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Lesson Plans


re: assessments

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
Teri Sanford (terily)
Wed, 21 Apr 1999 08:02:06 -0500

What kind of grades do you give? Here in TX for elementary art
we give E (Excellent), S (Satisfactory), N (Needs Improvement)
or U (Unsatisfactory). I have only given a handful of Ns in my
9 years, generally for kids who don't do ANYTHING. Once they
have gotten an N, their parents usually step in and they get to
work. I find elementary parents much easier to deal with than
MS (or so I am finding out this year).

Anyway, what I TRY to do is take an assessment as they work on a
skill or project. My goal (not always achieved, I must admit)
is to measure their skill level plus craftsmanship (neatness,
creativity) on each project. A project might have 3 grades, for
example a pinch pot might be assessed on fine motor skills (esp
for K-1s), construction and craftsmanship in glazing or painting
the piece. No one here really questions my grading (nor have
they ever in all my years at different districts). I have a
poster in my room that shows my grading: E = Something EXTRA
(make it sparkle) S = Satisfactory (just enough) N = Needs
Work (you can do better) and U = Uh-Oh (see me)
They can understand the language better and always strive to
make their work sparkle. As for accountability, I use the other
language in my grade book. I do, however, use words like
construction and craftsmanship with the students, so by the time
they are in 3-5th, they use them, too.

teri