A Close Look at PARCC Prototype Mathematics Assessments - April 17, 2013

Susan Hull, Cathy Seeley and others from the DANA Center presented some very pertinent information today.  Did you know that any one math question on the PARCC assessment under a cluster heading may assess several standards under that cluster heading?  Work through one or more of the PARCC item and task prototype math assessment items, then ask yourself the following questions.

Three standards for mathematical practice were called forward as extremely important - MP3 (Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others), MP4 (Model with mathematics), and MP6 (Attend to precision). These SMPs will be explicitly assessed through the content standards.

We have to do things differently with mathematics instruction.  Simply put, but not simply done...

• Math needs to be taught through relevant, real-life scenarios.
• Students needs to work through assessments where there's more than one right answer.
• Students need to work through computer-based assessments with a drag-and-drop feature.
• Students need to respond to math questions with short-answer explanations.
• Beyond engaging in discourse, students need to write their mathematical reasoning.
• Students need to read, read, read!
• Students may even need to learn to type.