Math Circles
by Kate Lefer
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  • What are Math Circles?
  • Background of Math Circles
  • Classroom Templates
    • Getting Started
    • Math Circles Templates
    • Math Circles Assessment Templates
  • Teacher Resources

Math Circles Assessment Templates

Download and customize these templates to your instructional and student needs.  Assessment takes many shapes and I hope that you will find the range of assessment ideas helpful in your classroom.  Some templates serve as a "sample" to give you guidance on how they might best be used.

1. General Assessment (beginning of year, middle of year, end of year)
Math Circles pre and post approach assessment (general) - see how your students are developing fluency in math vocabulary and problem solving strategies

2. Observation: The most valuable assessment is observing students as they apply strategies to problem solve.  The teacher records observations on a weekly planning and assessment sheet during/after the math circle session. 

Math Circles Weekly Planning Sheet
Math Circles Observation Sheet

3. Problem Solving Strategy Assessment: Throughout the year (usually at the end of a unit), I spent a week assessing students' problem solving strategies through pre and post assessments of skills specific to the unit just taught.  It was a way for me to determine how well students were internalizing the problem solving template as well as their ability to apply problem solving strategies with new math concepts.  I developed a rubric and recording sheet to track student progress.  These three templates can be used together:

Math Circles assessment template (skill specific) - use this to customize pre and post assessments.  Use word problems presented in your math curriculum unit assessments

Math Circles assessment rubric template - use this to monitor student progress in internalizing the DICE model

Math Circles assessment tracking sheet - this is student specific and lets you track pre and post growth.  This is a simple graph that lends itself to student feedback, report card writing, a math portfolio, and parent feedback and conferences.  Attach it to the pre and post assessment word problems (skill specific)


4. Portfolio:  Finally, each child can have a binder with dividers where they keep their work from math circles.  Students use a consistent math circle recording sheet.  Over time, the binder becomes a portfolio of their problem solving work. The dividers are labeled with key vocabulary words.  Ultimately, the binder grows throughout the year and can be used as a resource binder.  It can also be used as a review before state tests.  Students can practice explaining (in words - orally rehearse and then write) how they solved the problems (step-by-step). Also, they have examples of how math concepts are presented in word problems.  This binder can travel with students as they move from grade to grade (almost as a math glossary) to help students see how problems become more complex over time.  I also think that it is critical to build in reflection time to identify how previously solved problems can help them solve new, more complex challenges.  I have begun to research the idea of a math journal as a way to extend this thinking.
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