Constructed Response

Why? BSSD 2008 BSSD 2009

BSSD 2009 Scores One Site’s Scores

BSSD Site A BSSD Site B

BSSD Site C BSSD Site D

Why: Why does it matter if I do well? Why do Koyuk’s scores matter? Why try to do better? Why are we working on this now?

Terms to Know Writing CR Items Sample CR Items Resources Overview

Terms Constructed Response (CR) These items require students to generate (construct) an answer on their own, without options from which to choose. Students may be required to produce a response using words, pictures, diagrams or numbers. Short Response Open Ended Extended Response Prompt This is the part of the item that presents the question(s) or tasks to be answered. Rubric Rubrics present the criteria to be used in scoring the constructed-response item. Rubrics often include examples or acceptable answers.

Must be linked to the standards they assess Cannot be answered with a simple yes or no Based on topics accessible to students at that level Require use of higher-order thinking skills May have more than one correct answer May have more than one way to find the correct answer Contain clear and explicit directions for completing task Good Constructed Response Items:

Constructed Response Items Emphasize Higher-level Thinking Skills What is the most exciting part in the story? Explain why you think it is the most exciting part using details and /or examples from the story. Classify the following numbers into three groups: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. At the top of each group, write what the numbers have in common. Explain how we use different forms of measurement in everyday life and why it’s important.

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Reading His mind kept wondering all by itself about the new school year. There would be new Math, new English, new Social Studies, and new Science. There would be a new schedule, and he would tape it onto his new organizer and check it over and over again. How does that go? A watched pot never boils? It’s something l like that. A watched schedule never changes, either. Something about this summer camp made him forget the things about school that he didn’t like so much. Sometimes a class would end before he understood what was going on. Sometimes 43 minutes left holes in lessons that could have been filled in 50 minutes or 120 minutes. That was the great thing about camp. He had as much time as he needed for everything he did there. Prompt: List two details from the passage that support the idea that time was always on his mind.

2 points- The response includes two of the following correct details:  A watched pot never boils.  A watched schedule never changes.  Sometimes a class would end before he understood what was going on.  Sometimes 43 minutes left holes in lessons that could have been filled in 50 minutes or 120 minutes.  He had as much time as he needed for everything he did there. 1 point- Answer: Sometimes 43 minutes left holes in lessons that could have been filled in 50 or 120 minutes. For this item, the response includes one of the correct details listed above with an incorrect or missing detail. 0 points- Answer: Summer camp made him forget things he didn’t like about school. His mind kept wondering about the new school year. For this item, the response includes none of the correct details listed above. It is inaccurate, irrelevant, or blank. Scoring:

Sample CR Social Studies / Writing What do you think our country would be like if we didn’t have laws? Use examples to support your explanation. Value = 3 points Break down the prompt into parts: 1. Restate the question with a statement of your idea. 2. Give at least two examples that support your idea.

Science Plants and animals have special adaptations that help them live in their environment. Discuss two special adaptations that plants and/or animals have for surviving in the arctic. (4 pts.)

[6] S&P-4 (L) Analyzing whether a game is mathematically fair or unfair by explaining the probability of all possible outcomes (M6.2.4) Helen and Anna are playing a spinner game. The spinner is divided into seven sections that are labeled 1-7. If the spinner lands on a number less than four, Helen wins. If the spinner lands on four or greater, Anna wins. Is this game fair? Explain your answer. EED Formative Assessment Sampler Items [8] MEA-2 Using scale drawings involving indirect measurement (determining the scale factor and applying it to find missing dimension) (M2.3.4) Taipei, Taiwan, recently celebrated the official opening of the world’s tallest skyscraper. It is called “Taipei 101” because it has 101 floors or stories. The building is 1,679 feet tall. To the nearest hundredth, how tall is each story? Show your work.

PROMPT: Pretend you're a cartoon character. What special powers would you have and what would you do with them? Value = 3 points Break down the prompt into parts: Describe your character and special powers. (1 point) Give at least two examples about what you would do with your powers. (2 points)

Find practice CR prompts to use with your classes. Practice scoring with the students often. Write constructed response prompts for the content you are learning in class at least weekly. Practice, practice, practice with students. Share great examples of answers from your students. Post constructed response answers up in the classroom and hallway.

Resources THE WRITINGFIX CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE PAGE ALASKA FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT RESOURCES EXAMPLES OF TOP QUALITY CR PROBLEMS NAEP ASSESSMENT TOOLBOX FOR TEACHERS The NAEP Assessment Toolbox for Teachers is a collection of classroom activities using released questions from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). NAEP SAMPLE QUESTIONS You can select the type and content to view many sample questions. SAMPLE CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE MAEP