Testing Rubric

Here is something I used as a motivator to prepare my 2nd graders to be independent test takers in reading comprehension.  I use this testing rubric to set the expectation for my students and to make it intrinsic for them. This is typically used for a 10 question test but total adaptable to what you do in your classroom.

Level I-  "makes me cry because that you do not understand the skill, time to reteach"

Level II- "makes me sad because you were "one" question from mastery, take your time and read deeply"           

               (look for evidence)

Level III- "makes me smile, because you have an understanding of the skill"

Level IV- "makes me so happy that I stick my tongue out" (I stick out my tongue and do a happy dance 

                in front of the student)

I used this rubric during a student conference with students (independently). I grade their papers using circles to indicate what is wrong. I right "1st attempt" on their paper, beside it is the "number of questions missed". I have students to evaluate their test and tell me their score.  Then my response is "Is this acceptable?" and they have to reply. (All Levels below II have an automatic redo, after 3 attempts, come to teacher table for assistance)

I used this pocket chart as a friendly competition among all students in class.  I encourage them to try very hard to make Level III's and IV's on first attempts. I use this chart to keep up with how they are doing over time. 

Level Red:  Never achieved a Level III or IV on tests on first attempts

Level Yellow: Mostly Level III/IV and some Level II/I on first attempts

Level Green: All Level III/IV on first attempts

Since I have been doing this, my students have "rose to the occasion".  Before the break, I had about 4 students still in the red, they made it a personal goal to make it to yellow. I set the expectations and they truly wanted to make it for themselves.  

Math Center Organization

I have gone a little “crazy” and I am in blog overload! I realized that I have so much to share! So, bloggers BEWARE!!  J  First, let me begin by sharing a little bit about my classroom. I pull small reading groups in the morning (in my classroom) with second grade and work my afternoons with homeroom classes (in my math lab) with 2^nd, 3^rd, & 4^th grade). This is a view of the back of my classroom. The window keeps is bright and cheery!

This year has been a huge transition for me.  I had to sift through all of math center activities and see if they were common core compatible. In addition, to moving classrooms twice before the school year began. L Several of my center activities and lessons were misplaced. A colleague suggested that I use crates to file my math center activities. Place the file hanging folders with labeled lessons, math skills, grade, and standard, you have ready to go math centers whenever needed. 

Introduction

Hello,
My name is Tenisea Wilkes and welcome to my blog!! The purpose of this blog is to colloborate and share instructional ideas/strategies mainly for the area of math. I live in North Carolina, this has been our first year of Common Core implementation. It has been overwhelming but now I think I understand and can see the alignment. Well, at least in Math. lol! :) Happy blogging!