Benchmarking Data

1. Benchmark scores using “Kentucky Extended-Response Scoring Guide”

·         4^th grade: 3 2 4 4 1 4 1 2 4 4

Ø  Mean: 2.9 (Range1-4)

Ø  Median: 2 or 3

Ø  Mode: 4

·         5^th grade: 4 1 3 3 2 3 4 3

Ø  Mean: 2.9 (Range1-4)

Ø  Median: 2 or 3

Ø  Mode: 3

·         4^th and 5^th Combined: 3 2 4 4 1 4 1 2 4 4 4 1 3 3 2 3 4 3

§  Mean: 2.9 (Range 1-4)

§  Median: 2 or 3

§  Mode: 4

            Benchmarking scores were found using the “Kentucky Extended-Response Scoring Guide” that is used to score extended- response questions on the KPREP to evaluate extended-response answers without having an “attack” strategy (Kentucky Department of Education, 2012).  Students receive a score from 0 to 4 based on completeness and accuracy.  Students in both fourth grade and fifth grade scored an average of a 2.9 on their benchmark extended-response question. 

              

2. Average Benchmark Scores using the RAP Rubric

·         4^th grade

§  Read/Restate the Question: 0 0 4 4 2 3 2 0 3 4

Ø  Mean: 2.2 (Range0-4)

Ø  Median: 2

Ø  Mode: 0 and 3

§    Answer All Parts: 3 2 4 4 1 4 2 2 4 4

Ø  Mean: 3 (Range1-4)

Ø  Median: 2 or 3

Ø  Mode: 4

§  Prove Your Answer: 1 1 4 4 1 4 1 1 4 4

Ø  Mean: 2.5 (Range1-4)

Ø  Median:

Ø  Mode: 1 and 4

·         5^th grade

§  Read/Restate the Question: 3 0 4 2 4 1 4 3

Ø  Mean: 2.6 (Range0-4)

Ø  Median: 2

Ø  Mode: 4

§    Answer All Parts: 4 1 3 3 2 3 4 3

Ø  Mean: 2.9 (Range1-4)

Ø  Median: 2 or 3

Ø  Mode: 3

§  Prove Your Answer: 2 0 3 1 2 1 4 1

Ø  Mean: 1.2 (Range0-4)

Ø  Median: 2

Ø  Mode: 1

            Each benchmark extended-response question was also scored using the RAP rubric that assigned a number from 0 to 4 for each part of RAP based on evidence of each part of RAP as well as accuracy with the question.  The data above indicates that fifth grade students have a better grasp on restating the question in their answers than fourth grade students prior to being taught the skill.  Both grade levels displayed almost the same ability to answer every part of the question with fourth graders scoring a 3 and fifth graders scoring a 2.9.  The fourth graders, however, displayed a much stronger ability to prove their answer with a mean score of 2.5 compared to 1.2 for the fifth graders.

Interesting findings...
I have to admit, I was surprised by the amount of 4s students earned on the benchmarking assessments.  I am thrilled that our "novice" students are displaying such knowledge, it just wasn't what I was expecting to see.  I am very excited to see how they continue to work with the RAP method in hand. 

New questions...
I am still struggling with exactly how to handle all of the data.  I know that some teachers (myself included) have been doing some extended-response questions together as we teach the RAP method. Should I include those scores in my data?  I know that the instruction must be scaffolded and doing some together is an imporant step.  If I use those scores, what is the best way to document that?  I guess those are all questions I need to continue pondering.