Assessment & Standards Of Learning Resources (sols), standards assessment resources. Table of Contents. Assessment Web Sites. standardsRelated Web Sites. Recent Publications. Virginia SOL Resources. Web Sites Devoted to Assessment. Chicago Public Schools Megasite. Why National standards and tests?Politics and the Quest for Better teaching the Virginia standards of learning. Using the Web to teach the Virginia (sols). Includes lesson plans http://www.lib.vt.edu/subjects/educ/sols.html
Extractions: Table of Contents Assessment Web Sites Standards-Related Web Sites Recent Publications Virginia SOL Resources Chicago Public Schools Megasite . Provides users with everything you could ever want t know about rubrics and performance assessment under "ideas and rubrics." Eighmey's Think Tank . Includes theoretical, background, resources, and procedures regarding rubric development. ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment, Evaluation, and Research . An excellent ERIC gateway site devoted to providing quality information on assessment and evaluation. The Interactive ClassroomPerformance and Authentic Assessment . Andi Stix, Ed.D., offers information about rubrics. Files are in PDF format. Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators . Kathy Schrock is presently the Technology Coordinator of the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, where she has been both a library media specialist and in her current position for over ten years. She has authored many books dealing with technology, research, evaluting internet resources for K12 students and educators.. This site assembles important information regarding types of rubrics, building and evaluating rubrics, and online resources for rubrics.
The Value Of Learning James Gilmore has instituted standards of learning tests for students in Virginia and create clever catch phrases such "All the (sols) do is cause us to teach to the test http://radicalacademy.com/gejohnboleyn4.htm
Extractions: Baby Superstore The Value of Learning by John Boleyn I understand why Gov. James Gilmore has instituted Standards of Learning tests for students in Virginia. In an era of ever declining academic performance, there is the need to see their performance levels increased. And as the chief executive of the commonwealth, he has the responsibility to ensure that this problem is addressed. But what if the problem is much larger than the solution of the SOLs? Does our education establishment know how the skills of learning are developed in the first place? Obviously, this is not a problem which can be solved entirely by Gov. Gilmore or by any Governor whether they are a Democrat or Republican. Can the Standards of Learning tests and the preparation for these tests empower our kids to learn? The way in which we test or examine students and the way in which we grade them determines what teachers teach and how they teach and what students learn and how they learn.
Number 2 Pencil: Setting Standards In Virginia about the Virginia standards of learning ((sols)) and the accompanying assessment tests But the complainers measured only what they chose to teach about a particular subject http://www.kimberlyswygert.com/archives/000202.html
Extractions: Kimberly's take on testing and education reform Main Devoted Reader Richard sent along a link to a Washington Post letter by one Susan O'Brien Saccomando, the chair of the science department at Mountain View Alternative High School. It concerns the Virginia Standards of Learning, or SOLs: In the past few years I have heard complaints from just about everyone about the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) and the accompanying assessment tests...But the complainers are wrong. The (SOLs) are working. Before the SOLs, to pass a course, a student came to class regularly, participated, turned in class work and homework and took some tests...Effort played a big role in a student's grade. For these reasons, a grade did not always reflect what the student had mastered in terms of amount and depth of subject matter. Some students simply went through the motions and passed courses just for showing up. Also in the past, teachers made up their own tests, which measured only what they chose to teach about a particular subject... As a result of the SOLs, seniors now will graduate knowing that they have reached a standard of performance. They will know that they not only measure up in terms of mastering material but that they also measure up to state standards...
