ASSESSMENTS

Students understand by doing, showing, and telling. Teachers use assessment strategies of observing, listening, and probing questions in order to evaluate learning. Performance and achieving the learning expectations vary from child to child due to varied social realities and experiences. Anecdotes on milestones achieved by students are maintained for understanding how students learn and to analyse their achievements for continued learning and development.

Diagnostic Assessments are conducted for all primary children at the beginning of the academic year. The outcomes are analysed to identify learning disabilities and to extend remedial support by creating Individual Education Program for each child requiring support. Formative Assessments are ongoing using variety of methods for ensuring students are achieving learning outcomes. The data from formative assessments are used for altering teaching methods, conduct revisions and for re-teaching. Summative Assessments ensure the learning is retained and skills of assimilation are developed. The summative assessment data reveals the improvisations required in delivering curriculum, so every student benefits and achieves the defined outcomes.

Assessments for specific expectations lead to achievement of overall expectations /outcomes. The feedback and feed-forward system enables students with individual learning needs, also achieve the expected outcomes. Variety of activities, projects, and skills based on Bloom’s Taxonomy and Multiple Intelligences, are developed and used to check on defined milestones.

The continuous and ongoing classroom observations leading to assessments include Class Presentations, Portfolios, Role plays /Interviews, Essays, Discussions, Group Work, Projects, etc. In addition, Outbound Learning, Community Outreach, Quizzes, Contests, etc. are designed for students to hone skills and attitudes required to meet grade-level outcomes, as set by the CBSE board.

Student knowledge, skills and attitudes are assessed by the mandatory ASSET (Assessment of Scholastic Skills through Educational Testing), NTSE (National Talent Search Examination), SAT (Stanford Achievement Test) tests organized by external organizations, on a national level. As part of Ipsative Assessments and Mentoring program, students are coached to set benchmark for themselves and assess their progress against the set benchmark.

Parents and teachers of Balsam Academy have a valuable partnership that they enjoy. They trust the practices adopted in school and work together to:

• Create a learning environment at home
• Encourage children to naturally and holistically develop in accordance with the stages of development