aLTERNATIVES TO aSSESSMENT

5 Whys for Alternative

• A way to SHOW mastery
• CLEAR student guidelines
• Grading with RUBRICS
• Fun and ENGAGING
• KINESTHETIC Projects

Reading

Let's get cookin'

• Make a recipe for something a character in the story might eat. Based off of a common read aloud students can create a real or imaginary recipe. The recipes can be put into a class book when finished to read and enjoy for fun. The recipe could also contain a picture.
• The disadvantages to this assessment is that if this is based off of a teacher read aloud the text may be above the student's level and they may not be able to refer back to the text. There may also be food choices that are strange and usual to different cultures.
• The disadvantages to this assessment is that if this is based off of a teacher read aloud the text may be above the student's level and they may not be able to refer back to the text. There may also be food choices that are strange and usual to different cultures.

Personal Reference

• I haven't personally used this idea but I would like to take the components and mesh them with something similar from my classroom.
• In second grade, I tend to do a lot of read alouds by the same author as well as introducing students to a book series, as a way to get them hooked on reading. We also occasionally write recipes to practice how-to as well as writing things by steps to practice organization.
• I would like to try something like this with a reading group by having them read several 'Horrible Harry' books. After reading and getting to know the character quite well, students could make up a recipe for one of Harry's favorite snacks. Based on how the recipe looks it would tell me how well they know his character. This could be a combination of a reading/writing grade.
• http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=ShowRubric&rubric_id=1684562...

Writing

the World is your Playground...

• Students will have the opportunity to create a brochure in place of writing a typical non-fiction report.
• The advantages to this alternative will allow a student to "sell" something and make it special. They will practice the components of organized nonfiction, while still utilizing nonfiction features such as headings, pictures, labels and boldface words. The assessment also supports validity because it would measure a student's ability to write and organize non-fiction.
• The disadvantages to this assessment is that it may require research, time and patience. It may also be costly to print colored photographs for the brochure.

Personal Reference

• In my second grade classroom, we have spend time learning about continents, oceans and land forms. During the school year we also focus on non-fiction reading and writing.
• I would like to take these four core items and have students create a brochure for a country from a certain continent. They may also use it to persuade others to go there based on how well they 'sell' it.
• The brochure would need to contain a Title and Sections that contain facts and information about the place of interest along with some interesting facts.
• Teachers Pay Teacher contains many brochure resources and rubrics, but they are at a cost.

Mathematics

Riddle this!

• From kindergarten on up students are learning different types of mathematical terms. We could make it an even more reliable activity by using the student friendly definitions and examples and turning them into riddles.
• The advantages to the alternative would be that the students might look at this as a game and a way to make others think and question. They could use the finished product to compete in a game similar to jeopardy.
• The disadvantages to this would be that at a younger age the clues would be minimal and at an older age the clues may be complicated.

Personal Refernce

• One way to make this work really well would be to use the large amount of shapes that students are required to know in second grade.
• For example, student could use their vocabulary cards, pictures and definitions as a resource. They could also use their math notebook.
• A riddle could be as simple as "I have four sides and four corners. All of my sides are the same length". What am I? A square!
• A teacher could take the ready made riddles on line and use the riddle to teach the students about the characteristics of each shape depending on the level of difficulty.

Science

something Bugging you?

• Students will be able to create a 3D model of something concrete they have studied.
• The advantages of this are that a student can make and mold an actual object using their hands and own creativity.
• The disadvantage to this assessment is that it may require many supplies, such as plastics, pipe cleaner, scissors, glue, paper mache', etc. It could be very messy and take up more than one class period.

Personal Reference

• Second grade has been using this assessment for many years in science and social studies.
• After a large unit on Insects, reading, writing and watching them change, students are invited to create their own insect. They are given a rubric about following the proper characteristic as well as giving it a name. It can be a made up insect as long as it has three body parts, six legs, antennae, eyes and wings if they wish. We encourage them to bring in 'junk' from home and take donations from the art teacher. The results are amazing!
• This is done in social studies as well for the unit on American Symbols.
• In referencing 'washback', students that are missing parts of their insect would be given an intervention and an opportunity to add the missing items afterwards for accuracy.

Social Studies

Now Hiring:

• Students will be able to make an 'ad' or 'sign' that can either be for 'wanted' or 'help wanted'.
• The advantages to this is that it could be used with both fictional and nonfiction people/characters. They can add a detailed description of the named character describing them as detailed as possible with a picture included.
• The disadvantage of this activity is that it would require a lot of writing and may need to include a graphic organizer as well as specific directions and time spent learning many things about the person or character.

Personal Refernce

• I would personally like to try this during my community helper unit that is done near the end of the year.
• Students learn about the three types of communities as well as the people who work there. In the past, I was able to have a large amount of visitors come in and tell students about their job but unfortunately due to the large amount of clearances this doesn't happen much anymore.
• Each student could make an 'ad' for a job telling about where the person would need to work, what their uniform would look like and what tasks they would be responsible for.
• This would also be authentic because students may come in contact with a community helper or maybe even be one in the future.

Sources:

Haiku deck
Colorin' Colorado
Teachub
Rubistar
Teachers Pay Teachers