Science Standards Of Learning Science standards of learning for Virginia Public Schools Board of Education Commonwealth of Virginia Richmond, Virginia 232162120 June 1995. Science standards of learning for Virginia Public Schools Board of Education James P. standards of learning are important because they set reasonable targets and expectations for what teachers need to teach multiple tests of ideas http://www.pen.k12.va.us/go/Sols/science.html
Extractions: Science Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools Board of Education James P. Jones, President Lewis M. Nelson, Vice-President Malcolm S. McDonald Martha V. Pennino Alan L. Wurtzel Peter G. Decker Michelle Easton Rayford L. Harris, Sr. Lillian F. Tuttle Superintendent of Public Instruction William C. Bosher, Jr. Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Education Post Office Box 2120 Richmond, Virginia 23216-2120 June 1995
TCPS - Standards Of Learning Resource Categories. TCPS Resources Main Page. As you click on a hyperlink, you are leaving the Tazewell County Public School web site. classroom teachers to teach the (sols) more effectively. standards of learning for Virginia Public and computer. Virginia standards of learning practice tests More than 100 practice http://www.tazewell.k12.va.us/web1/sites/sols.htm
Teacher Efficacy Training Standards Of Learning And The At-Risk use of standardized assessments such as the Virginia standards of learning tests, (sols), is having a tremendous impact who are not properly trained to teach. Research of the past two http://www.texaseducationreview.com/TeacherTrainAtRisk.html
SCAC 2/26/02 Minutes teach and to ensure that every student meets the standards. the (sols) while still preparing students for the tests. than ever, and students are learning to do http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/Superintendent/scac/min2-26-02.htm
Extractions: February 26, 2002 Eileen Kugler (in the absence of Dick Reed) opened the meeting and asked for any changes in the minutes for the January 22 meeting; no changes were proposed. Kugler asked Superintendent Domenech for updates. Domenech said that bills the school system has followed in the General Assembly this year have changed so often and so unpredictably that they have been hard to track. For instance, a referendum-for-a-sales-tax-for-education bill that FCPS had been following changed dramatically over the weekend so that it has now substituted an income tax for the sales tax. He said he was excited because it was still possible that some bill allowing a referendum on a tax for school construction and renovation will pass. He said we currently calculate that FCPS has lost $46 million in state aid compared to last year. Linda Walker-Hill asked what SCAC members should do. Janet Olezsek said they should e-mail the governor to be on record with him. Domenech said this year's is the worst financial situation FCPS has been in since the early 1990s. Locally, there is pressure to lower property-tax rates because assessments are driving taxes up substantially at current rates. Some residents will see up to 30 percent increases in their property taxes this year at current tax rates. The latest estimate is a $74 million deficit this year; this is down from an $80 million estimate before the county executive's budget came out.
Sol teachers locate and develop the online resources needed to teach their classes. StudyWeb® Professional_Development standards of learning tests ((sols)). http://www.techtrekers.com/sol.html
Extractions: Standards of Learning Sites Virginia Department of Education Sites Sol A Commonwealth of Knowledge search page - Search all of the SOLs by keyword or select the content area to see a listing of the SOLs by grade. SOL Lesson Plans - Finding a lesson plan is easy. Type a keyword in the search box above or choose the content area to see all the lesson plans available for that subject. Sol Resource Guide - SOL Teacher Resource Guides Available Under Each Subject Sol Test Questions from 1998 SOL - Blueprints Standards of Learning Search Page - View standards by subject area across all grade levels. Arts-Music, Arts-Performance, Social Science Language Arts/English Dr. Violet Allain's WWW site English/language arts unit/lesson plans developed by students in SEED 371 Clinical Methods. Units are correlated with VA SOLs. Edgar Allan Poe Museum. - The Poe Museum provides a retreat into early nineteenth century Richmond where Edgar Allan Poe lived and worked. The museum features the life and career of Edgar Allan Poe by documenting his accomplishments with pictures, relics, and verse, and focusing on his many years in Richmond. English Curriculum. Thematic Unit
USATODAY.com - Electives Teach Most Valuable Lessons mantra Study hard for those (sols) the state standards of learning exams that which, in fact, have turned into minimum competency tests that almost any http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2004-02-02-electives_x.htm
Extractions: LowerMyBills.com - More for you. Less for them. Cars Jobs Franchises Business Opportunities ... Weather Politics Politics home Politics briefs Latest polls Political calendar Washington Washington home Washington briefs Government Guide Law Center Health Health home Medical resources Health information Editorial/Opinion Ed/Op home Columnists Cartoons More News Top news briefs Nation briefs World briefs States ... Talk Today Posted 2/2/2004 8:13 PM LowerMyBills.com - More for you. Less for them. Today's Top News Stories Reagan praised as 'enduring symbol of our country' Reagan family, supporters gather for funeral Nichols spared death as jury deadlocks Tape: U.S. trying to replace Arab governments ... Add USATODAY.com headlines to your Web site E-Mail Newsletters Sign up to receive our free Daily Briefing e-newsletter and get the top news of the day in your inbox. E-mail: Select one: HTML Text Breaking News E-Mail Alerts Get breaking news in your inbox as it happens Electives teach most valuable lessons By Patrick Welsh When I look around my class and see kids chuckling, I can't help but feel how out of touch schools are with the real lives of the kids entrusted to their care. Obsessed with the results of so-called high-stakes testing (which, in fact, have turned into minimum competency tests that almost any middle-class kid can pass with a modicum of effort), educators have forgotten that what schools offer outside the classroom also is essential to a total education.
