1. Curriculum Based Measurements
Linking Assessment with Instruction
Tricia Crosby-Cooper and Mark Brincks, Carr Intermediate, 2007

2. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could…
Have a standardized index of student performance in our curriculum and connected to IEP goals?
Have objective information on student progress which is easily shared and understood by all?
Provide measurable, meaningful goals within our District’s curriculum?
Reduce jargon and communicate more directly?
Document when students are learning and when they are not?
Provide timely changes to the student’s instruction?
Focus on solutions to problems, rather than causes?

3. Curriculum Based Measurement (CBM)
Has standardized measurement procedures
Uses stimulus items closely aligned to the curriculum
Improves the match between testing and teaching
Links assessment to intervention
Establishes student skill level: mastery, instructional and frustration
Is easily communicated and understood by all

4. Characteristics of CBM
Accurate, Reliable, Standardized
Measures of Basic Skills:
> Reading > Math
> Spelling > Writing

5. Characteristics of CBM continued…
Test items come from the District’s curriculum
Tests are standardized and norm-referenced (using local norms)

6. Characteristics of CBM continued…
Tests are inexpensive to produce and administer.
Tests take minimum time from classroom instruction.
> Reading >Math
(1-3 min) (2 min)
> Spelling > Writing
(2 min) (4 min)

7. Characteristics of CBM continued…
Tests require students to produce academic responses rather than guess, point or circle answers.
Student’s academic fluency (correct responses per minute) in basic skills is determined.

8. Underlying Concept of Curriculum Based Assessment
Testing should reflect what is taught since assessment will ultimately drive instruction.
The measure of success in education is the student’s progress in the curriculum of the local school.

9. Overview of CBM Procedures & Materials
Reading:
Student reads a grade level (Instructional) passage orally
1 minute test
Given individually
Score: # of words read correctly
(optional: error types)

10. Overview of CBM Procedures & Materials
Spelling:
Student writes words given orally from
list of high frequency grade level words
2 minute test
Given in group or individually
Score Options: # correct words, or
# correct letter
sequences

11. Overview of CBM Procedures & Materials
Written Language:
Student writes passage using story starter
3 minute test
Given in group or individually
Score Options: total words written,
words spelled correctly
and correct word
sequence

12. Overview of CBM Procedures & Materials
Math:
Student completes math problems from selected grade-level materials
2 minute test
Given in group or individually
Score: correct # of digits

13. Specific Standardized Instructions…
Reading: (see handout)
Materials:
1. Unnumbered (student) copy of passage
2. Numbered (examiner) copy of passage
3. Stopwatch or timer
4. Tape recorder (optional)

14. Specific Standardized Instructions…
Written Expression:(see handout)
Materials:
1. Lined paper with story starter for student
2. Pencil for student
3. Stopwatch or timer

15. Specific Standardized Instructions…
Spelling:
Materials:
1. Spelling paper with spaces for student
2. Pencil for student
3. Stopwatch or timer
4. List of spelling words

16. Specific Standardized Instructions…
Math: (see handout)
Materials:
1. Unnumbered (student) copy of math problems
2. Numbered (examiner) copy of math problems
3. Stopwatch or timer
(May use single skill or multiple skills.)

17. CBM Use… Student progress in relation to others
Instructional program decisions
Screening Tool / Student Study Teams
Summer School – Extended School Year
Progress monitoring as part of the Problem solving model

18. CBM Use continued…
Special Education Goals on IEPs
(see samples on pg. 3 in handout)
Identify “At Risk” Students
Class Profile – School Profile
Program Evaluation
Measuring Response to Intervention

19. CBM Use in RTI… Measure general effectiveness of a given intervention
For individual students:
- Progress monitoring
- Performance compared to peers
- Performance compared to a set
standard
- Single student’s response to intervention

20. Examples of CBM Graphs…

21. Examples of CBM Graphs Continued…

22. Examples of CBM Graphs Continued…

23. Resources… www.interventioncentral.org – warehouse of CBMs
– charting progress on line
- U of Oregon – Dibels
- get pocket CBM