Common Core Assessments

I think I could officially title this summer “The Summer of the Common Core Standards”. I’ve definitely spent far more time with these standards that I ever intended!  My most recent project was to create individual assessments for all of the Common Core Math Standards, because I wanted a resource that was very simple and organized and could be used the entire school year. I also wanted something that could be used as a common assessment among teachers in different schools or even districts, because I do see the value in common or aligned assessments.

I’ve created two one-page, assessments for each of the Common Core Math Standards, so there are 60 pages of math assessments, and I’ve made an answer key for each of the assessments. I created two assessments so that teachers can use one assessment as a pretest, or they can use the extra assessment for retesting students as needed.

I’ve also included a checklist for the math standards.  There are two different versions for you to use.

There is also a short data notebook file that will allow students to create their own math data notebooks, where students will be able to graph their assessments (what assessments they graph is completely up to you).  A couple of years ago, I was very fortunate to be able to attend a Marzano conference, where I was inspired to begin using data notebooks in my classroom.  I was completely unfamiliar with this idea, but I knew it was something I wanted to to try out.  It took me awhile, and bunches and bunches of trial and error, but I’m finally feeling comfortable with the notebooks.  I’ve learned that to really make them effective I have to keep it simple.  I think this data notebook format and easy to understand assessments will make this just right for my third graders.

You can check out the 3rd Grade Common Core Math Assessments by clicking this link and the 4th Grade Common Core Math Assessments by clicking this link!

As you already know, I’ve made constructed response a huge part of my math instruction this year. I started teach the how and why of constructed response questions the first full week of school. I’ve already started seeing some progress with my students, but I also know that we have a long way to go. This isn’t a quick and easy process, and sometimes it can be overwhelming for me. I’m using my Math Constructed Response pack to teach my students how to solve extended constructed response problems, and it’s already been a tremendous help, because it’s providing me a step-by-step plan for teaching this concept

However, I don’t feel like it’s enough {I wasn’t kidding when I said it was a huge part of my instruction}. I want constructed response problems to be an integral part of my day-to-day instruction and assessment process, which lead to the creation of my newest product-Common Core Constructed Response Math Assessments. This is very similar to my other Common Core Math Assessments, but rather than being multiple choice or short answer, each of these questions require students to apply  the standard in a problem solving context. There are two assessments for each of the Common Core Math Standards. In the majority of the assessments, there is only one question on a page. However, the questions all require students to explain their thinking in words and to use number sentences and/or visual representation. There is also a rubric at the bottom of each page.

You can check out the full preview here if you’re interested in taking a closer look. I have no idea why some of these pictures are blurry.

On another note, I had a couple requests for additional page dividers for my math RTI notebooks. These correlate with the sections of my RTI Progress Monitoring Part 1 and 2 packs. You can download the dividers here!