1. Common Core Assessment Literacy: ELA/Literacy
Utilizing Benchmark Assessments
Mark G. Cacciatore, Ph.D.
New Jersey Department of Education
Office of Academic Standards

2. Agenda 8:30-9:00 – Registration 9:00-11:30 – ELA/Literacy
11:30-12:30 – Lunch
12:30-2:30 – Mathematics
2:30-3:00 – Closure

3. Essential Questions / Objectives
What is a “balanced” assessment system? What is the role of benchmark assessments in a balanced system?
What do Common Core-aligned benchmark assessments look like in the following grade bands: K–2, 3–5, and 6–12?
What do Common Core-aligned benchmark assessments look like in social studies/history, and science and technical subjects?
How can I use the knowledge learned today to support my teachers’ work in creating benchmark assessments?

4. Interdisciplinary Foundations
The ELA/Literacy Shifts
Building knowledge through content-rich nonfiction
Reading, writing, and speaking grounded in evidence from text, both literary and informational
Regular practice with complex text and its academic language
Literacy in the Other Disciplines

5. Distribution of Literary and Informational Passages by Grade in the 2009 NAEP Reading Framework4
50% 8
45%
55% 12
30%
70%
Source: National Assessment Governing Board Reading Framework for the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

6. Distribution of Communicative Purposes by Grade in the 2011 NAEP Writing Framework
Grade Level
Opinion
Informative/ Explanatory
Argumentative
Narrative
K–5 X
6–12
Grade
To Persuade/Argue
To Explain
To Convey Experience 4
30%
35% 8 12
40%
20%
Source: National Assessment Governing Board Writing Framework for the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (Prepublication edition). Washington, DC: National Assessment Governing Board.

7. What is a Balanced assessment System?
Common Core ELA/Literacy

8. a Balanced Assessment System
What a Balanced Assessment System Does
What a Balanced Assessment System Does Not
Includes evidence of student performance on challenging tasks that assess to what degree students have achieved aspects of the Common Core State Standards
Provides a balance of screening, formative, benchmark, and summative assessments
Involves teachers in the development and scoring of assessments…so they deeply understand and teach the standards
Continuously improves teaching and learning
Overwhelm teachers with too much data
Add “another component to a teacher’s plate”
Separate instruction from the assessment system process
Push teachers to work in isolation

9. A Balanced Approach to Assessment
Formative
Benchmark
End of Year/ Summative
quizzes
exit tickets
reading comprehension checks
questioning
graphic organizers
54 examples of formative assessments
thumbs up, middle, down
used to determine what level students are achieving the Common Core State Standards
PARCC
NJ ASK, HSPA

10. Assessment Terminology
1.) Formative Assessment(s)
Council of Chief School State Officers (2006):
Formative assessment is a process; takes place during instruction.
It is used not just by teachers but by both teachers and students.
Helps teachers and students make adjustments that will improve students' achievement of intended curricular aims.
2.) Summative Assessment(s)
Council of Chief School State Officers (2012)
Intended to evaluate what students have achieved after a particular phase in their schooling — for example, after a course or a unit of study.
3.) Benchmark Assessment(s)
Assessment and Accountability Comprehensive Center (2010)
Administered periodically throughout the school year to evaluate students’ knowledge and skills relative to an explicit set of longer-term learning goals (Common Core State Standards)
Can (and should) inform policy, instructional planning, curriculum, and decision-making at the classroom, school and/or district levels.

11. Assessment Balance

12. Thoughts?
Formative
Benchmark
Summative
Formative Process should include a variety of assessment types and tools and this is where most of assessment time should be spent. Benchmark assessments should have 3 to 4 times a year and summative should be the standardized assessment. As you notice these are not equal .

13. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (2009)
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (2009). Balanced Assessment System.

14. Sample Outlines of Benchmark Assessments
ELA/Literacy

15. What Might a Common Core Aligned Benchmark Look Like?
Sample Grade 4 Unit: Reading Informational Text
Passage One: Simon, Seymour. Volcanoes. New York: HarperCollins, 2006
10 – 15 Sample Text-Dependent Questions
Passage Two: National Geographic Kids: Forces of Nature: Volcanoes 101 (video)
Essay: Explanatory Essay
You have read two articles about volcanoes. In essay form, explain the process by which volcanoes come to explode. What causes volcanoes to explode? Please be sure to cite evidence from both texts in your writing.

