1. Outcomes and Assessment
Making Sense of ELA
Outcomes and Assessment

2. Introduction
ELA educators have redefined the instruction of ELA. At all grades, the focus has shifted from reading, writing, and the study of literary texts to an emphasis on acquiring language and literacy skills through listening, speaking, viewing, and representing, as well as reading and writing.

3. ELA Outcomes Example: General Outcome 1: Explore thoughts, ideas,
General outcomes describe the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that students are expected to demonstrate from kindergarten to grade 12.
Example:
General Outcome 1: Explore thoughts, ideas,
feelings and experiences.

4. General Outcomes
General Outcome 1: Explore thoughts, ideas, feelings and experiences.
General Outcome 2: Comprehend, and respond personally and critically to oral, print, and other media texts.
General Outcome 3: Manage ideas and information
General Outcome 4: Enhance the clarity and artistry of communication
General Outcome 5: Celebrate and build community

5. ELA Outcomes
Specific outcomes identify the component knowledge, skills, and attitudes that contribute to the general outcomes and that students are expected to demonstrate by the end of a grade.

6. Specific Outcome Example: 1.1.1 Express Ideas
Consider a range of ideas, observations, opinions and emotions to create or understand texts.

7. Specific Outcomes
General Outcome 1: Explore thoughts, ideas, feelings and experiences.
SLO: 1.2.1: Consider Others’ Ideas
General Outcome 2: Comprehend, and respond personally and critically to oral, print, and other media texts.
SLO: 2.1.1: Prior Knowledge
General Outcome 3: Manage ideas and information
SLO: 3.2.1: Identify Personal and Peer Knowledge
General Outcome 4: Enhance the clarity and artistry of communication
SLO: 4.1.1: Generate Ideas
General Outcome 5: Celebrate and build community
SLO: 5.1.1: Cooperate with Others

8. A New Attitude
With the new emphasis on acquiring language and literacy skills, students will be encouraged to master the set outcomes for each assignment or activity assigned.

9. Assessment
How will I know if I am mastering the set learning outcomes for an assignment or activity?
ELA teachers employ a rubric in order to properly assess whether a student has acquired the stated learning outcomes.

10. ELA Marking Rubric
The ELA marking rubric is designed to allow teachers to assess whether a student has acquired the stated learning outcomes. There are three categories used in the rubric:
Below Level At Level Above Level

11. Assessment Descriptors
When a student has successfully mastered a learning outcome an
At Level descriptor will be assigned.
When a student demonstrates a superior understanding of a learning outcome an Above Level descriptor will be assigned.

12. Assessment Descriptors
When a student demonstrates a limited understanding of a learning outcome a Below Level descriptor will be assigned.

13. At Level Rubric 3 (somewhat) 4 Understands/Appraises/Evaluates/
Analyzes/Generates/Selects/Explores or considers a variety of ideas, thoughts, or feelings for a general outcome.
Possible Characteristics:
Specific/Developed/Logical/Clear/Relevant

14. Above Level Rubric 5
Demonstrates Superior Skill in Exploring/ Understanding/Appraising/Evaluating
Analyzing/Generating/Selecting or considering a variety of ideas, thoughts, or feelings for a general outcome.
Possible Characteristics:
Creative/Perceptive/Thorough/Precise/
Insightful

15. Below Level Rubric 1(very limited) 2 (limited)
Demonstrates Limited Skill in Exploring/ Understanding/Appraising/Evaluating
Analyzing/Generating/Selecting or considering a variety of ideas, thoughts, or feelings for a general outcome.
Possible Characteristics:
Weak/Superficial/Awkward/Illogical/
Generalized/Undeveloped

16. Possible Characteristics Definitions
Sample Poster
At Level Rubric
Possible Characteristics Definitions
1. Specific
Dictionary: Precise and detailed, avoiding vagueness.
Original: To the point and clear.
2. Developed/Develop
Dictionary: To evolve; to bring to maturity.
Original: To change and grow with time and effort.

17. List of Possible Characteristics
Specific
Thorough
Relevant
Creative
Awkward
Undeveloped
Weak
Clear
Developed
Precise
Perceptive
Illogical
Superficial
Generalized
Logical
Insightful