What Do My Children Need to Learn?
Understanding the State Standards
Presented by Joan Haig
Ogden Elementary School
Fall, 2007
Standards-Based Reform
• 1983 National Commission on Excellence in Education recommends higher standards to increase student achievement
• 1900’s states begin to develop standards
• 2001 No Child Left Behind Legislation– All children will be proficient in Math and
Reading by the year 2014
What are Standards?
• What students should know and are expected to do
• Define achievement very specifically
• Describe what is to be taught from grade to grade
Why are Standards Important for My Child?
• Ensure high expectations for every student
• Focus what teachers teach and what students should do
• Performance is compared to a standard not to another student
• Best way to provide specific feedback to parents
Let’s Take a Look at
Content Standards
What are Performance Standards?• How well a child is doing in relationship
to mastery of a particular standard• Standard assessed / performance
measured• Rubric / scoring guide provided• Performance indicators:
– 4 Exceeds grade level standards– 3 Meets grade level standards– 2 Progressing towards grade level standards – 1 Experiencing difficulty meeting grade level
standards
What are Rubrics / Scoring Guides?
• Different from the traditional way of scoring student work
• Set clear goals for mastery• Describe different levels of
understanding and performance• Provide more information to
student and to parent than a percentage or letter grade
Global Warming• The sun is making
the earth hot.• The earth is losing
its water because it is sweating.
• No plants can grow anymore.
Here is a Student’s Vocabulary Picture Work:
Vocabulary Picture Rubric:
• 4 = Picture communicates insightful understanding of definition; Error free; Labeled correctly
• 3 = Picture communicates good understanding of definition; Minor errors, if any; Labeled correctly
• 2 = Picture communicates some understanding of definition; Some errors; Labels mostly correct
• 1 = Picture unclear, communicates little understanding of definition; Many errors; Not always labeled correctly
Let’s Stop a Minute and Practice!
Standards in Everyday Life!
• Haig Household Standard:– Every child in my house understands
how to correctly make a bed• Content Standard
– Each child will be able to make their own bed.• Performance Standard (test)
My Child’s Idea of a Well Made Bed!
My Idea of a Well Made Bed!
Sample Bed Making Rubric:
• 4 = Bed exceeds parent expectation. Child attempts to make other beds also.
• 3 = Bed is made without assistance. Sheets and blankets are smoothed and tucked. Pillows are fluffed and put in place.
• 2 = Bed is made with some assistance. Sheets and blankets are not tucked completely. Pillows are not placed correctly.
• 1 = Bed is mostly unmade.
What score would you give this one?
How about this?
Standards in the Classroom
Grade 5 Language Arts Standard
Content Standard:•Students will draw conclusions about text and support them with textual evidence.
Performance Standard:•Students will read a story and write two or more conclusions with supporting evidence.
A Standards-Based Report Card
Grades 2 - 5
History and Process:
• What were the limitations of the previous reporting system?
– Lack of alignment– Lack of consistency– Lack of specificity
What was the purpose in creating a Standards-Based Report Card?
• To align reporting procedures to NYS Standards
• To provide consistency
• To provide more detailed feedback to parents regarding the progress their children are making towards specific learning standards at their grade level.
How will the new system improve communication between & among constituent groups?
Parents
StudentsTeachers
What was the process used to create the new Standards-Based Report Card?• Collaborative• Consensus driven• Articulated vertically and laterally
– Grades– Special Areas– Buildings – Special Education
The Classroom Teacher’s
Perspective
Why is the Standards-Based Report Card Valuable?
• Gives important information to parents regarding specific strengths and weaknesses
• Provides feedback to parents about the quality of the student work compared to the standard
• Allows for consistency within the grade, across the grades, and schools
Special Education
How will the new report card benefit students with disabilities?
• Serves as a valuable tool to parents as they participate in CSE meetings
• Helps parents understand why specific goals were chosen for their child’s IEP
• Allows students to be more aware of what is expected
Special Areas• Music• Art • Physical Education
How will the new report card system benefit students in Special Areas?• Provides a more accurate
assessment of student performance
• Provides multi-faceted views of student achievement
• Reflects NYS Standards
What is the Implementation Plan?
• Develop a Parent Guide• Build the framework for teachers• Develop scoring guides with clear
descriptors for proficient student work
• Collect and utilize student exemplars
• Gather feedback for possible upgrades
The Elementary Standards-Based Report Card Committee:
• Audrey Bellovin• Christie Chalupa• Melissa Duhl• Fran Goldenberg• Joan Haig• Hope Hoolan• Liz Hunt• Virginia Levine
• Alison Linehan• Kathi Marchetti• Bob Martorana• Michelle Mazzitelli• Joanna Partamian• Sandy Pensak• Estelle Shafran• Miriam Steinberg• Sarah Wise
Any Questions? Comments?
Please feel free to email me questions and/or comments at jbirringer-haig@hewlett-
woodmere.net