Arlington County - News Digest Detail Arlington teachers who have been concerned about having to teach students material based on the statemandated standards of learning tests ((sols)) may find that http://www.co.arlington.va.us/NewsDigest/Scripts/ViewDetail.asp?Index=644
Virginia Standards Of Learning - Hampton Roads School Zone measured by the standards of learning tests. The Curriculum Framework that all teachers should teach and all students should endof-course standards of learning tests, for which http://home.hamptonroads.com/schoolzone/schoolsol/HistoryRevisions.cfm
Extractions: Channels SchoolZone Scholastic Achievement Student Gallery Black History Month ... Weather Guides Ask an Expert Best of HR City Guides Contests ... Web Guide Site Tools Archives E-mail Newsletter Free E-mail Accounts Multimedia Plug-ins ... SOL Center : Virginia Standards of Learning A special note about revisions to the History and Social Science Objectives The Task Force directed the review committees to revise the 1995 History and Social Science Standards of Learning and the 1999 History and Social Science Standards of Learning Teacher Resource Guide. This review was conducted to ensure that both the standards and the supplemental teacher resource reflect current scholarship, identify essential content knowledge and skills, and address the academic needs of Virginia students. The revised History and Social Science Standards of Learning incorporate recommendations made by Task Force members. The Task Force recommendations were designed to focus the revision on the quantity of content that can be taught and learned effectively in the minimum instructional time prescribed by the Virginia Standards of Accreditation for core academic disciplines;
Standards Of Learning Spotsylvania County, Virginia, USA, General infomation high academic standards, known as the "standards of learning " or "(sols) " tests to measure student progress in rich understanding of the http://www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/instruction/sol.htm
Extractions: Search for: Quick Links Superintendent School Board Administration Human Resources ... SCS Home Page General Information Directory What's Hot! 2003-2004 Calendar 2004-2005 Calendar ... More General Info Educational Resources For Parents For Students For Teachers School Home Pages Elementary Schools Middle Schools High Schools Alternative Schools Employment Job Postings GroupWise Web Access Elementary Middle High Administration To respond to a perceived need to raise students achievement levels, the Virginia Board of Education initiated a sweeping reform of the K-12 education system in 1994. That reform is grounded in the belief that all students in Virginia, regardless of their background or where they live, deserve a quality education. The reform consists of four major elements: high academic standards, known as the "Standards of Learning," or "SOLs," tests to measure student progress in the Standards of Learning
Standards Of Learning These standards represent a broad consensus of what parents, classroom and community leaders believe schools should teach and students should learn. http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Superintendent/Sols/home.shtml
Extractions: for Virginia Public Schools The Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools describe the commonwealth's expectations for student learning and achievement in grades K-12 in English, mathematics, science, history/social science, technology, the fine arts, foreign language, health and physical education, and driver education. These standards represent a broad consensus of what parents, classroom teachers, school administrators, academics, and business and community leaders believe schools should teach and students should learn. In the four core areas of English, mathematics, science, and history/social science, a curriculum framework also is provided that details the specific knowledge and skills students must possess to meet the standards for these subjects. Standards of Learning currently in effect are listed below by subject area with pulldowns by grade level for each subject. Links also are provided for the curriculum frameworks mentioned above.