16. What Might a Common Core Aligned Benchmark Look Like?
Sample Grade 6 Unit: The Planets
Passage One: Scholastic: Life on Mars
10 – 15 Sample Text-Dependent Questions
Passage Two: On Mars Time, the Ice Cream Is Free
Passage Three: Kidsastronomy:com: Exploring Mars
Essay: Argumentative/Persuasive
You have read three articles that discuss what scientists believe it would take for humans to live on Mars. In an essay, discuss whether or not you believe humans will ever successfully live on Mars. Be sure to use evidence from 2 of the 3 articles in your answer.

17. What Might a Common Core Aligned Benchmark Look Like?
Sample Grade 10 Social Studies Unit: Great American Thinkers
Part 1 Reading Passage One: Lincoln’s Second Inaugural
10 – 15 Sample Text-Dependent Questions
Part 2
Reading Passage Two: MLK JR.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail
Part Three Essay: Explanatory Essay
You have recently read two texts by whom most consider great American thinkers and leaders. One led our country through the Civil War; the other through the Civil Rights Movement. In an essay format, explain the vision both Lincoln and King had regarding America’s future. Be sure to include textual evidence from both King and Lincoln in your writing.

18. What Might a Common Core Aligned Benchmark Look Like?
Sample Grade 10 English Unit: Modern American Poetry
Part 1 Reading Passage One: Robert Frost, Mending Wall
10 – 15 Sample Text-Dependent Questions
Part 2
Reading Passage Two: Israel says Separation Wall will be border
Part 3 Reading Passage Three: A Brief History of the Berlin Wall (video)
Part 3 Essay: Research Simulation
You have three texts that deal with the theme of “walls.” In your opinion, do you see walls as a valuable or detrimental concept? Be sure to include evidence from 2 of the 3 texts in your writing.

19. Reflection
How aligned are my teachers’ assessments to the Common Core?
Am I clear in understanding the interconnectedness of formative, benchmark, and summative assessments?
Any other thoughts?

20. Reading Assessment

21. Remember
In assessment and instruction, reading, writing, and speaking and listening should never be separated.

22. The “What” of Reading
Reading Areas to be Assessed
The “How” of Reading
The “Synthesis” of Reading

23. The key to Reading Assessment: Text-Dependent Questions
Important Considerations
Teachers create questions as a collaborative, collegial process, using the ELA/Literacy CCSS as a guide
Guide to Creating Text-Dependent Questions
Try to incorporate more than one text whenever possible on the same (include multimedia)
Sample Text-Dependent Questions
Professional Reading: Digital Video Transforms Teaching Practices

24. PARCC Item Analysis: Reading
Task: There are twelve sample reading items from PARCC below. Read the items carefully, and answer the following question:
What is the question asking the student to do?
For example, Summarizing, Inferring, Using Context Clues, Supporting Details, Main Idea, Comprehension Questions, Sequencing, Deciphering Theme, Critical Thinking, Comparison, Contrast, etc….
If you are not familiar with these literacy terms, use your own language to describe the item.
Record your answers on SLIDE 39

25. Reading Grades 3–5
PARCC Samples

26. Sample 1

27. Sample 2

28. Sample 3

29. Sample 4

30. Reading Grades 6–8
PARCC Samples

31. Sample 5

32. Sample 6

33. Sample 7

34. Sample 8

35. Reading: High School
PARCC Samples

36. Grade 9: “Fields of Fingerprints: DNA Testing for Crops.”
Sample 9

37. Grade 9: “Fields of Fingerprints: DNA Testing for Crops.”
Sample 10

38. Sample 11

39. Sample 12

40. Item Analysis Record Sheet

41. Item Analysis Record Sheet

42. Reflection
Are you comfortable in understanding and creating the types of reading questions aligned to the CCSS?
How will you give your teachers opportunities to perform this important work in grade-level teams, department meetings, and/or PLCs?
Any other thoughts?

