Grade 8 Classroom Assessments based on State Standards
Background and Recommendations
• These 8th grade math CABS were developed by the 8th-9th Grades Math Assessment Pilot which
was made up of 14 fulltime participants meeting every other week during the 2006-2007 school
year. The 8th and 9th grade math teachers represented 8 schools: 5 K-8 schools, one middle school,
and two high schools. Additionally, two middle grades math teaching specialists, a math
instructional coach, and 2 retired high school math teachers were integral members of the Pilot.
• The Pilot members thank Dr. Kevin McLeod, UWM math professor and MMP co-investigator,
for his collaboration on each and every 8th grade math CABS.
• These 8th grade CABS reflect the 10th grade state math descriptors for mathematics. It is
important for the 8th grade math teachers to be aware, understand, and use the document “Sharing
the 10th Grade Descriptors” which breaks down the shared responsibility of 8th and 9th grade math
teachers.
• Each CABS is identified as either a “Power CABS” or simply a CABS. The “Power CABS” are
those intended to help assess student understanding of concepts new to 8th grade as reflected in the
state descriptors. Those CABS not identified as “Power CABS” reflect the 10th grade state math
descriptors but are reflected in earlier grades as well. For a complete listing of the State math
descriptors, cross-grade level, see the Resources section.
• You will notice that some of the CABS have citations from NAEP and TIMSS. These released
8th grade items are being used with permission and are, in some cases, modified to align with the
10th grade math descriptors (both process and content). NAEP, the Nations’ Report Card, is the
leading national assessment of what America’s students know and can do in mathematics. The
Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is the largest and most ambitious
study of comparative educational achievement ever undertaken. Findings and learnings from this
study should have tremendous impact on how American teachers teach and assess.
• Pilot members recommend…
- teachers and students understand and use both the math process descriptors and the
content descriptors to guide daily teaching and learning.
- teachers use CABS as formative assessments: assessment for learning vs. assessment of
learning.
- teachers use the district’s comprehensive math framework to daily reflect on what is being
taught, how it is being taught, and how it is being assessed (see Resources).
- teachers address all six math standards each year (see Resources).
- teachers use supplemental material when descriptors are not addressed in their textbook.
• These CABS (PDF and Word formats) can be found on the MPS Portal.
“Assessment” comes from the Latin,
through the French, and means “to sit
down beside”. This implies a coaching
relationship between teacher and student.
If we use assessment formatively, then we need
to put aside the notion that we need to grade
everything.
Mary Diez, Alverno
Feb MTL Meeting, 2006