage with it. This activity was a good, interactive piece that helped to cement the ideas into their memories. After they created the foldable, almost every student earned 100% on the water cycle quiz in the weather ...

One Teacher's Adventures

Search This Blog