1) We administer exams for 6th through 8th graders at the end of each =
semester. The exams assess the kids on material covered that semester - i.=
e., our spring semester exam does not assess the kids on the year's worth o=
f content. Starting with the 2010-2011 school year, we will no longer give=
exams for 7th graders.
2) The exams all have a standardized cover page format (school logo, n=
ame of course, teacher name, date, space for student name, exam directions,=
Code of Honor Statement with signature line, etc.) but the content and for=
mat of the exam itself is driven by the individual teacher - the exams are =
generally a mix of objective questions, short answers, application question=
s (e.g., creating or using maps to answer questions in 7th Grade geography,=
writing a Haiku in 7th Grade LA, etc.), and essays. The balance between o=
bjective questions and essays shifts towards the latter as the kids move to=
ward 8th Grade. The teachers do give a review copy of each exam (and corre=
sponding study guide) to me two weeks or so before exam week.
3) The kids take five exams (math, science, LA, social studies, and Sp=
anish) over three mornings - there are two 2-hour exam slots each morning. =
(The exams themselves are not two hours in length; we build in time to col=
lect textbooks, hand out materials, and answer general questions before the=
exam actually begins.) They are done by 12:30pm each day and have to be p=
icked up by 12:45pm.
Our teachers are also required to give the kids study guides two weekends a=
head of exam week and then hold exam review sessions in class for the last =
four to five days leading up to exams.
Please feel free to call or e-mail me if I can be of any further help.
John
John E. Pitcairn
Middle Division Director
Academy at the Lakes
Academy at the Lakes is a learning community of shared values dedicated to =
the success of each individual at school, in the community, and in the worl=
d. We celebrate the love of learning and the joy in the journey.
2331 Collier Parkway
Land O'Lakes, FL 34639
(813) 948-7600 office
(813) 949-0563 fax
jpitcairn@academyatthelakes.org
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators [mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.=
EDU] On Behalf Of Dean
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 3:38 PM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: QUERY- Middle School Final Exams
Dear Colleagues,
could you give me a sense of how your middle school addresses the concept o=
f final exams:
1) Do you administer final exams at the end of the year?
2) Are there specific guidelines for exam format? content?
3) What does your schedule look liek on final exam days? Do students only c=
ome for their exams and then go home? Do you design a special day for them?
Thank you for any information you can provide.
Dean J. Fusto
Head of upper school
Assistant head of school
The Bement School
[ For info on ISED-L see https://www.gds.org/podium/default.aspx?t=3D128874=
]
Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons, attribution, n=
on-commercial, share-alike license.
RSS Feed, http://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?RSS&L=3DISED-L
[ For info on ISED-L see https://www.gds.org/podium/default.aspx?t=3D128874 ]
Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons, attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license.
RSS Feed, http://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?RSS&L=3DISED-L
