Creating an Assessment

Last week, Prof. Mace, Gabbie, Jen, and I discussed whether the assessments we chose could fit into standards other than the standard we originally chose to focus on. This week we decided to try and create an assessment that fits our standard and possibly other standards under our domain as well. The assessment could also fall under other standards in other domains too. The standard I have been working with is CC.2.4.2. A.4 which states; represent and interpret data using line plots, picture graphs, and bar graphs. This standard is under the domain measurement, data, and probability.

The assessment I created is called favorite color. I based this assessment off of a previous assessment I reviewed called We Scream for Ice Cream. Favorite Color discusses how all of the students in Miss Smith's second grade class voted for their favorite color. The results are displayed into a chart with three questions to follow for the students to answer thoroughly. The questions are worded to make the students think. They are not just yes or no questions. The questions are written to make the students have to explain their reasoning. The students can also talk with their group members to discuss their reasoning to the questions they answered. The students can work together and come to a final answer for each question.

I created the Favorite Color assessment on Microsoft Word. I used Microsoft Excel to make the bar graph and then typed three questions below the graph that would help the students interpret the graph. I had used Excel to make a bar graph for another class so that was not difficult at all. Assessments are typically thought of as tests but that is not always true. Assessments can be fun and engaging for the students but also give the teacher a well-rounded idea of how each student is progressing in the concept that is being assessed. For my assessment, the teacher is able to walk around the classroom and observe the students approach to the problem. The teacher is able to see how the student interacts with others and what questions they are asking about the assessment. The students can clarify with their peers if they are stuck on a certain question. Creating this assessment was not as complex as I thought. I did base my assessment off of another assessment on the Balanced Assessment Project website but came up with my own scenario. I hope that with more experience and time I will be able to create my very own assessments to assess my students.