Self-Assessment for Report Cards Term Three – Please Read

Self-Assessment and B.C. Core Competencies (SKILLS):

As we transitioned into a new curriculum in B.C., we also introduced the Core Competencies, which are a set of skills that help us be successful learners — not just in school, but for life.

Sound familiar? That’s because even before we had the Core Competencies, in Ms. D’s MACC class we were talking about the Learner Profile. The Learner Profile gave us some words we could use daily to focus on being better learners. By working on being knowledgeable, open-minded, a thinker, an inquirer, a communicator, caring, a risk-taker, reflective, balanced, and principled, we can gain skills that will help us through life!

The B.C. Core Competencies are skills used in K-12, across disciplines, and in all types of school work and interactions. The skills are organized into the follow areas: Communication, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Positive Personal & Cultural Identity, Personal Awareness & Responsibility, and Social Responsibility.

Each of these areas has a set of “I can….” statements associated with it, so students can have the language to do self-assessment on how they are developing these skills. While we, as teachers, will guide students in these areas, we will not be assessing them. The students will do it! There isn’t a “mark” for this. It is an opportunity for students to reflect and be involved in reporting.

For our class, the self-assessment will appear as reflections in the E-Portfolio, and students will also play a role in providing input to the final report card. Earlier this month, I sent parents information on how to access the E-Ports, and there will be a specific link provided on the report card.

On Friday, to help with the process of assessing, we took our Learner Profile words, put them on chart paper, and then organized the “I CAN” statements from the BC Core Competencies around each word. We discovered that it was very easy to continue using these simple words to sum up the larger listing of skills under each area. So, when you read your child’s self-assessment, you will see both Learner Profile words and “I Can” statements from the Core Competencies.

If you have any questions about this, please feel free to talk with me. Please also see the Ministry’s information about Core Competencies.

Thank you for reading and have a good evening!

Ms. D

Monday May 29th – New Unit, Update, Reminders!!

Hello Everyone!

Our last unit of the year will be called Communication is KEY! We have already been working on some of the items covered by the unit. The last unit of the year is a little smaller in terms of introducing new material, as I want to leave time for independent projects and end-of-year events.

Unit Focus Statement: Being an effective communicator requires reflection and critical thinking.

Areas if Inquiry:

  • Choosing legitimate resources for research 
  • Fake news and social media safety
  • Presentation skills (independent project and masks character monologue)
  • Effective group communication (Battle of the Books team and more!)
  • Communication in team sports (dragon boating, kayaking, ultimate)
  • Reflection on our performance for the year (B.C.’s Core Competencies and the Learner Profile)

Projects & Reminders!

  • Disasters Presentation: Due now. Present during the week as we have time.
  • Animal Research OVERDUE!!!: Some of you have not turned in your research for this even though you did finish the art. Others have not posted the art on their e-portfolios as instructed. Some of you may find you have lower marks because you have not turned things in, and you can talk to me about it.
  • Dragon Boating/Nature Quiz Marks: These were passed out. Please get them signed and return.
  • French Weather Report & Quiz: Quiz on Wednesday for weather vocabulary, days of week, and months. Weather Report presentations due Thursday June 1.
  • Masks: Create a character, design a mask, give it a voice through a poetic monologue, and present! We have only two more people to do the base plaster mask tomorrow and then we move forward with the next part! Please make an e-portfolio entry about your mask as we go from stage to stage of construction.
  • Battle of the Books: Try to read four books by June 12th when we have our competition! We will be doing a mini book report on your favourite.
  • Independent Project: Primary research, notes, & formal bibliography are due June 7th. Presentation on June 23rd 12-2 PM. HAVE YOU GONE TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY? HOW GOES THE PRIMARY RESEARCH?
  • Independent Math: At least two more units by June 7th.
  • SUNSCREEN!  Wear sunscreen daily. Bring a plastic bag with swimsuit/towel daily, as when time permits, using our walking field trip permission form, we will go cool down in late afternoons at the Rumble Water Park next door.
  • Sex Education: Grade 4s on Tuesday, Grade 5s on Wednesday
  • LIBRARY BOOKS: All books due next week by June 9th unless being used for a project. Please look for any missing books.

See you tomorrow! Only 22 days to go!

Ms. D