Students are able to see their own work with new eyes, to identify what they have and haven't included in their writing. By blurring the distinction between instruction and assessment, rubrics can have a powerful effect on your students' learning. The LR's primary purpose is to improve classroom teaching and learning so that all students can meet the high standards set by the world outside the classroom in ways that respect their own and their families' experiences and aspirations. Teachers, parents, and students all use the LR's developmental scales in reading, writing, and mathematics to assess student work throughout the year. Students can see where they have been and where they are headed because the Records confirm what they can do and show what they are learning to do.
Teachers meet in groups for schoolwide assessments called moderations.
At these sessions, pairs of teachers discuss each other's assessments to ensure that they are valid. Frustrated by her students' lack of motivation, a veteran high school English teacher knew that it was time to step back. She decided to reorganize her teaching methods to combine these elements in the hope of coaching her students to produce better work and empowering them to reach high academic and behavioral goals. The quality of the students' work grew, as did their motivation and enthusiasm. The parents were satisfied.