Authentic Assessment in the Middle School
In the middle and upper school divisions at Poughkeepsie Day School, feedback is our most important pedagogical tool. Focused on the task, detailed, specific and clear, our feedback is goal oriented, and adjusted to take into account the specific learner’s strengths, challenges, and needs. We view feedback as information that we provide to the students which helps them think metacognitively about their learning journey. The role it plays at our school is also magnified by our narrative approach to assessment.
For our teachers, feedback acts as a window into the student’s progress, and also as a mirror reflecting the practices and approaches that seem to work best, both for the individual and for the class as a whole. As our teachers provide students with timely, purposeful, and goal oriented feedback on their assignments, patterns begin to emerge. These patterns help influence future lesson plans in order to address areas of weakness
Our students don’t receive grades and yet their engagement and desire to succeed in school is as high as any school that gives grades. In fact, I would posit that it is arguably higher. We believe our approach leads to more authentic, and deeper learning because they see themselves as works in progress, and in control of their own educational experience. We still utilize traditional formative and summative assessment tools such as tests, quizzes, and public presentations, but we skip the grades, and instead work with the student to address their strengths and challenges, and create a plan for continued improvement.
This approach to student feedback, which is layered and focused on student growth, provides our students with the support they need in order to be successful. When feedback is the focus, and not grades, it changes the fundamental nature of how students approach their own learning. As they progress through the curriculum and complete assignments or assessments, their baseline question is no longer “What grade did I get?”, but rather it becomes “How can I get better?” In essence, they are no longer seeking out ways to do a better job of pleasing the teacher, but rather looking for ways to improve themselves as learners and human beings. And isn’t that what school should be?
In the 21st century, it is a fact of life that we are surrounded by feedback. Whether it’s a yearly review, or a ‘like’ on social media, feedback is all around us. It is also essential to our growth – and how we receive it, reflect on it, and act on it helps determine our success. We believe that these moments of feedback build agency in our students and help them continue to develop into lifelong learners and leaders.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, February 26 & Thursday, February 27: Grades 6 – The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Thursday, February 27 & March 10, 6pm, PDS: Teenage Brain Lecture Series by Abigail A. Baird, Ph.D. (Register for one or both here)
Friday, February 28, 8:15 am, Gilkeson Lobby: Iced Coffee Prom Fundraiser ($3)
Sunday, March 1: Spring Enrichment Registration Opens – Last Term of the Year and Lots of Outdoor Fun!
Monday, March 2: Open House for All Divisions!
Monday, March 2: School Contracts Due
Thursday, March 5, 6:30 pm: Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles A Middle School Production (Everyone welcome!)
Friday, March 6, 7 to 9 pm: Parent & Faculty Talent Show (RSVP to attend here. Sign up to perform here!)
Saturday, March 7, 9 am-1 pm, PDS: NYSAIS Job Fair to Promote Diversity in Hudson Valley Independent Schools (More info here)
Monday, March 9, Buccelli Athletics Facility: Parents/Faculty vs. Students Basketball Game (RSVP here)
March 16-27: Spring Break – School Closed
March 16-20: March Break Camps (register now)
The Wayfinder Experience (ages 7-14, and up)
April 3, 8 pm, James Earl Jones Theater: An Evening with Donald Harrison and Nouveau Swing – A Special Event for Parents and Students (save the date)
April 23, 6 pm, James Earl Jones Theater: Concert for Causes
April 24, 6 pm, Sprout Creek Farm: Backyard Beekeeping and Native Pollinators – A Special Event for Parents (purchase tickets here)
