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?

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