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From an early age, students learn how to reflect on their efforts both in individual and group work and to set goals for improvement. In 1st grade and above, at the end of each trimester, students select 3 pieces of work to be included in their portfolio box which travels with them through 8th grade. A written reflection explains the choice and what was learned from the particular piece of work. In 3rd grade and above students write self-evaluations twice a year to be included in their progress reports for parents. In middle school, students and teachers work together to develop rubrics for assessing various criteria for their written work and research projects. Students do not generally receive letter or number grades , although, of course, they can calculate the results of their spelling, vocabulary or math tests! It is important for students to respect the teacher comments, feedback and suggestions for revision rather than to just look at a summary grade. In 7th and 8th grade some assignments are "graded" along with detailed feedback.
Parents are asked to attend conferences in October and March to discuss their child's work and contribution to the classroom. Detailed progress reports, which include checklists of specific attributes and skills as well as narrative descriptions of children's social, emotional and academic development, are mailed home in December and June.