Assessment. Test. Exam. – Many times these words cause us to feel a little anxious, they can turn our stomachs in worry and they can bring back negative memories from our own childhoods. There are school assessment systems that base an overwhelming part of a student’s final grade on their performance on written exams, but- How does Futuro Verde assess students? This is a complex question, but the answer at Futuro Verde is a simple one. Futuro Verde is focused on learning, not on assessment.
But, what does that mean?
- In Futuro Verde, we understand that learning is on-going and we offer students multiple and different opportunities to show their learning.
- Learning is not static and, in its best form, it is transdisciplinary. Our goal is that our students are capable of learning and that they have the necessary abilities to apply their learning in multiple subject areas and contexts.
- Assessment should be formative and summative. Formative assessment can be formal or informal and is used during the learning process. The goal of formative assessment is for the teacher to be able to better understand the needs of each student in order to modify the teaching and learning process. Summative assessment also has its place in our system at Futuro Verde and offers an opportunity to report student learning at given moments of the school year.
- Assessment should include the student- not be given to the student. What this means is that it is important for children to internalize their learning and to be able to do two very important things: 1) identify their achievements and strengths, 2) understand their areas in need of improvement
So, a Futuro Verde student is assessed less than they would be at other schools? Not necessarily. At Futuro Verde we assess students- but we do so in an integrated, formative, differentiated and, many times, really fun way! And, we don’t only assess academic subjects- in the new version of the Futuro Verde report card you will receive specific information about your child’s progress in the area of social-emotional development!
Meaningful assessment, open and direct communication and individual learning goals for each child- that is assessment at Futuro Verde!
Futuro Verde: Inspiration. Dedication. Innovation.
