Kate I completely agree with you. I also find myself a bit troubled and confused when it comes to assessing standards.It is difficult translating the state standards into usable guidelines for lesson and unit planning. This past semester I found myself really struggling with learning objectives and aligning them to assessment. I began to look at assessment as a mere activity rather than a way to make sure that students were really learning. When I created my unit I am also unsure if I used backwards planning. I knew what I wanted my students to learn and I had a culminating assignment; however, I believe I failed in the department of how I can get my students there in a certain time span. As I am reading UBD I find that the WHERETO guidelines have really helped me think about planning. This backward design process has helped me think about how clear I am in my unit planning and where I am going with it. It helps me think about how to hook my students and guide them along the way. 

- Kasha