Sites On Virginia's Standards Of Learning of Education Test results, links, latest information about standards of learning programs. Virginia (sols) Assistance Online (Hot Potato) tests created by http://teachers.henrico.k12.va.us/Specialist/franceslively/vasol.htm
Standards Of Learning For Mathematics Mathematics standards of learning for Virginia Public Schools Board of Education Commonwealth of Virginia Richmond, Virginia 232162120 June 1995. Mathematics standards of learning for Virginia Public Schools Board of Education James P. standards of learning are important because they set reasonable targets and expectations for what teachers need to teach http://www.pen.k12.va.us/go/Sols/math.html
Extractions: Mathematics Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools Board of Education James P. Jones, President Lewis M. Nelson, Vice-President Malcolm S. McDonald Martha V. Pennino Alan L. Wurtzel Peter G. Decker Michelle Easton Rayford L. Harris, Sr. Lillian F. Tuttle Superintendent of Public Instruction William C. Bosher, Jr. Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Education Post Office Box 2120 Richmond, Virginia 23216-2120 June 1995
TCPS - Standards Of Learning teachers to teach the (sols) more effectively standards of learning for Virginia Public Schools Listing of (sols) standards Of learning Test Information SOL http://tazewell.k12.va.us/web1/sites/sols.htm
State And International Assessment by administering the standards of learning (SOL) test in that covers all of the standards content areas Virginia SOL tests affect the classroom by providing http://education.cortland.edu/teach/papers/vaassessment.html
Extractions: State and International Assessment Assessment is the driving force behind every aspect of teaching today. There is an increasing focus on grades, as well as a growing concern for US performance, in schools compared to others abroad. As a result, standards of learning have not only been developed for each state, but are now being strictly enforced as well. This has caused much controversy over the effectiveness and legitimacy of the standards and over their consequences. By examining various educational resources, in addition to speaking with teachers and administrators, contrasting views become clearer. Speaking with various educators from the greater Charlottesville area paints a less than perfect picture of SOL assessment. "SOLs truly drive the curriculum. Now, teachers teach to the standards. They even go as far as teaching the students test taking skills," says a local administrator. This view is shared by all those interviewed. Educators assert that the SOLs are not age-appropriate and that they monopolize instruction as well. Knowledge and skills necessary in the real world take a back seat to preparing students for the end of the year assessment. When asked whether the science SOLs are traditional or innovative, one classroom teacher’s response was "SOLs are neither traditional nor innovative. They think they’re innovative, but they are a return to rote memorization. They test facts rather than concepts."
Extractions: Virginia teachers face many challenges when trying to meet the needs of special needs students in their science classrooms. The most difficult task at hand for Virginia teachers is making sure that all students (general education and special education) learn the content outlined by the Virginia Standards of Learning. These standards "set reasonable targets and expectations for what teachers need to teach and students need to learn" (Virginia Standards of Learning, 1995, foreward). These targets and expectations are in the four core subjects, including science, however, no accommodations have been made in the SOLs for special needs students. All students, regardless of ability will need to know the same material in order to pass and graduate. Methods of evaluation are also a concern and challenge for educators of special needs students today. Finson & Ormsbee (1998) argue that, "rubrics are effective methods for objectively and individually assessing the achievement of students with learning and behavior problems in inclusive science classrooms…." Rubrics are especially useful because they are written as a specific outline of the skills or knowledge that the students are to master after the lesson and points are awarded in a systematic and objective manner. Another interview question that our collaborative teaching team inquired about is if special needs children have a tougher time with science and its concepts and/or if they seem to enjoy it more than other subjects. Anne commented that her special needs students have difficulty with science and its concepts, but they enjoy the hands-on activities incorporated into science lessons. Charles was in agreement and said that students tend to enjoy activity-based science more than lecture formats. Science seems to be one of the more enjoyable subjects for special needs students because of its hands-on nature.
SOLs: The Latest In Testing She says (sols) can be a ceiling, because they act as a barrier that doesn t allow 1995 Virginia first adopts the standards of learning tests in response to http://www.has.vcu.edu/mac/ujw02/sols.htm
Extractions: UJW Reporter Timeline Related Web sites A s a freshman at Armstrong High School, Diondre Valentine's right hip was thrown out of place. Before he could get surgery, he fell down trying to reach his crutches and broke his left hip in the process. "I almost lost my legs," said Diondre, now a rising senior. "This happened during ninth- and 10th- grade year. It really affected my grades." Despite facing these physical challenges, Diondre scored a 398 just two points shy of passing on the geometry Standards of Learning test as a sophomore. "I liked the SOLs because in the beginning, the teachers gave us a lot of energy. Teachers would stay back as long as two hours and help kids who needed it," said Diondre. After retaking the class and test as a junior, he scored 421. Diondre's struggles show how tough it can be for students trying to meet Virginia's higher academic standards. T he state adopted rigorous standards in 1995 and a corresponding high-stakes testing program in 1998. Beginning with this year's rising juniors, high school students will have to pass at least six of 12 Standards of Learning tests or other state approved standardized tests.
VA-SOL Mansion Tour with educational programs designed to teach Virginias standards of learning ((sols)). a direct correlation between the thirdgrade SOL test results and the http://www.knowledge.state.va.us/main/mansion/man.htm
Extractions: Help Students Master Standards of Learning! The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation is an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia which operates the Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center "While we cannot give a direct correlation between the third-grade SOL test results and the third grade Jamestown Outreach Program, it is gratifying to know that the principals view it as an exemplary instructional resource. For example [one principal] attributes the increase in her SOL Social Science test results... to her students’ participation in the program." -Dr. Deborah Jewell-Sherman, Associate Superintendent for Instruction and Accountability, Richmond Public Schools
