Standards based report cards, sequenced curriculum, benchmark tests, horizontal meetings, etc., are all part of the school improvement process. We don’t know about you, but it is important for us to sit back and remind ourselves how these all fit together.
The curriculum defines what students should know and be able to do. It must include the state standards. That is our legal obligation to students. The curriculum also includes other knowledge and skills students need to succeed beyond their high school years. That is our moral obligation. The “sequenced curriculum” is the order that we present the topics. This is the structure upon which we build learning activities.
The “benchmark tests” are short, periodic assessments that tell us how our students are progressing. We can use this information to make adjustments in our instruction and target our “extra help.”
“Horizontal meetings” currently at the elementary level give us an opportunity to review the results of the benchmark assessments. A greater benefit is the sharing of our collective knowledge to provide the most effective instruction to our students.
In the future, we will report student progress on a “standards-based” report card. Instead of reporting how students are progressing by subject, we will inform parents of student progress by skill and knowledge areas. We will focus parent conferences on students’ strengths and challenges and offer focused suggestions on ways parents can help their children outside the school day.
Curriculum + sequence + benchmarking + horizontal meetings + standards based reporting + working with parents and families = outstanding students.
Thank you for all you do for kids!
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