Designing Assessment for Mathematics

In the second edition of this research-based book, Eileen Depka clarifies the purpose of rubrics, and illustrates the relationship between assessment, rubrics and math standards; the teaching of math; and students’ discovery of math concepts. The author demonstrates how to drive instruction and enhance student achievement using assessment data and completed rubrics and discusses:Procedures to create effective assessment tools and rubrics Different types of scoring guides Weighted rubrics Student involvement in creating rubricsTwo new chapters focus on communication in mathematics and using data from rubrics to improve instruction. Each chapter offers easy-to-use, creative problems that are based on math concepts linked to national math standards and benchmarks. Eileen Depka is a veteran educator and currently works as the supervisor of standards and assessment for the Waukesha School District in Wisconsin. While focusing on assessment, she works with teachers and administrators to organize and use data as part of the decisionmaking and goal-setting processes in an effort to increase student achievement. With the No Child Left Behind legislation as a constant focus, she helps administrators and teachers share data and implement practices to meet improvement goals. A regular presenter at both local and national conferences, she is the author of Designing Rubrics for Mathematics, the Applying Mathematical Concepts manual, and the Data Guidebook for Teachers and Leaders, as well as articles on mathematics, assessment, and data analysis. Eileen has served as a content advisor for educational videos, a writer of online courses, and an instructor of graduate-level courses in education. Driving all of her work is her passionate belief that all students can achieve high levels of proficiency and her dedication to educators in their quest to help all students experience academic success. Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction The State of Mathematics About This Book Chapter 1. Using Rubrics in Mathematics The Rubric Why Use Rubrics in Mathematics? Rubric/Mathematics Application: You’re Right on Target! In Summary Chapter 2. The Relationship Between Mathematics Standards and Rubrics The Importance of Standards Mathematics Standards and Rubrics Rubric/Mathematics Application: How Negative Are My Temperatures? In Summary Chapter 3. Performance Tasks and Rubrics Why Use Performance Tasks? Characteristics of Performance Tasks Creating the Performance Task Rubric/Mathematics Application: Let’s Go Shopping! In Summary Chapter 4. Developing the Rubric From a Checklist The Checklist The Transition from Checklist to Rubric Summary of Steps for Developing a Rubric Rubric/Mathematics Application: What’s My Area? In Summary Chapter 5. Weighted Rubrics The Purpose of Weighted Rubrics Using Technology in Rubric Development Rubric/Mathematics Application: Discoveries in Rainbow Candy Land In Summary Chapter 6. Student-Created Rubrics Using Student-Created Rubrics The Process Rubric/Mathematics Application: I’m Not Just Average! In Summary Chapter 7. Teacher-Made Tests and Rubrics Using Teacher-Made Tests Creating a Teacher-Made Test Rubric/Mathematics Application: Finding LCM and GCF In Summary Chapter 8. Using Rubric Data Analyzing Data Individual Graphs Group and Summary Information Student Comparisons Rubric/Mathematics Application: The Garden In Summary Chapter 9. Mathematics and Communication Mathematical Vocabulary Communication Feedback Reflection Mathematics Application: Sales Tax Task In Summary Appendix 1: Additional Rubric/Mathematics Application Projects Project 1 Overview: Measurement and Statistics Project 2 Overview: Symmetry and Area Project 3 Overview: Standard Measurement Project 4 Overview: Unit Pricing Project 5 Overview: Complementary and Supplementary Angles Appendix 2: Turning a 4-Point Rubric Score Into a Letter Grade Bibliography Index