Module 5: Student Assessments Activity 1

Designing and Administering Differentiated Assessments

Reading Comprehension Assessment for 3 students

1.     Differentiated Reading Assessment: Skilled, Competent Reader (Bella)

•  Book Title: "Capital in the Twenty-First Century" by Thomas Piketty

•  Objective:

This differentiated reading assessment is designed to challenge Bella's analytical and critical thinking skills while engaging with complex economic concepts presented in "Capital in the Twenty-First Century."

• Introduction to Bella:

• "Capital in the Twenty-First Century" by Thomas Piketty is a seminal work that delves into the dynamics of wealth and income inequality in modern society. Through meticulous analysis of historical data spanning several centuries and multiple countries, Piketty explores the underlying causes and consequences of economic disparities, challenging conventional notions of capitalism and proposing policy interventions to address these inequalities.

•  Reading Comprehension Questions for Bella:

-          What is the main argument presented by Thomas Piketty in "Capital in the Twenty-First Century"?

-          How does Piketty define and conceptualize the term "capital" in the context of his book?

-          In your own words, summarize Piketty's perspective on the relationship between economic growth and wealth distribution.

-          Who do you believe was the intended audience for "Capital in the Twenty-First Century," and why?

-          Based on your understanding of the text, discuss the relevance and applicability of Piketty's arguments to the economic landscape of the United States today.

2.     Differentiated reading assessment: Reading difficulties (Henry)

• Objective:

This interactive reading assessment aims to engage Henry in a variety of ways, allowing him to demonstrate his understanding of the key concepts presented in "Capital in the Twenty-First Century" while accommodating his reading difficulty.

• Introduction to Henry:

"Capital in the Twenty-First Century" is a book that talks about money and how it's shared in our world. Thomas Piketty, the author, looks at how some people have a lot of money while others don't have as much. He also talks about why this happens and what we can do about it.

• Interactive Questions for Henry:
  

-          Picture Puzzle: Look at a picture of two people, one with lots of money and one with less. Can you point to which person might be described in the book as having more money? Why do you think so?

-          Chart Challenge: We have a chart that shows how much money different people have over time. Can you find where the line goes up the most? What does that mean?

-          Story Starter: Imagine you are talking to a friend about this book. What is one thing you would tell them about it? How would you explain it to them?

-          Word Hunt: Look at a list of words from the book, like "money," "people," and "rich." Can you find these words in a sentence and tell us what they mean?

-          Drawing Challenge: Draw a picture that shows what fairness looks like to you. How does fairness relate to the ideas in the book?

3.     Differentiated reading assessment: English language learner (Grace)

• Book Title: "Capital in the Twenty-First Century" by Thomas Piketty

• Objective:This reading assessment plan is designed to support Grace in understanding and engaging with the content of "Capital in the Twenty-First Century" while accommodating her language learning needs. By providing a variety of interactive and scaffolded tasks, Grace can build her English proficiency while demonstrating her comprehension and critical thinking skills.

• Introduction to Grace:

"Capital in the Twenty-First Century" is a book that talks about money and how it's shared in our world. Thomas Piketty, the author, looks at how some people have a lot of money while others don't have as much. He also talks about why this happens and what we can do about it.

• Assessment Questions:
  

-          Picture Analysis: Look at a picture from the book that shows different people with different amounts of money. Can you describe what you see in the picture? How do you think the people in the picture feel?

-          Vocabulary Matching: Match the English words from the book with their meanings in your first language. This will help you understand the key terms used in the book better.

-          Audio Summary: Listen to a short summary of a chapter from the book in your first language. Can you retell what you heard in English? This will help you practice your English listening and speaking skills.

-          Graphic Organizer: Use a graphic organizer to compare and contrast the ideas presented in the book with your own experiences or knowledge. How are they similar? How are they different?

-          Guided Reading: Read a short excerpt from the book with a partner who speaks your first language. Discuss what you read together and ask questions if you're unsure about anything. This will help you practice your English reading and comprehension skills in a supportive environment.

Reflection

When crafting reading assignments for Bella, Henry, and Grace, it's crucial to recognize their diverse learning needs. Bella thrives on intellectual challenges, so I would select excerpts from "Capital in the Twenty-First Century" that delve into complex economic theories, encouraging her to think critically and engage deeply with the material. Providing thought-provoking questions and extension activities would further stimulate her curiosity and foster a deeper understanding of economic concepts.

For Henry, who faces difficulties due to dyslexia, I'd adapt the text by simplifying vocabulary and sentence structures, while also incorporating visual aids and alternative assessment formats like graphic organizers. By offering multiple avenues for comprehension and expression, Henry can overcome reading barriers and demonstrate his understanding of economic concepts in ways that align with his strengths.

As for Grace, an English language learner, I would choose culturally relevant excerpts and provide language support tools such as bilingual dictionaries to help her decode unfamiliar words and phrases. Creating a supportive and inclusive environment where Grace feels comfortable engaging with the material is key to facilitating her language acquisition and overall learning experience. By tailoring the assignments to meet the unique needs of each student, we can create a classroom environment where all students can thrive and succeed.