Understanding Assessment

Today the children spent time reflecting on their own writing, analyzing it against the exemplars, and creating specific goals. Firstly each child spent 20 minutes looking through their draft writing books at the teacher feed back and feed forward. (At the end of Term 1 they were also given a writing level based on their report writing unit).
Once the children knew the level they were working at they used a writing 'Exemplar' from the next level up to highlight what they could add to their writing to make it more powerful.
They wrote 'next steps' based on teacher comments, exemplar indicators and end of unit assessments - choosing 2 or 3 areas of focus.
This self-analysis of writing gives the child a sound understanding of where they are at, ad how they can improve. All of the children can articulate specific 'focuses' for their work, and are really capable of detailing what makes their writing the level it is. Letting the children 'in' on assessment really gets them on board with their learning.