As we continue refining our written responses, I thought I would post a copy of the rubric I use to assess their BCRs below (there will be a hard copy in their binders, too):

MSA Reading – Brief Constructed Response (BCR) rubric
Score 3
The response demonstrates an understanding of the complexities of the text.

- Addresses the demands of the question
- Effectively uses text-relevant information to clarify or extend understanding

Score 2
The response demonstrates a general understanding of the text.

- Partially addresses the demands of the question
- Uses text-relevant1 information to show understanding

Score 1
The response demonstrates a minimal understanding of the text.

- Minimally addresses the demands of the question
- Uses minimal information to show some understanding of the text in relation to the question

Score 0
The response is completely incorrect, irrelevant to the question, or missing.

Notes:
1 Text-relevant: This information may or may not be an exact copy (quote) of the text but is clearly related to the text and often shows an analysis and/or interpretation of important ideas. Students may incorporate information to show connections to relevant prior experience as appropriate.

2 An exact copy (quote) or paraphrase of the question that provides no new relevant information will receive a score of "0".

Unit Three Math Assessment is tomorrow! Tonight is a perfect opportunity to study not only last week's quiz, but early ones too...

Language Arts: We spent a lot of time in the afternoon going over how to "address the demands of the question." We also talked about the difference between text support and relevant text-support...I'll get some stuff together to put in their binders and post on the blog to help explain what this further...

Ooka and the Honest Thief - great discussion following directed notes as to the possibility of an "honest thief."

Caporushes - began taking directed notes today by identifying places in the text where Caporushes was hiding something or keeping a secret.

The Rich Man and the Shoemaker - we had a shared inquiry discussion using the question, "Why did the shoemaker give back the gold?"

Car Trouble - after rereading the story in group, they were to identify the problem and matching solution in their RRJs.

Math: We began the basic fact part of our assessment that will be continued and completed on Friday. In addition, we reviewed last week's cumulative quiz and have a challenge review worksheet to be completed by everyone tonight.

Language Arts: Everyone has now finished printing their brochures for our city research project. With that said, some are completely finished while others are lacking in information as a result of "inefficiencies" during the gathering and organizing phases of our process. The entire project (process and product) will be coming home at the end of the week.

While some were completing their brochures, I met with a couple groups to begin their next stories. Tonight for homework, each group is to reread their story. In addition to small groups and brochures, I completed my round of 1 on 1 reading assessments that we do three times a year.

FYI - spelling will restart next week since we've had broken weeks recently...