Academic Assessment at St. Stephen’s
At St. Stephen’s, our Montessori-credentialed and specialist teachers assess student progress in the following ways. The individualized approach of the Montessori method lends itself to time-intensive, but ultimately more accurate, academic recordkeeping.
Adapted from content prepared by the TEA.
Diagnostic Assessment
- What: A teacher meets with a student individually or observes a student to assess their knowledge and skills
- When: At the beginning of the academic year and during the admissions process
- Why: To assess strengths and weaknesses; serves as the starting point of an individualized work plan for the student and/or initial grade or level placement
Formative Assessment
- What: A teacher observes* and keeps records of which classroom materials the student engages in and when they are ready to advance; In Middle Years, practice and daily works are graded based on completion
- When: Every school day
- Why: To inform instructional choices, student support, work plans
*A key tenet of the Montessori approach is observation, which means to observe without judgment or taking action. Observers may take notice of the classroom environment as well as the actions and interactions of teachers and students. Teachers observe in order to document details, anticipate the next step of learning, identify student needs and phases of development or simply enjoy the hum of the classroom. In the first trimester, parents of students in Primary, Elementary, and Middle Years are invited to observe silently in the classroom and to record happenings, insights, and questions.
Interim Assessment
- What: A student’s performance and understanding are measured against grade or age standards; In Middle Years, projects, tests, and quizzes are graded based on accuracy
- When: At the end of the 1st and 2nd trimesters via a written progress report including a narrative report of the student’s learning in that trimester; In the 3rd trimester via the IOWA Assessments for 2nd – 8th graders
- Why: To monitor progress, predict summative performance, identify needs for additional support
Summative Assessment
- What: A student’s proficiency is assessed on a broad span of expectations and benchmarks; Middle Years students take final exams at the end of each year
- When: At the end of the 3rd trimester via a written progress report containing metrics for each trimester and a narrative report of the student’s learning
- Why: To report summative proficiency, inform advancement to the next program or grade, assess academic programs as a whole
IOWA Assessments at St. Stephen’s
St. Stephen’s will be administering the IOWA Assessments during the week of March 25, to 2nd – 8th graders.
Although in Montessori, we don’t administer regular testing in the traditional way, test-taking skills are just another practical life lesson that the children need to learn as they face standardized tests throughout their education. The IOWA Assessments help determine how students are performing on nationwide standards. These assessments measure achievement in several important content areas, including reading, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and listening.
Montessori teachers work with the children for three years, which allows them to observe the students and consequently know them well to evaluate their progress. Standardized tests are one of the criteria we use to assess students’ basic skills and knowledge. However, any given testing session can be affected by the student’s emotional state, attitude, and health. Please make sure that your child has a good night’s sleep, a nutritious breakfast, and packs a healthy snack. We will have a mid-morning snack during the testing period.
At St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, we approach the test with a positive attitude. We explain to the students that we use the results as feedback to focus on certain learning areas.
Should you have any questions regarding the upcoming IOWA Assessments, please reach out to your student’s teacher.
February and March Events!
Bulldog Compliments
At St. Stephen’s, we have an easy way for anyone in the St. Stephen’s community to show their appreciation for a faculty, staff, or leadership team member. We call it sending a “Bulldog Compliment.”
Here is how it works. Click the Send A Bulldog Compliment image and follow the prompts. It only takes a few clicks, and you are done.
All compliments are anonymous and will be sent to the person (or persons) you choose to recognize. There is no limit to how many you can send, so be as generous as you wish!