I’ve been trying to work out the most efficient and effective system in using APP for personalised assessment. Previously to this, I have selected 6 children for Maths, Reading and Writing and gathered evidence for them on a termly basis. This has worked fairly well, particularly for Literacy. With Reading, I have then filled out an individual grid for each child in the class which has really helped me track gaps and decide on next steps. I have wanted to use a system that would also work on an individual basis for Writing and particularly Maths as I have found the APP grids for it to be a little less easy to access than the Literacy grids.
I will still gather evidence for 6 pupils but instead of filling out the paper grids half termly then not doing an awful lot with them until the next half term, I will update my assessments for those pupils into a spreadsheet at the end of each Literacy or Maths unit. After this, in the same spreadsheet, I will assess the other members of the class. This will allow me to monitor progress and reflect on the best way to move children on all from one location. I won’t need to thumb through 30 grids and work out where there are correlating gaps or next steps to develop as a group, I can simply sort the spreadsheet by the APP statement within a level.
In short, I want APP to play a crucial role in setting next steps rather than being used purely as a summative assessment. I have made the Google spreadsheets copiable so if this is something you think might help in your classroom, please make a copy by clicking the links below and they will appear in your Google Docs list. Simply add a ’1′ into any cell where that child has achieved that APP statement. The cell will then turn green allowing you to easily spot gaps or you could sort the column. I don’t know how manageable it will be yet but I believe that the extra effort will be worth it!
Hi Pete, I really like the idea of your spreadsheets for keeping all the information together. I've taken a look at the reading one so far and was just wondering – are they for a specific APP level? If so, how do you intend to keep track of the different levels children are working at in your class? Just know that in my class (y6) I have a range of L2 – L6 and wonder if it would then not be meaningful for those children working above the level on the spreadsheet.
Glad you found the tabs
No L6 i'm afraid – feel free to copy and make… but be prepared for data input brain freeze!
I'm interested if you think that any of this is manageable? I set up a similar google spreadsheet for the KS3 Maths APP criteria. But when I saw them all in one place I took the decision that it was madness to try and keep track of that level of detail for every child in every class. I just don't think it is manageable unless there is lots of admin support to keep up with it, even then it would be difficult.
I have largely ignored these huge lists of criteria for my department. We fulfil the principles of APP by regularly assessing and feeding back to pupils on their progress and how to move to the next level. But without the bonkers amount of detail that seems to be suggested by some of the support materials.
I have VERY little time for the LA Consultants, who haven't actually taught a full teaching load for some years, evangelising about these spreadsheets.
Having said all that, I do think if you are going down this route, a google spreadsheet is the way forward. Ultimately with pupils responsibly updating it as well as you.