Finding math performance tasks for your classroom can be difficult.
And even when a performance task is found it does not match up with your needs.
One solution is to create your own. This template will save you time and effort.
Step 1: Get an Idea
This may be the most difficult part of the task or the most fun. Depends on how you look at the situation.
These questions will help you find your idea if you are stuck.
- What do you want students to be able to do?
- What interests your students?
- What skill do you need to see accomplished?
- Do your students find some types of tasks to be more meaningful?
Step 2: Clarify the Performance Task
Step 3: Prepare for Success
Prerequisite Skills
Being realistic about what your students know and need to know is essential. Listing out the skills needed and ensuring that they have been covered before the assessment is essential.
Too often, when teachers have not honestly taken a look at what is needed to complete the task, all of their hard work ends up down the sink.
Do they need research skills, don't assume they can "Google it." Do they need to recall a skill from earlier grades, don't assume they will recall it?
Taking an honest look ahead of time and ensuring the items have been taught or remediated will give you and your students the best chance of success.
Quality Questions
Step 4: Assess your Task
Remember, teaching is never done, it can always be better. Don't be so hard on yourself that you never finish.
For a list of tools for inserting math symbols into your tasks, reference this blog post.
Please check out the free template.
I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know if there is something I missed. I would love to get your input!
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