Assessment Plan

 

The pre-assessment tool is informal. Students are given a paragraph. The paragraph reads: “My favorite holiday is Halloween. I like to get dressed up and go trick-or-treating. I also enjoy eating lots of candy! My mom lets me stay up late. I love Halloween!” The students each receive a copy of this paragraph and are asked to underline the main idea and circle the supporting details. Students are required to turn the papers in. By looking at the student’s work, the teacher is able to assess what the students already know about the main idea and details of a paragraph.

Throughout the learning experience, students are evaluated using informal assessments (oral question and answer). The final objective is assessed formally through students’ performance on the Main Idea and Supporting Details Graphic Organizer. Students are also given a final assessment and seven of the 25 questions on the test are about main ideas and details. Throughout the lesson, the instruction is heavily guided by the teacher and each component of the mini-lessons is done in groups. Students work together to collaboratively answer the oral questions. The classroom environment allows for group work and discussion amongst peers. The final assessment (graphic organizer) is done independently. Students receive a model of how to complete the graphic organizer. The students are provided with the first main idea and accompanying supporting detail. A model of the first two boxes of the graphic organizer is provided to students. An envelope with supporting details and main ideas is available for the students to utilize. They are graded based on how well they can pair the main idea with the correct supporting detail, as well as on whether or not they can properly put the events in the correct order. After the students complete their graphic organizers, they are scored based on a rubric scale. The four-point rubric assesses following directions, accuracy, neatness and sequence. In order to receive a score of a 4 for following directions, students must put their name and date on the top of the paper. The graphic organizer is complete and there is a main idea and supporting detail in each box on the graphic organizer. The accuracy section assesses how many main ideas students properly pair with supporting details. If students correctly identify them all, they receive a score of a 4. A score of a 3 is given if students can properly identify 4 of the 6. If the student places 2 of the 6 main ideas with the correct supporting detail, they receive a score of a 2 and a score of a 1 indicates that students correctly identified 1 or 0 of the main ideas and supporting details. The rubric also assesses neatness with regards to pen markings, glue spots, and tears on the graphic organizer students turn in to be graded. The sequence portion of the rubric assesses students’ ability to correctly identify the main idea and details starting with what happened in the beginning of the story and progressing to the end of the story. Students receive a checklist they are required to complete before turning in their work. After the written work is scored, the teacher meets with students one-on-one to identify the score, strengths and weaknesses. The scores for both the graphic organizer and the weekly assessment are recorded and used towards final reading scores for the report card. Throughout each unit, students receive approximately 10 grades based on phonics and vocabulary worksheets they complete, a graphic organizer for the story, and the weekly assessment. The scores are all out of 100% and a final average for reading is given based on these scores.

Oral assessment questions:
After reading a particular passage, students will be asked to orally respond to the following questions:
1. What is this paragraph mostly about?
2. Which sentence states the main idea?
3. Which details support the main idea?
4. Which sentence tells about the others?
5. What is the main idea? Name the details.
6. Reread the second sentence. How are all the other sentences related to this sentence?
7. What is the definition of main idea? What is the definition of supporting details?

Exemplar Verbal Responses (typed for ease of reading):
(After reading: “A pack rat looks like most rats, but it has a soft tail. It has big ears and big eyes. Its toes are long and thin. A pack rat can be tan, gray, or black. Its fur is quite soft.”)
1. “The paragraph is mostly about what a pack rat looks like.”
2. “The first sentence states the main idea.”
3. “One detail that supports the main idea is that a pack rat has a soft tail. It also has big ears and eyes. Its toes are long and thin and it can be a variety of colors.”
4. “The main idea, which is usually the first sentence in the paragraph, tells about the others.”
7. “Main idea is the most important part of a paragraph or a section. A main idea may be stated or unstated. The main idea if stated, is usually the first sentence of a paragraph. The details give information that supports the main idea.”

Sample Verbal Responses (taken from students and typed for ease of reading):
1. “The paragraph mostly talks about a pack rat.”
2. “Usually the first sentence”
3. “A pack rat has tan, gray, or black fur.” “It has big ears and eyes.” “Its toes are long and thin.”
4. “The first sentence."
7. “The main idea is the first sentence. It talks about the most important thing that is going to happen in the paragraph. The supporting details tell you facts and information. They kind of explain the main idea.”

Student Checklist
(Student is responsible for completing the checklist prior to handing the graphic organizer in to be graded)

Name:
1. Is my name and date on the graphic organizer?
2. Did I place a main idea in each box on the side labeled “Main Ideas?”
3. Did I place a detail in each box on the side labeled “Details?”
4. Did I use my book so I am sure I placed the correct supporting detail with each main idea?
5. Did I start with the first paragraph of the story and find the main ideas and details in a sequential order?
6. Did I use only the amount of glue that was necessary?
7. Did I check my answers before gluing?

Main Idea and Supporting Details Graphic Organizer Rubric

Blank Assessment Tool--Graphic Organizer