The quizzes provided in the Connected Mathematics assessment package are a feature unique to the curriculum. The assumptions under which the quizzes were created present a unique management and grading situation for teachers.
- Students work in pairs
- Students are permitted to use their notebooks, calculators, and any other appropriate materials.
- Pairs submit a draft of the quiz for teacher input, revise their work, and turn in the finished product for assessment
Partner Quizzes are designed for students working in pairs. There are several ways to choose student pairs for a quiz. Most teachers use one or more of the following:
- Students choose their own partners
- Partners are chosen in some random way
- The teacher picks the pairs to work together
- Seating assignment determines partners
Many teachers keep track of who works with whom and have a rule that you cannot have the same partner twice until you have been paired with everyone in the class at least once.
It is assumed that each pair of students will have one opportunity to revise their work on the quiz based on teacher feedback before submitting it for a grade. When a pair has completed the quiz, they can submit separate papers or one paper with both names on it.
Giving feedback generally involves telling students which questions they have answered incorrectly or how many of the possible points they would receive for a question. The feedback should be seen as an opportunity to let students know if they are on track or if they need to rethink a Problem. Giving feedback should not mean re-teaching or leading students to the correct solution. Here are some methods CMP teachers have used for giving feedback to students.
- Check the quizzes and write the number of points achieved next to each question. Then allow the pair to revise all the questions
- Check the quizzes and write the number of points achieved next to each question. Then allow the pair to revise one question of their choice. (If they write in a different color, you need to check only the new information)
- While students take the quiz, allow each pair to confer with you once about one Problem
Allowing students to revise their work is a new concept for many mathematics teachers. If you have never done this before, you might ask one of the language-arts teachers in your school how he or she orchestrates revision work for student writing, since this is a common practice in that discipline.
Quiz questions are richer and more challenging than Check Up questions. Many quiz questions are extensions of ideas students explored in class. These questions provide insight into how students apply the ideas from the Unit to new situations. The nature of the Partner Quizzes provides a grading situation in which rubrics can assist in the evaluation of the students’ knowledge. You may want to refer to the teacher suggestions, grading rubrics, and samples of student work in the teacher support.
Procedures When Taking a Partner Quiz
- Solve the exercise yourself
- Ask yourself, "Does my answer make sense?"
- Compare your work to your partner’s work
- Discuss how your work is the same and how it is different
- If you and your partner are not sure about your answers or you disagree, go to your notes and see if you have anything to help you think about the question
- Make sure you agree on what the question is asking you to do and what you have to answer.
- Check your vocabulary notes to see if you have understood all the words
- Think about how this question is like another one that you did in class or as homework. Check your notes for that Problem
- If you still disagree, each of you should write a different answer to the question