Moving to Mastery: Establishing Sound Assessment Systems
Conference Theme:
Systems and Structures for Teaching and Learning
Facilitator: Michelle Kuhns, Matthew Borstein-Grove, Megan Holmstrom
Michelle is the Curriculum and Strategy Specialist at International Schools Services and SISU Schools. She is deeply involved in school-based curriculum and assessment design and in establishing learning systems that empower students and educators to inquire, think deeply, and experience joy and agency in their learning. As the founder of Balanced Professional Learning, she also guides schools through a process of strategic planning for learning that leads to transformative change. She is the former Director of Learning at the American School of Dubai where she was fortunate to work closely with Matt and Megan around all things teaching and learning. This partnership has continued through the Vision to Action Collaborative.
Megan partners with schools (MathSpeakGlobal) to build robust PK-G12 mathematics teaching & learning programs. As an educational leader and instructional coach, she works closely with teams to ensure all students have access to rigorous mathematics. Megan has also worked closely with schools as a specialist in-residence, to guide shifts in teaching practices while supporting transitions to new math learning pathways.
Matt is an instructional coach, social studies teacher, and educational consultant with a passion for inquiry education (Realizing Social Studies). He brings a practitioner’s lens to his consulting work with teachers and schools as they make the shift toward an inquiry and concept driven approach to social studies teaching and learning.
Session Overview
Assessment systems exert a powerful influence on teaching and learning. What and how we assess communicates what we value to teachers and students alike. At their best, assessment systems carry a school's mission, vision, and guiding principles into daily practice, clearing the way for deep and meaningful learning. At their worst, they create tension; driving teachers and students toward practices that hinder learning and make school visions even harder to realize. This two-day workshop focuses on exploring the purposes and audiences for assessment, defining guiding practices that align to school values, identifying places where assessment systems may produce counterproductive practices, and designing action steps toward a coherent and aligned system that supports learning.
Session Outcomes
Articulate connections between assessment systems and your school’s guiding documents
Identify systems, practices, and beliefs that hinder meaningful assessment practices in your school.
Understand how sound assessment leads to healthy grading and reporting practices.
Design action steps and a professional learning plan to implement a coherent assessment system.
Research Connections
Assessment for Learning Project. (n.d.). https://www.assessmentforlearningproject.org/
Chappuis, J., & Stiggins, R. J. (2020). Classroom assessment for student learning: Doing it right -- using it well (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Pearson.
Jacobs, H. H., & Zmuda, A. (2023). Streamlining the curriculum: Using the storyboard approach to frame compelling learning journeys. ASCD.
Guskey, T. R. (2022, April 27). Learning - grading - leadership - assessment. Thomas R. Guskey & Associates. https://tguskey.com/
O’Connor, K. (2018). How to grade for learning: Linking grades to standards. CORWIN, A SAGE Company.
Principles to actions: Ensuring mathematical success for all. (2015). . The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Schimmer, T., Hillman, G., & Stalets, M. (2018). Standards-based learning in action: Moving from theory to practice. Solution Tree Press.
Stiggins, R. J. (2017). The Perfect Assessment System. ASCD.
Welcome to mastery transcript consortium® (MTC). Mastery Transcript Consortium® (MTC) | Join the effort to create a high school transcript to transform high school. (2023, July 25). https://mastery.org/
Who Should Attend
All are welcome. We encourage participants to come with a school team or partner for greater impact. This session is appropriate for school leaders of all kinds who are engaged in leading transformational change: school heads, curriculum leaders, principals, instructional coaches, teacher/team leaders.