In the past, students were given a mark of zero for:
 Incomplete homework  Late assignments  Missing assignments  Non participation in class activity  Cheating

Problems with this Practice:
 A mark of zero is often an inadequate reflection of student learning.  A zero is skews the overall average for the negative (outlier).  A zero is often given to as a consequence for learning behaviours, not a learning outcome, essentially serving as a punishment for infractions. (T. Guskey)  Although often intended to motivate students, a zero can have the opposite effect on students, instead causing some student to give up.  If a grade or mark is intended to provide information about performance, a zero offers no feedback or suggestions for improvement.

A lesson to help students understand the importance of critical thinking, and gain experience in using critical thinking strategies.

Many different resources for beginning teachers, PD, Instructional Strategies, Multiple Intelligence, Assessment (Formative/Summative),

Feedback focuses on characteristics of the work the student has done or on characteristics of the process used. It points out what the student has done well (success feedback) and gives specific information to guide improvement (intervention feedback).

Quality classroom assessment produces accurate information that is used effectively to maximize student learning. Accurate information comes from:
• clearly defining learning targets for students,
• clearly understanding the purpose(s) for which information about student learning is being gathered,
• using a variety of assessment methods as well, and
• designing assessments that cover important aspects of a learning target.

The purpose of this portfolio is to give an overview of your child’s progress in all the developmental areas throughout the school year. Samples of your child’s work are collected and used to show his/ her learning. Your child helps to make decisions about what to put into this portfolio. They are accessible to you and your child at anytime throughout the school year.

The work samples collected in this portfolio will give you an idea of the curriculum and daily activities used in our prekindergarten program.

During the preschool years, young children greatly expand their knowledge, understandings and abilities. They actively explore and discover their world through experiences using their senses of touch, sight, smell, hearing and taste.

This document map is meant for students to use and interact with as they move through their ELA courses. It enables them to keep track of the outcomes as they meet them on their personalized journey through the courses