Dear Bacich Community,

In four short weeks, we will be hosting Fall Parent Teacher Conferences. Teachers come prepared with academic data gathered from informal observations as well as formal assessments. Teachers use both formative and summative assessments as tools to guide instruction and provide feedback to students and parents.

The goal of formative assessments is to provide ongoing feedback that teachers use to inform instruction. Formative assessments are used to help identify what students know and understand about a topic or skill while they are still in the process of learning it. Teachers are able to adjust instruction based on where students are in the process of learning the targeted skills. Formative assessments also help students identify areas of strength and areas that they need to work on.

The goal of summative assessment is to evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit by comparing it against a standard or benchmark. Summative assessments include Eureka Math end of Module assessments. End of unit narrative, informational, and opinion writing assessments are also examples of summative assessments.

In addition to assessments that are tied to the curriculum units of study in class, we administer the MAP Growth Assessment in second through fourth grade two times a year. The results of the assessment provide information about student learning and enable educators to make data-informed decisions about curriculum and instruction. Using MAP Growth as part of a comprehensive and balanced assessment plan, teachers can confidently tailor instruction to challenge every student, whether they are below, at, or above grade level. MAP Growth student reports also present realistic learning goals by subject areas so that, through a teacher’s guidance, students can individually see their progress and be inspired to take charge of their own learning.

Last week our fourth grade students took the MAP Growth assessment and this next week our third graders will complete the assessment. Our second graders will complete MAP Growth closer to the December winter break. Results from the fall MAP Growth assessments for third and fourth graders will be available in Aeries in mid-November. For more information about MAP Growth please see this Family Guide to MAP Growth.

If you have any questions about MAP Growth or other assessments administered at Bacich, please feel free to reach out to me!

With gratitude,