How can we measure all that has been learned in a semester?
The Junior School teachers have the task of considering how to report on all the learning that has taken place this Semester. Assessments are being conducted through a range of strategies, including reviewing previous learning, analysing work samples, making ongoing observations and engaging students in meaningful conversations and discussions. All of this to help determine the growth of each student.
And this is their foundation –
"It's not the test itself that matters; it's how you use the information it gives you." (Dylan Wiliam)
A test score is only a small piece of the bigger picture. What really matters is how teachers use that information to understand your child’s progress and strengths in the planning of the next steps. Tests can highlight where your child is growing confidently and where they may need a little more support, helping teachers tailor learning and helping families celebrate effort and application as much as achievement. When need to see tests as tool and not as judgments. This allows our children develop the confidence to keep improving at their own pace.
We measure so much more than academics though. We consider the learning behaviours that have been practised and encouraged, through the continued implementation of the Positive Learning Framework. We reflect on the friendships that have been formed and developed, especially for those students who find the social aspects of schooling challenging.
Building a child’s learning confidence starts with helping them feel capable, valued and safe to give things a go, even when things are tricky. The strongest confidence grows from small wins and consistent encouragement. Here are some ways that you can nurture the building of confidence at home.
- Celebrate effort - Praise persistence, curiosity and problem‑solving rather than just correct answers. This teaches children that progress comes from application, not from being perfect.
- Model the ‘Learning Pit’ - Let them see you learning new things, making mistakes and thinking up strategies to improve over time.
- Create a calm routine – Help your children feel secure and ready to learn.
- Encourage independence - Let them make choices, solve problems and take responsibility for small tasks so they feel capable.
- Talk positively about challenges - When something is hard, frame it as an opportunity to grow rather than a sign of failure.
‘If you're not making mistakes, you're not learning.’ (‘James’ by Percival Everett)