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Near North District School Board
News Release
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The week of December 9-13, 2013 has been declared “No Testing Week” by West Ferris Intermediate and Secondary School administrators and their elementary feeder schools.
This is the third consecutive year schools are participating, including Ferris Glen, M.T. Davidson, Marshall Park, Silver Birches, Sunset Park and Tweedsmuir elementary schools.
“Our no testing week has turned into a tremendous success. This year, our teachers are differentiating assessment and evaluation to focus on conversations, observations, and products. It is a great time of year to pause the paper and pencil tests and focus on the individual learning needs of our students,” said West Ferris principal Sean Ruddy.
Instead of testing during the week, teachers will be assessing and evaluating student learning with a focus on conversation, observations, and products.
Staff wants to bring awareness to the many different ways they assess and evaluate students – all of which are having a positive impact on student achievement.
"At our school, teachers are using technology to creatively assess student learning. Some examples include making a digital picture collage and comic strips using iPads. Demonstrating learning in this way allows for feedback along the process of learning, so that students have the chance to improve their work to the best of their ability before a final task. Not to mention, how engaged they are, using this mode to show what they know," said Sunset Park principal Tamara Melnyk.
Historically, this is the time of year that students get stressed, with exams coming up and college and university applications due.
Across the province, schools continue to see an increase in social, emotional and mental health issues at school.
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