Embedded Files
Quantitative Evidence Introduction
Quantitative Evidence Introduction
In North Carolina 8th grade Science takes an assessment that is used to determine the overall grade rating for the school along with Math and ELA results, which means a lot of pressure is placed on teachers to produce results that demonstrate measurable growth. My students take three initial benchmark assessments that are referred to as Common Formative Assessments (CFA's) before completing our End of Grade (EOG) assessment which is a state standardized test. The CFA's and EOG's are administered by teachers, however every grade level team creates their own CFA questions from the Case item bank in an online platform called Mastery Connect. EOG questions are not selected by educators and are delivered through NCTest, the NCDPI’s online testing platform. Taking the three quarterly CFA's prior to the final EOG allows teachers to gather quantitative data about their students performance and level of mastery in content they have learned to enable us to adjust lesson planning if necessary and revisit content that proved to be challenging. The data obtained by these test is useful in addressing misconceptions, providing a comprehensive overview of student progression through the year and content areas, and developing strategies for making my practice more effective in preparing my students for the next level of their education. While quantitative data may not be explicitly reflective of a students abilities within my classroom, it is a great starting point for lesson development and adjustment.
test-specifications-eog-science-2020-02-11.pdfThe document above gives the test specifications for the 8th Grade Science EOG. It explains how tests are delivered, the breakdown of each objective on the test, and how the test is developed among other key points about the test.
North Carolina Science End Of Grade (EOG) Standardized Assessment
North Carolina Science End Of Grade (EOG) Standardized Assessment
The North Carolina Science 8 EOG assessment is a 65 question multiple choice style test, with 5 field test questions that are not included in the final grade, that is designed to assess students grade level proficiency and college and career readiness. Students are given two hours to make their way through the online formatted test which is delivered through NCTest, the NCDPI’s online testing platform. All students in North Carolina private, public, and charter schools are required to take standardized this test to measure their proficiency levels. While students in sixth and seventh grade also take an end of year exam, the eight grade EOG is the only middle school science test that will reflect on the overall rating and grading for the school as a whole. The test is aligned to North Carolina Essential Science Standards that are taught throughout the year.
I have included a link to the North Carolina Department of Public Instructions' website for more information.
science_eog_grade_8_released_form.pdfThis resource features previously used EOG questions and an answer key to help educators use the questions as a resource to prepare students.
Released EOG Questions
Released EOG Questions
The included copy of released EOG questions is a useful resource to aide me in backwards planning for the test.To properly utilize this document my grade level planning team breaks the test down by standard and compares the questions to our end of unit goal for that standard. We are looking to make sure all of our projects, tests, and assignments are aligned and would support a student if the were to take this test tomorrow. Additionally these questions make great Do Now activities so that we are able to catch any misconceptions and review accordingly.
MasteryConnect __ CFA 3 Standard Analysis-merged.pdfThe above images have three components.1. The first image breaks down the level of mastery for all of my students on the 3rd CFA by the standard. If a standard is mostly red (remediation), I know that it needs to be prioritized for our relooping schedule. 2. The second set of images is the item analysis for all of the 55 questions on the 3rd CFA. By reviewing this information I am able to review questions that are causing the most confusion and analyze why students may be struggling.3. The last set of images are a comparison of each blocks data on each standard of the CFA. This data is helpful for building small group instruction.
CFA- EOG Practice Exams
CFA- EOG Practice Exams
CFA practice exams through Mastery Connect are a great way to prepare my students to properly focus for their EOG, assess how they are absorbing content from previous units, and plan a relooping strategy when necessary. We administer CFA' s quarterly as a whole school and they have been extremely helpful in preparing my students to take the EOG. CFA's can consist of 30-60 questions, usually getting longer as the year progresses, and are cumulative so that prior knowledge stays relevant. This assessment is my first look at how my practices have promoted dramatic academic growth in my students or to prompt changes that may be necessary.
science-grade-5-and-8-alds-2019.pdfThis documents shows how the state breaks down student scores to give them an overall proficiency rating across all of their grade level standards. When students receive their scores they are given a number from 1-5 as their final EOG grade.
Proficiency Levels/ Score Analysis
Proficiency Levels/ Score Analysis
Students proficiency levels are measured on a scale of 1-5 with a score of 3-5 signifying proficiency, and a rating of 4-5 meaning they meet career and college ready standards. Our professional learning group (PLC) has an overall goal to ensure at least 70% of the total grade passes the test with a proficient score of 3 or above. As we move through the year with our practice tests we are able to equate their scores in Mastery Connect with their projected EOG score. For instance a 56% on a CFA exam would equate to a 3 on the EOG which is considered a proficient score.
2019 EVAAS REPORT.pdfIn the two sets of images above you can see how my students scored overall for the past two years of EOG assessments against other students in my district. 1. The Excel spreadsheet shows a single class block with their projected EOG scores, their actual scores for the EOG, and demographic information. This chart shows how students were predicted to score on the EOG based on2. The pie chart is a representation of the how my achievement groups were broken down according to their test scores. The two green sections show students that were projected in the low to mid range that both met their expectations and the blue section consists of the higher levels of achievement that exceeded their expectations. 3. The second chart shows how my students performed in the district and measures my growth against other teachers for the past two years. The purple line on the chart represents the average district teachers score while the diamond is my scores for my students. The first line represents 2018, the second 2019, and the last shows the multiyear trend of my students exceeding growth. previous tests and the probability they will receive a specific score.
Whole Class Analysis
Whole Class Analysis
Once students have completed their EOG assessment teachers receive a report generated by Education Value-Added Assessment System (EVAAS) that measures the growth of our students against the entire district. Because students only take science standardized tests in 5th and 8th grade, their growth is measured from a predicted score based on their 5th grade score. The corresponding pictures show that my students for the 2019 school year experienced dramatic academic growth on their EOG assessment when compared to students in our district and their previous scores. This data is not only great for students to see how they have progressed as a class, but it shows me that my implemented interventions were effective in pushing my students to score beyond their expected range on the EOG.
The slides above graph individual student growth staring with their CFA scores and ending with their EOG grade. Each students individual profile shows how they were able to show dramatic academic growth throughout the year and be rated proficient on the EOG assessment. I have labeled their scores on the graph provided a brief description of their numerical growth.
Individual Student Analysis
Individual Student Analysis
In this section I will showcase how 3 individual students showed growth from their first CFA to their final EOG scores and also exceeded their expected scores overall. These students experienced personal dramatic academic growth as they year progressed and were each determined to be grade level proficient with two of the highlighted students also being deemed college and career ready. My students come from very different demographics and cultural backgrounds which makes giving them a standardized test difficult because they all have very different starting points and perspectives. Student A is a mid level student whose grades in my class are mostly B's and C's, Student B is one of my higher students whose grades are mostly A's and B's, while student C is one of my ELL students that spoke very little English in the beginning of the year.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Quantitative or numerical data is one tool that I am able to use throughout the year to as a baseline for my students starting point and to deliver measurable results at the end of the year. The data provided shows that I was able to develop lessons and interventions to support dramatic academic growth within my classroom. Through the usage of small group instruction, immersive lesson experiences, whole class relooping, and individual goal setting I am able to engage my students in high impact learning experiences that promote growth. With each assessment my students took I analyzed the results, applied all of the knowledge gained to my teaching practices, and supported each of my students through the content. While quantitative data is not the only way that I am able to assess students academic abilities, it is a great way to build an individualized learning plan around their areas of misunderstanding.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse