Mathematics Benchmark

Constructed Response Grade Level Feedback

This feedback form is used as grade level teams of teachers review student work samples. This report should be shared with the school learning team as decisions are made for the Mathematics Section of the School Educational Plan.

Grade ______7______Item Description: _____Similar Triangles _

Part 1: Sample Scores from Student Work Papers

After scoring papers compile the results and provide scores in the boxes. By providing scores from student samples; student strengths and challenges can be addressed by grade level teachers and school learning teams.

Student / Content Points / Process Points / Total Points
A / 0 / 0 / 0
B / 1 / 0 / 1
C / 0 / 1 / 1
D / 1 / 2 / 3
E / 0 / 0 / 0
F / 1 / 2 / 3
G / 0 / 1 / 1

Part 2: Feedback on Grade Level Papers:

This section is written after all grade level papers have been scored. Highlight the strengths of the student work samples and offer suggestions to guide instruction.

Highlights of Strengths

©  Many students identified correct corresponding sides on the similar triangles

©  Few were able to set up an accurate strategy to determine missing side length.

©  Students saw the problem as doable, even if misconceptions were evident.

©  Most students explained their reasoning clearly even when misconceptions were evident; work needed with some students to clearly communicate ideas.

Suggestions to Guide Instruction

©  More opportunity to develop the understanding of the term similarity is needed with many students. Consider using a Frayer Model to determine what students already know about similarity.

©  Many students lack understanding of proportional relationships in similar triangles. Students need plenty of opportunities to analyze the relationships in similar figures to use what they observed to solve problems involving similar figures.

©  Many students struggle with the orientation of the enlarged similar triangle; more exposure to a variety of orientations of similar geometric figures is needed.

©  As students develop strategies, have students share their variety of strategies in solving proportion problems.

©  Give students opportunity to analyze samples of strong and weak work to help students develop a better understanding of how to clearly communicate their reasoning.

The Milwaukee Mathematics Partnership (MMP), an initiative of the Milwaukee Partnership Academy (MPA), is supported with funding from the National Science Foundation under Grant No. EHR-0314898.