Grade 8 Benchmark

State testing is just around the corner! And all thoughts assessment can be found in the 'Tis the Season post. This Grade 8 activity set could be used with the Find Someone Who structure to conduct a general review of sample questions organized by Arkansas Frameworks strands. Each question is an adapted released item from Grade 8 Benchmark exams over the recent years. If you choose to use these in your classroom, remember to remind students to only pair with others who are not their teammates. This will allow students to return to their teams and wrap-up by using the RoundRobin structure to share solutions and discuss any questions that may arise.

Grade 8 Benchmark Resources

This structure requires students to coach each other as needed. Coach: Tip, Tip, Teach, Try again! Let me encourage you to use a coaching chart with these activities to strengthen the math vocabulary that is used during coaching. Perhaps let your students work with a classmate or two and then freeze the class to discuss a list of coaching tips. Review things they may say and things they may do while working collaboratively. For example, on the number and operations coaching chart you could list "Did you find the prime factorization?" or "GCF shows COMMON parts." under the say column. And then list these examples under the do column: "Draw a Venn diagram of prime factors." or "Make eye contact." or "Nod your head."

You may choose to accompany each Find Someone Who activity with a coordinating sample open response question. Details are not included in this post because everything I know about setting kids up for success with open response questions was learned from Rhonda Kobylinski. Without a doubt, she is your resident expert.

Happy testing to YOU!