43. Writing Assessment

44. PARCC Manifestations of Common Core
Common Core Writing Genres
Informative/Explanatory
Research Simulation
Prose-Constructed
Response
Narrative
Persuasive/Argumentative
Literary Analysis
Prose-Constructed Response

45. Writing Anchor standards to Know: Common Core ELA/Literacy and PARCC
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.1 Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
PARCC Equivalent: Research Simulation Task, Literary Analysis, Prose-Constructed Response
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
PARCC Equivalent: Research Simulation Task, Prose-Constructed Response
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details and well-structured event sequences.
PARCC Equivalent: Narrative
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts (including video and other digital resources) to support analysis, reflection, and research.
PARCC Equivalent: Research Simulation Task, Literary Analysis, Narrative, Prose-Constructed Response

46. PARCC Definitions/Insights
Literary Analysis: A writing assignment that asks students to develop an opinion, insight, or argument about two literary texts. This is the realm of the ELA teacher.
Narrative: A writing assignment that asks students to continue a literary text while staying consistent with the writer’s style. In addition, students might also be asked to develop stories based upon real events (i.e. historical events, advancements in science, etc…) All content area teachers should be involved in narrative writing.
Research Simulation Task: A writing assignment that asks students to synthesize two or more texts in order to advance an argument or an explanation. All content area teachers should be involved in the Research Simulation Task.
Prose-Constructed Response: A writing task that asks students to summarize a literary or nonfiction text. Also, the Prose-Constructed Response may also ask students to advance an argument. All content area teachers should be involved in the Prose-Constructed Response.

47. PARCC Item Analysis: Writing
Task: There are nine sample writing items from PARCC below. Read the items carefully, and answer the following question:
What is the question asking the student to do? What do students need to know in order to successfully answer the question?
Record your thoughts on Slide 60

48. Persuasive/Argumentative

49. Example of Research Simulation Task, Grades 6–8

50. Example of Literary Analysis, Grades 6–8

51. Example of Literary Analysis, Grades 10-11

52. Grade 11 Example of Prose Constructed Response, Grade 11
Both John and Abigail Adams believed strongly in freedom and independence. However, their letters suggest that each of them understood these terms differently based on their experiences.
Write an essay that explains their contrasting views on the concepts of freedom and independence. In your essay, make a claim about the idea of freedom and independence and how John and Abigail Adams add to that understanding and/or illustrate a misunderstanding of freedom and independence. Support your response with textual evidence and inferences drawn from all three sources.

53. Informative / Explanatory

54. Example of Research Simulation Task, Grade 3
Grade 3, Eliza’s Cherry Trees: Japan’s Gift to America and “The Peanut Man”
You have read two texts about famous people in American history who solved a problem by working to make a change.  
Write an article for your school newspaper describing how Eliza and Carver faced challenges to change something in America. 
In your article, be sure to describe in detail why some solutions they tried worked and others did not work.  
Tell how the challenges each one faced were the same and how they were different.
Grade 3, Item #3, represents a culminating task students will complete, labeled the “Research Simulation Task.” The Research Simulation Task is a performance-based assessment that essentially asks students to synthesize previously read material into an expository or analytic essay.
The example above asks students to delineate two items: 1.) They need to explain why some solutions worked and some didn’t in Eliza’s and Carver’s quests for change, and 2.) They need to explain how the challenges Eliza and Carver changed were similar and different.

55. Example of Literary Analysis, Grades 3–5

56. Grade 4 Sample 7: “Kira-Kira” by Cynthia Kadohata
Example of Literary Analysis, Grade 4
Grade 4 Sample 7: “Kira-Kira” by Cynthia Kadohata

57. Example of Prose-Constructed Response
Grade 7 Summative Assessment: Prose Constructed Response from Research Simulation Task (Summary)
Read the “Biography of Amelia Earhart”
Welcome to Grade 7. Here, as in Grade 3, we will discuss the research simulation task. Leading up to the culminating written assessment of the actual research simulation task, students will be required to write shorter essays as sort of a preparation for the larger task. Above, students will read the text, “Biography of Amelia Earhart” and write an essay that summarizes and explains the challenges she faced in life. This Prose Constructed Response is a written comprehension of the article that requires students to utilize textual evidence in their written answer.

58. Narrative

59. Grade 6 Summative Assessment: Narrative Writing Task
Example of Narrative Writing Task, Grade 6
Grade 6 Summative Assessment: Narrative Writing Task
Excerpt of Julie of the Wolves
For the first time in this presentation, we will discuss the Narrative Writing Task that students will have to complete. As you can discern through reading the writing prompt on the screen above, the Narrative Writing Task requires that students a.) continue where the passage ended, and b.) adhere in their narrative writing to the spirit of the character, Miyax, as presented in the text.
It should be noted here that the Common Core includes narrative writing as one of the major three areas of student writing instruction (argumentative and informative/explanatory being the other two). Throughout the school year, students should spend time engaged in narrative writing like the assignment above. In order to do so, teachers will have to help students pay attention to the vocabulary (diction) and syntax of the writing in order to successfully adhere to the writer’s style.

