How do you make sure your students are learning what they need to in order to succeed on tests mandated by the Common Core? Here are some methods to adapt your reading and writing assessments for students by grade level.
When teachers are faced with the idea of assessing students, most often we may first look to pre-set assessments on the given work we are studying. However, when we model our assessments to mirror ones that will be given on standardized tests, we give our students the tools they need to succeed on these tests. It is always a bit more effort to shape and adapt an assessment based on standards set by a state or national curriculum, however at this point in time many educators agree that it is in the students best interest to do so as frequently as possible throughout the course of the school year.
Grades 3 - 4
For students in grade 3 and 4, a model assessment for writing based on poetry writing would best serve student interest if it contained the following components:
1. Create three objective questions.
2. Create a question that has a Part A and a Part B, with Part B asking students to find support from the text.
3. Create two questions that allow students to identify vocabulary meaning.
4. Create a question that asks for a 3-4 sentence response, that requires students to use evidence from the poem.
Grades 5 - 6
For students in grades 5 and 6 a model assessment for writing, based on poetry reading and writing, would best serve students if it contained the following components.
1. Create four objective questions.
2. Create a question that has a Part A and a Part B, with Part B asking students to find support from the text.
3. Create three questions that allow students to identify vocabulary meaning.
4. Create two questions that ask for a 3-4 sentence response, that requires students to use evidence from the poem.
Grades 7 - 8
For students in grades 7 and 8, a model assessment for writing, based on poetry reading and writing would best serve students if it contained the following components:
1. Create five objective questions.
2. Create three questions that have a Part A and a Part B, with Part B asking students to find support from the text.
3. Create two questions that allow students to identify vocabulary meaning.
4. Create three questions that ask for a 3-4 sentence response that requires students to use evidence from the poem.
Sample poems for use in the classroom can be downloaded here, so teachers or even student groups can create sample assessments that mirror state test requirements!
This post is part of the series: Adapting Your English Class to Common Core Standards
Ideas and sample assignments for adapting your classroom to Common Core English.
