by Kara Parker | Mar 1, 2018 | 4 Assessments
Over the years, formative assessments was another aspect that changed as I transitioned to proficiency-based instruction. Here I’ll show you a few examples that worked for me. What is a formative assessment? What is the purpose of formative assessments?... 
by Kara Parker | Mar 6, 2016 | 1 Planning, 4 Assessments, Proficiency, Teacher Talk, What's New
A few years ago, I made a personal goal to find a happier balance between work and life. I was constantly feeling overwhelmed. I was mentoring a new teacher and while working with her, I figured out some crucial things that also made me more efficient. I want to share... 
by Kara Parker | Jan 8, 2016 | 4 Assessments, Feedback, What's New
I have greatly underused the power of reflection in my teaching. Typically I would write comments on a rubric, let them read it, and then we move on, thinking that was sufficient. I was SOOO wrong. Now I’m incorporating reflection as a nice chunk of time,... by Megan Smith | Dec 13, 2015 | 1 Planning, Feedback, grammar, What's New
As you sit down to grade assessments, remember this: Not all feedback is created equal. One of the most valuable lessons I have learned about teaching came from Mr. Greg Duncan. What he taught me revolutionized how I helped students grow and improve (especially when... 
by Kara Parker | Dec 10, 2015 | 4 Assessments
As many of you are wrapping up lessons and prepping for midterms/finals, we combined our top 5 posts about summative assessments that have helped us along the way. It’s the “finals” countdown! Exams, finals, assessments… OH MY! – A good... 
by Kara Parker | Aug 2, 2015 | 4 Assessments, Class Decor, What's New
At my past Kentucky school, we were asked to display a data wall. I remember that I was REALLY running out of wall space! I also was conflicted on HOW to turn their performance into DATA. I decided to go with what I believed in, proficiency levels, and let that be the...
