The ABC’s of Anne Frank performance based assessment is designed to help students develop informational writing skills with a specific audience and purpose in mind. Students must convey their knowledge of Anne Frank to younger students, specifically fifth graders, in a format that integrates writing, research, and design. The assessment promotes critical thinking by making students convey the tragic and often graphic nature of the Holocaust and life of Anne Frank in a way that is suitable for a young audience. The assessment gives each student depth of knowledge about World War II, the Holocaust, and the life of Anne Frank, promoting metacognition well beyond the reading of the play. It is the culminating activity in a unit on Anne Frank that includes readings in the genres of nonfiction and drama.** This performance assessment was developed by a collaborative team of teachers and division staff from Middlesex, Poquoson, and West Point school divisions.

Students will plan, write, and submit a formal MLA formatted research paper regarding Checks and Balances from the VA Civics Curriculum. Students will research a topic, create a thesis statement, and include in-text citations in their final product. ** This performance assessment was developed by a collaborative team of teachers and division staff from Middlesex, Poquoson, and West Point school divisions.

Students will read nonfiction articles on a topic of their choice to create an informative article that incorporates important details, evidence, and uses vocabulary that expresses ideas precisely and concisely.  Students will include one purposefully crafted visual text feature in their writing.  Students will organize their writing in a way that aids comprehension for the reader. 

Students will participate in a variety of activities to complete the experiment, and the student will produce written steps, notes, and results for each part of the experiment using the scientific method. For each part of the experiment, students will do the task two ways: sitting cross-legged on the floor to simulate what it would be like to be Kevin, and standing on a chair to simulate what it would be like to be Max** This performance assessment was developed by a collaborative team of teachers and division staff from Middlesex, Poquoson, and West Point school divisions.

Students write a multi-paragraph persuasive piece by developing their opinion on an issue and providing reasons/evidence that support their topic.

Writing Website: Becoming Your Own Best Writing Critic. One year I was given a classroom of 180 learners. I couldn't fathom how I would give meaningful feedback in a timely fashion for these learners about their writing. In frustration I asked them how to solve the problem. My learners solved the problem and helped me craft this process I am sharing with you. Feel free to modernize and make it better but always share as you never know that one staff or student learner you may help in providing your solution.

Writing Website: Becoming Your Own Best Writing Critic. One year I was given a classroom of 180 learners. I couldn't fathom how I would give meaningful feedback in a timely fashion for these learners about their writing. In frustration I asked them how to solve the problem. My learners solved the problem and helped me craft this process I am sharing with you. Feel free to modernize and make it better but always share as you never know that one staff or student learner you may help in providing your solution.