Assessment
It is important to realize that not all students learn in the same way and at the same pace. Different assessment techniques are used to cater for various learning styles and to provide a rich profile of student learning.
Assessment types include formative and summative assessment.
Formative assessment is used to improve student learning. It is ongoing and continually provides feedback to students with regard to their learning and achievement. This type of assessment often includes observations made during classes, self and peer assessment, performance and pre-teaching diagnostic tests.
Summative assessment determines the level of mastery or performance at the end of a course or unit of work. This type of assessment includes tests or assignments encompassing a range of activities. The overall achievement level obtained by students is a culmination of both formative and summative modes of assessment.
Students also participate in the International Schools’ Assessment (ISA). This assessment tool has been developed in order to allow comparison of student achievement in participating international schools against the performance of students in participating Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The ISA provides standardized assessment in Mathematical Literacy, Reading, Narrative and Expository Writing. It provides useful data about student achievement in comparison to other like international schools and assists teachers in reviewing and developing the effectiveness of the curriculum.
Middle School Assessment Document
Reporting
KIS has an ongoing system of reporting student work and achievement.
Parent-teacher Conferences
There are 3 formal opportunities for parents to meet with teachers throughout the year, however additional meetings are encouraged as needed. The first meeting is to primarily gain information from the parents or caregivers about the child. The two subsequent meetings are used to share information and report to the parents how the child is doing at school as wall as to share any issues.
Student-led conferences
Student-led conferences allow students to share their learning with their parents, as well as reflect on their own development as learners.
Portfolios
Portfolios are kept by each student at KIS. It is a collection of student work throughout the course of a year. It tracks development in all learning areas, skills and reflections. It represents the process of learning and includes goals set by each student. The portfolio is developed throughout the year and is used at the student-led conference.
Classroom blogs
Blogs are updated weekly by classroom teachers and serve as the main communication tool between teachers are parents. Blogs update parents on learning engagements happening in the classroom and communicate special requests and announcements unique to the individual class. Specialist teachers also post updates to their blog based on events and learning engagements happening within the school.
Formal Written Reports
Written reports are sent home to parents both at the end of first term and the end of third term. Homeroom teachers make a general homeroom comment on the student as a learner with reference to the learner profile and attitudes. Homeroom teachers and specialist teachers assess each students against key performance indicators giving areas of strengths and weaknesses (areas for growth), for each area.
