Assessment Description When Students Are Learning Mathematic

Assessment Descriptionwhen Students Are Learning Mathematical Operatio

Assessment Description when students are learning mathematical operations and skills, the concepts and skills will build upon each other. It is important for teachers to plan meaningful learning progressions in their lessons to help with this learning process. Higher-order questioning within a lesson plan can help ensure skill mastery before the next learning concept is introduced. Part 1: Partial Lesson Plan Select a 1-5 grade level and a corresponding Arizona College and Career Ready Standard or other state standard based on the Number and Operations in Base Ten domain. Using the “COE Lesson Plan Template,” complete the lesson plan through the Multiple Means of Engagement section, making sure the activities are supported by the recommendations found in the topic Resources. Include appropriate support and guidance to help students learn related academic language. Part 2: DOK Essential Questions Upon completion of the partial lesson plan, draft 20 essential questions to guide meaningful learning progressions and foster problem-solving for students with disabilities, using the “DOK Questions Template.” Five of the questions should activate prior knowledge and the remaining 15 questions should be based on the progression of the lesson activity, probing the four Depth of Knowledge (DOK) levels. Using four of the questions you drafted, one from each DOK level, identify the following using the DOK Questions Table within the “DOK Questions Template”: examples of student responses, rationale of why chosen question meets DOK level. APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected. This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

Paper For Above instruction

The process of teaching mathematical operations and skills requires thoughtful planning to ensure students build upon prior knowledge and master concepts progressively. For educators instructing students in grades 1 through 5, aligning instructional strategies with standards such as the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards (AZ CCRS) or relevant state standards establishes a clear pathway for skill development within the Number and Operations in Base Ten domain. This paper presents a comprehensive lesson plan tailored for early elementary students, emphasizing meaningful learning progressions supported by research-based instructional practices. It also explores the formulation of essential questions that promote critical thinking and problem-solving, particularly for students with disabilities, across different levels of cognitive demand as classified by Depth of Knowledge (DOK).

The initial phase involves selecting an appropriate grade level and standard. For example, a second-grade lesson might target standard 2.NBT.1, which involves understanding place value and the comparison of two-digit numbers. The lesson plan follows the COE template, incorporating strategies that engage multiple means of engagement, such as manipulatives, visual aids, and interactive activities. These strategies are supported by evidence suggesting that such tools foster increased participation and comprehension among diverse learners, including those with disabilities (Fisher & Frey, 2014; Tomlinson, 2014).

In the engagement phase, activities are designed to make connections to students’ prior knowledge about numbers, counting, and place value. For instance, students might use base-ten blocks to model numbers, compare quantities, and discuss their reasoning. Supporting language development is integral; explicit instruction on academic vocabulary—such as "digit," "value," "compare," and "greater than"—is embedded into the lesson to facilitate conceptual understanding and language acquisition (Gibbons, 2015).

The second component of the assignment involves drafting 20 essential questions aligned with the lesson's learning goals. These questions are crafted to activate prior knowledge — for example, "What do you already know about place value?" — and to progressively deepen understanding through the lesson activities. They are categorized according to the four DOK levels: recall and pre-automation (DOK 1), basic application (DOK 2), strategic thinking (DOK 3), and extended complex reasoning (DOK 4). For instance, at higher DOK levels, questions might prompt students to justify their reasoning or analyze number relationships, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills (Larson & Hundley, 2020).

To illustrate, one DOK 1 question might be, "What are the digits in the number 34?" This prompts direct retrieval. An example of a DOK 2 question is, "How can you tell which of these two numbers is greater?" which requires comparison skills. A DOK 3 question could be, "Explain how changing the tens digit affects the value of the number," encouraging strategic thinking. Finally, a DOK 4 question might ask students to, "Design a number story that illustrates the concept of comparing two two-digit numbers," engaging extended reasoning and real-world application.

From these questions, four are selected—one from each DOK level—and analyzed for their efficacy. Each question’s response pattern indicates the depth of understanding required. For example, a student answering the DOK 4 question might invent a scenario, such as comparing distances traveled in a race, demonstrating a comprehensive grasp of the concept. The rationale for selecting these questions is grounded in their capacity to probe different cognitive levels, thus ensuring a robust assessment of student understanding and promoting higher-order thinking.

In conclusion, careful planning of lessons that integrate meaningful questions aligned with students’ cognitive levels enhances mathematical understanding. By embedding strategies for diverse learners, explicitly teaching academic vocabulary, and crafting questions that advance cognitive demand, teachers can facilitate mastery and critical thinking in mathematics. The thoughtful design of both lesson activities and assessment questions encourages students, including those with disabilities, to develop deep conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills in alignment with standards and best practices.

References

  • Fisher, D., & Frey, N. (2014). Checking for understanding: Formative assessment techniques for your classroom. ASCD.
  • Gibbons, P. (2015). Scaffolding language, scaffolding learning: Teaching English language learners in the mainstream classroom. Heinemann.
  • Larson, J., & Hundley, S. (2020). Depth of Knowledge in the classroom: Guiding student thinking. Corwin.
  • Tomlinson, C. A. (2014). The differentiated classroom: Responding to the needs of all learners. ASCD.
  • Arizona Department of Education. (2023). Arizona College and Career Ready Standards for Mathematics.
  • National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). (2014). Principles to actions: Ensuring mathematical success for all. NCTM.
  • Bruner, J. S. (1960). The process of education. Harvard University Press.
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