UbD Curriculum Design in Mirrors & Windows

We recently received the following question from a school district reviewing Mirrors & Windows: Do the materials offer multiple measures to assess student mastery consistent with UbD curriculum design?
Answer: The Mirrors & Windows program applies the Understanding by Design curriculum design through the following features:
Desired Results:
· Set Purpose questions in the Before Reading section for every selection help students set goals
· Student rubrics are provided to establish goals and guidelines for Writing Workshops and Speaking & Listening Workshops
· Learning Objectives for each lesson are provided in the Teacher’s edition
· Reader’s Context and Mirrors & Windows questions address the “big ideas” or essential questions and specific understandings that are desired
Assessment Evidence:
· After Reading critical thinking questions assess understanding of the lesson and extension activities offer opportunities for application of learning
· Student Checklists and self-and peer-evaluations are included in the Writing Workshops
· Selection Quizzes are provided for each selection in Meeting the Standards
· Selection Tests and Unit Tests are provided in the Assessment Guide and ExamView Assessment Suite®
Learning Plan:
· The Assessment Guide and ExamView® Assessment Suite offer Formative Surveys and oral reading fluency assessments that indicate a student’s ability level.
· Students can then be assigned selections at the appropriate reading level, with corresponding leveled activities in the Meeting the Standards unit resources and appropriate lessons from the Differentiated Instruction supplements.
· Additional Differentiated Instruction is provided in the Differentiated Instruction supplements and the Teacher’s Edition