Education Week just published an article that discusses the Common Core Standards and the possible associated tests and test questions. Read the post to get a little insight as to the future plans to implement the common curriculum. (You may need to set up an account at Ed Week – but it’s free and their articles are always excellent.)
Two large groups of states are using federal Race to the Top money to create new suites of exams for the Common Core State Standards. Those consortia have recently begun work with private vendors to develop items—questions and tasks—for the tests. But each group has produced a range of sample test items to help those vendors get an idea of what the states want, and experts say they offer valuable insight into the tests that are expected to emerge in 2014-15.
“What we are starting to see here are tests that really get at a deeper understanding on the part of students, not just superficial knowledge,” said Robert L. Linn, an assessment expert and professor emeritus of education at the University of Colorado at Boulder who reviewed a sampling of the consortia’s materials. “But unless students are really prepared for them, it’s going to be a huge challenge.”
One selected-response item asks 5th graders to read an article about how scientists track bird migration and to identify the two paragraphs that contain the author’s opinions on the topic. The question taps key skills required in the common standards, such as comprehending “content rich” nonfiction and citing textual evidence for an argument.
A constructed-response item for 11th graders asks them to read excerpts from an 1872 speech by women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony and the “Second Treatise of Civil Government” by English philosopher John Locke, published in 1690. They must identify the ideas common to both pieces and discuss how Locke’s ideas support Anthony’s arguments, citing evidence from each to support their interpretations.
One of the aspects of the consortia’s work that represents perhaps the greatest departure from current state testing practice is the inclusion of performance tasks, which engage students in more complex, prolonged exercises.
A sample math performance task by Smarter Balanced asks 6th graders to figure out what they need to build a community garden to a given set of specifications for $450.
During two test sessions totaling up to two hours, students would have to calculate many figures, including the perimeter, surface areas, and volume of each section of the garden, and make a sketch based on their calculations. They must figure out how much soil is needed and how many tomato and carrot plants to buy, given their cost, the garden’s size, and each plant’s need for space. Finally, they must show how their project will stay within its allotted budget.
Teachers and parents, please read the entire article at Education Week and let us have your thoughts.
We would also like to hear whether teachers think that the newly implemented (and very expensive) “Success For All“ program aligns with what you read about the Common Core Standards. Their website states that they are a “Common Core Aligned Endorsing Partner”. Dr. Atkinson has certainly put a lot of faith in the program. In fact, “Success For All” was the topic of her dissertation 14 years ago.
To view the webpage on the Core Standards at DeKalb School System’s website, click here.