Test Savvy: Making Sense of Problems Workshop Series

Series Focus:

  • Concrete strategies and tools to support students in unpacking constructed response questions (word problems) as seen on state exam questions.

  • Additional considerations: reading comprehension strategies, mathematical reasoning and justification, use of tools, and transfer from paper to computer.


Grade 3 - 5:

  1. Why are word problems so hard?

  2. Keywords - Forget about it!, Marisa Video

  3. Featured Strategies:

 

Grade 6 - 8:

  1. Why are word problems so hard?

  2. Featured Strategies:


Session #2: Making Math Visual


Session #3: Metacognition Strategies

Agenda

Part 1: Continued Work

  1. Test Guidance 2024 Scavenger Hunt (NYS Test Guidance PDF), Scavenger Hunt Document (editable)

  2. What have we taught? (Will prompt you to make a copy.)

  3. In Many Ways: Constructed Response Questions

Part 2: New Ideas

  1. Active Explain Your Thinking

  2. Same and Different Word Problems (Grade 5 Sample, Grade 7 Sample

  3. Word Problem Rework

  4. Rate My Work (NYSED Released Items for Scoring Guides with Samples of Student Work)

  5. Word Problem Think Aloud (Grade 3- 5, Grade 6 - 8)

  6. What-ifs


Session #4: Planning & Strategies

AGENDA

Part 1: Continued Work

  1. Test Guidance 2024 - What does it take to score a Proficiency Level 3?

  2. TIPS for Online Testing

  3. Sampler of NYS CBT

  4. In Many Ways: Constructed Response Questions

Part 2: Getting Students to Lead the Learning

  1. Teacher Tell Me (folder), Grade 4 Sample, Grade 6 Sample

  2. iReview

  3. Two Arguments (Sample questions)

  4. What is it about? (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How?)

  5. BrainingCamp Video Short (BE CURIOUS or SEEKINGED)

Part 3: Strategies Made Into Routines

  1. Multiple-choice in Minutes (template)

  2. Evaluate the Choices

  3. What are the Choices?

  4. What is the Question?

  5. True or False Word Problems (True or False Cards)

Additional Resources:


Session #5: Application Time

AGENDA

  1. What kind of test taker am I?

  2. It is a points game.

  3. In Many Ways: Constructed Response Questions

  4. Key Strategies:

    • Shoot Your Shot

    • Rework the Problem

    • Roam the Room

    • Making a Choice Board for Targeted Small-Group Practice

  5. Getting Vertical - Adapting and Adopting “Building Thinking Classrooms” into Everyday Practice

  6. Make n’ Take: Select 2 strategies that we have done and create content for your classroom


Christine King