60. Common Core Writing Exemplars
Appendix C

61. Writing Item Analysis: Thoughts
Persuasive/Argumentative
Informative/Explanatory
Narrative

62. Yearlong Planning: The assessment Matrix
ELA/Literacy

63. Steps for creating an ELA/Literacy benchmark
Choose an appropriately leveled complex text. Remember, you are encouraged to pair texts together, and starting at the middle school, you can and should introduce three texts. The terms “text” also includes digital images, videos, and other forms of multimedia.
Align the text(s) to one of the Common Core writings tasks: persuasive/argumentative, informative/explanatory, or narrative. Use the grade-level Common Core standard in writing to develop the writing task. The three genres of writing increase in difficulty as students progress through school. For example, if you are creating an argumentative essay using an excerpt from the 11th grade nonfiction book1776 by David McCullough, then be sure to use the 11th grade ELA/Literacy argumentative standards.
Create text-dependent questions for the texts you have chosen. Be sure to align the text- dependent questions with the full range of reading tasks for that particular grade level. For example, if you using a 4th to 5th text (such as “Discovering Mars: The Amazing Story of the Red Planet”), then be sure to use the Reading Informational CCSS ELA standards for the 4th or 5th grade to create your questions.

64. Become Very Familiar with the Standards
Vertical Alignment Writing
Vertical Alignment Reading Literature
Vertical Alignment Reading Informational Text

65. K–2 Sample Assessment Matrix
Grade
Use of DRA to Benchmark Reading Progress
Literary Analysis
Narrative
Informative / Explanatory
Opinion K
Yes
Giovanni, Nikki. “Covers.”
(Fiction; poetry)
Eastman, P. D. Are You My Mother? (Fiction; story)
Aliki. My Five Senses. (Informational Text)
The Best Pet: Cats or Dogs? 1
Chute, Marchette. “Drinking Fountain.”
Minarik, Else Holmelund. Little Bear.
(Fiction; story)
Hurd, Edith Thacher. Starfish.
(Informational Text)
Floca, Brian. Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 2
Jarrell, Randall. “A Bat Is Born.”
Averill, Esther. The Fire Cat (Fiction; story)
Kudlinski, Kathleen V. Boy, Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs. (Informational Text)
National Geographic: Prehistoric World: Dinosaurs 101 (Informational Text, Video)
Gibbons, Gail. Fire! Fire! (Information text)
Fire! Fire! (video)
Speaking & Listening
Language
Reading Component
Use CCSS Reading Literature Standards to create “text-dependent” reading comprehension questions
Use CCSS Reading Informational Text Standards to create “text-dependent reading comprehension questions
Written Component
Use appropriate grade-level writing standards to create a writing assessment based upon identified texts and genre

68. 3–5 Sample Assessment Matrix
Grade
Use of DRA to Benchmark Reading Progress
Literary Analysis
Narrative
Information/Explanatory
Opinion 3
Yes
Soto, Gary. “Eating While Reading.” (Fiction; poetry)
Williams, Carlos, Williams. “This is Just to Say.”
(Fiction; poetry)
Osborne, Mary Pope. The One-Eyed Giant (Book One of Tales from the Odyssey)
(Fiction; story)
Beeler, Selby. Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions Around the World. (Informational Text)
At what age do children start losing their baby teeth? (Informational Text)
Why Cats Make Better Pets than Dogs (Informational Text)
Why Dogs Make Good Pets (Informational Text) 4
Thayer, Ernest Lawrence. “Casey at the Bat.”
Rice, Grantland.
“Casey’s Revenge”
Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy.
(Fiction; novel)
Berger, Melvin. Discovering Mars: The Amazing Story of the Red Planet. (Informational Text)
Evidence Of Water on Mars (Informational Text; video)
Are Sports Stars Heroes? (Informational Text)
10 Sports Heroes That Are Actually Heroes (Informational Text; slideshow of images and text) 5
Blake, William. “The Tiger.”
Blake, William. “The Lamb”
Carroll, Lewis. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. (Fiction; novel)
Lauber, Patricia. Hurricanes: Earth’s Mightiest Storms. (Informational Text)
NASA: How are Hurricanes Created?
(Informational Text & video)
“Antarctica Breaking” (Informational Text)
Global Warming: Global Warming 101 (Informational Text; video)
Speaking & Listening
Language
Reading Component
Use CCSS Reading Literature Standards to create “text-dependent” reading comprehension questions
Use CCSS Reading Informational Text Standards to create “text-dependent reading comprehension questions
Written Component
Use appropriate grade-level writing standards to create a writing assessment based upon identified texts and genre
3–5 Sample Assessment Matrix

