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=Assessing Authentically=

Fundamental Philosophy
Even the most stalwart followers of Richard Stiggins and his teachings on Authentic Assessment must, from time to time, ask themselves the fundamental question: **What do my grades represent?** The answer to this questions //must// be, "The measured mastery of subject content as demonstrated by each student". This begs the question, what counts toward measuring mastery? The answer is assessments and **only** assessments! Homework? **NO**! Daily class work? **NO!** Only well crafted (see Stiggins guidelines for high quality assessments) assessments of a student's mastery of the core concepts of the subject in question should be used to determine the level of mastery the student has attained. Nothing else, and I mean **nothing else** may be included in that grade.

Grade Book Entries
That is not to say that homework items, worksheets, activities, and other daily work can't be included in the grade book. In fact those items //should// be included, but ONLY as elements of information for the teacher and parents. Today, most everyone uses a computer-based grade book that allows parents and students to view the assignments and grades on the Web. The leading program out there is Power School by Pearson. No matter what grade book program is used, it certainly allows the instructor to exempt assignments from counting toward the grade shown. This is exactly what teacher must do with all those various homework, worksheet, and activities grades - enter them but make them not count toward the grade. You can put whatever point value you want on them and the grade for each will show, but your overall grade stays authentic since none of the non-assessment items count.