November 15, 2013

Dear Parents/Guardians,
Over the next month, we will be studying a unit that breaks down the different events and
differences that divided Virginians and the nation, ultimately leading to the Civil War. Students
will also be studying an in depth look at the different roles that contributed to the tensions of the
Civil War. These roles include Northern whites, Southern whites, enslaved African American,
free African Americans, and women.
We are striving for students to gain not only a knowledge base and skill set but a deep
understanding of the events and roles that contributed to the causes of the Civil War. As a class,
we have been practicing the ability to empathize with different types of people. We will work on
this skill through an analysis of primary and secondary documents as well as through
discussions. Whereas specific facts and knowledge can be assessed through tests and quizzes, an
assessment of deep understanding cannot be obtained through these methods. Therefore, I have
found a need to resort to other methods of assessing other than tests or quizzes.
In order to assess understanding, I will have students complete something called a
performance based assessment. This type of assessment will allow me to check their
understanding and ability to put themselves into someone elses shoes based on their
understanding. The students will be completing a performance based assessment called A Civil
War Diary. The students will be re-creating journal entries of a U.S. citizen who lived during the
Civil War Era. They will have explored the different viewpoints of the roles that contributed to
the tensions that ultimately caused the Civil War, and the students will be asked to choose one
of these roles to take on from this time period. In their journal entries, they must create a vivid
picture of what life was like for this person and the things that he/she felt living in this time
period. For this assignment, I encourage you to help students develop their sense of empathy and
sensitivity towards others, but I ask that you do not help them with the assignment as it is an
assessment of their understanding. I have attached a copy of the assignment sheet that will be
given to the students along with a rubric for this assignment.
When the students are finished with the project, they will be presenting their product on
December 7, 2013 to a group of librarians from the local Harrisonburg Library as if the
librarians were publishers from a publishing company. If you would like to attend this event,
please feel welcomed to do so! I understand that this kind of assessment might be confusing
and/or new to you, so please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns
regarding this assignment. I look forward to hearing from you!
Phone: (123) 456-7899
E-mail at thomas@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Miss Thomas