69. 6–8 sample Assessment Matrix
Grade 8
Literary Analysis
Narrative
Argumentative
Informative / Explanatory
ELA
Whitman, Walt. “O Captain! My Captain!”
Whitman, Walt. “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d”
Fiction: Cisneros, Sandra. “Eleven.”
Chew on This
by Eric Schlosser and Charles Wilson
Healthy Fast Food
Tips for Making Healthier Fast Food Choices
Chick-fil-A Commits to Stop Sales of Poultry Raised With Antibiotics
Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass an American Slave, Written by Himself.
Frederick Douglass Biography
History X
Nonfiction: Freedman, Russell. Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
United States. Preamble and First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Monk, Linda R. “Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution.”
Churchill, Winston. “Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat”: Address to Parliament on May 13th, 1940
FDR’s “Day of Infamy” Speech
Science / Technical Subjects
Mackay, Donald. The Building of Manhattan
Exploring space: Why’s it so important?
Mars can wait. Oceans can't
Greenberg, Jan, and Sandra Jordan. Vincent Van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist. New York: Random House, (2001)
From Chapter 1: “A Brabant Boy 1853–75”
Biography.com: Vincent Van Gogh (video)
Written Assessments Paired with Complex Text (Standard 10)
6–8 sample Assessment Matrix

70. Grade 11 sample Assessment Matrix
Literary Analysis
Narrative
Argumentative
Informative / Explanatory
ELA
Shakespeare Sonnet 19
Shakespeare Sonnet 29
The Great Gatsby
Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman
Former President Bill Clinton says American dream is under assault
Orwell, George. “Politics and the English Language.”
History
N/A
Declaration of Sentiments by the Seneca Falls Conference
McCullough, David (excerpt)
The Man Who Would Not Be King
The Accomplishments of President Abraham Lincoln
Douglass, Frederick. “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”
Frederick Douglas Biography.com (video)
Science / Technical Subjects
Tyson, Neil deGrasse. “Gravity in Reverse:
The Tale of Albert Einstein’s ‘Greatest Blunder.’
Kurzweil, Ray. “The Coming Merger of Mind and Machine.”
Nine Jobs that Humans May Lose to Robots
Advancements in robotics provide safety in battle and at home
A Guide to Statistics on Historical Trends in Income Inequality
Inequality in America: The Data Is Sobering
Written Assessments Paired with Complex Text (Standard 10)
Grade 11 sample Assessment Matrix

71. What’s Next? Data Analysis PLCs, Departmental, Grade-Level Meetings
Themes/Patterns
Impact on Instruction

72. Reflection
Are you comfortable in understanding and creating the types of writing assessments aligned to the CCSS?
How can we ensure that teachers perform this important work in grade-level teams, department meetings, and/or PLCs?
Any other thoughts?

73. Contact Info
Mark G. Cacciatore, Ph.D.
New Jersey Department of Education
Office of Academic Standards

74. Evaluation

75. References
Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) (2006). Attributes of Effective Formative Assessment. Retrieved from CCSSO (2012). Distinguishing Formative Assessment from other Educational Assessment Labels. Retrieved from Herman, J. L., Osmundson, E., & Dietel, R. (2010). Benchmark assessments for improved learning (AACC Policy Brief). Retrieved from Wees, D. (2013). 54 different examples of formative assessment. Retrieved from p Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (2009). Balanced Assessment System. Retrieved from Wisconsin Department of Public (2010). Balanced Assessment System by Type. Retrieved from

76. Resources for Creating Benchmarks
Common Core ELA/Literacy Appendices B & C:
Engage: New York State Education Department:
Student Achievement Partners (Achievethecore): Common Core Argument/Opinion Writing:
Student Achievement Partners (Achievethecore): Common Core Informative/Explanatory Writing:
Student Achievement Partners (Achievethecore): Common Core Narrative Writing: