Examining Student Work

Earlier this year, Measured Progress presented Examining Student Work, a workshop that was collaboratively sponsored by the National Middle School Association (NMSA) and hosted by the Kentucky League of Middle Schools in Lexington, KY. The highly interactive workshop provided 220 participants with the tools necessary to establish learning communities and determine instructional and curricular effectiveness by looking closely at what their students produce in the classroom. 

Participants were guided through the process of “unpacking” content standards and their correlative performance standards to arrive at a better understanding of exactly what students are to know and be able to do and how well. (This process involves getting at the most specific language and clearly articulating content performance expectations for students.) Through this tightly unified concept, participants looked closely at exemplars of proficiency to determine if student work met the standard and how it provided insight into programs, process, and practice. 

With established protocols in place, teams of teachers presented context for instruction based on student work samples. This process assists faculty in moving from “hunches” and “hypotheses” about causes that impede learning to using sound evidence to increase learning and performance. Participants felt professionally renewed and excited about sharing their new-found knowledge with their colleagues. Prior to leaving the two-and-one-half-day workshop, all participants or teams developed an action plan to help them move forward at their school sites. 

Due to the popularity of Examining Student Work, the workshop will be offered in collaboration with the NMSA this fall in New England and several other locations. See our Web site for dates and details, as well as additional workshops we offer.