Blogs

If you've been following the Radical at all, you know that Dean Shareski has gotten me thinking about the role that self-assessment should play in my classroom. 

After having my students work through a few opportunities to assess their own learning, I asked them to assess self-assessment as an instructional practice. 

Specifically, I told them I was interested in (1). their perspective on the fact that self-assessments aren't graded and (2). their perspective on having the chance to reflect on their own learning.

One of my favorite responses came from Anna Beth, who wrote:...

"Forty-six states have adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), and a few states are well in to the process of implementing them. The American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative group of state legislators and thinkers who believe in limited government. ALEC is considering model legislation opposing the Common Core standards, arguing that a national set of standards could lead to nationalized curriculum and impede innovation in local communities and classrooms. ALEC was supposed to vote on the proposal last week, but the group delayed the vote, according to news reports."

The expected opposition from ALEC is curious considering the history of the CCSS. As I recall (and I've followed this closely for years), it was...

If you've read the Radical for any length of time, you know that my thinking is often pushed by Dean Shareski -- a Digital Learning Consultant with the Prairie South School Division in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. 

What I love about Dean's posts is that they're a perfect mix of practical and provocative ideas.  He's just as likely to challenge my instruction as he is to challenge my thinking -- and that's cool. 

A few weeks ago, Dean wrote about the role that self-assessment plays in the university classes that he teaches. 

...

By Steve Owens

Steve Owens is a National Board Certified Teacher who teaches music in two small, rural elementary schools in Vermont.  A 2010 Teaching Ambassador...