JennaM+Journal+4

This was the first assessment I’ve seen that was fun and engaging for the students. The class played a math game that had to do with adding and subtracting numbers. In order to win the game, the students must answer as many equations correctly as possible and then it leads them to a prize at the end. The equations were simple like, 9+4 and 12+3. The prize was a lollipop for after lunch, but I liked how everyone ended up receiving a lollipop for their hard work. The game is set up like a game board and the students have game pieces to keep track of where they are on the board. Each box had a different equation, and if the students got the answer right, then they were able to move up the number of spaces the box says. If the students get a question wrong, then they would have to move back the number of spaces stated in the box. This allowed children to have fun playing with math and working with their peers. The students played the game with one other peer. My teacher had said that she did not test the students on how long it took them to finish the game, or how many times the students moved forward or backward. She tested the students based upon their progress and where the teacher thinks the students should be according to her student’s progress reports. This is more of an informal assessment, rather than handing the students a piece of paper and a pencil to finish a few questions. The students were observed by their efforts, hard work, and obviously it helps if the students were able to finish the test or get more questions right then wrong. The game showed my teacher if the students were understanding the concept of addition and subtracting after a few weeks worth of practice. Most of the students did very well because the class has been working on addition and subtraction for quite some time now, but some students struggled working with odd numbers like nine and seven. I thought this was a great idea and I liked how my teacher decided to test them. I liked how she formed a rubric that did not favor those who did better than others. She was fair and rationale in her grading system. Therefore, I would not change anything about the assessment and its relation to the student’s work.