This book provides 25 easily administered assessments of learners' math knowledge that help teachers monitor learning in real time and improve all students' math skills.

"Cheryl Rose and Carolyn Arline provide a valuable resource to teachers who are interested in determining how their students think and answer questions in mathematics classes." —From the Foreword by Johnny W. Lott Director, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning University of Mississippi Use these targeted probes to assess secondary students′ grasp of key mathematics concepts! Research findings show that formative assessment is an important strategy for improving student achievement in mathematics. This practical resource by best-selling authors Cheryl M. Rose and Carolyn B. Arline provides tools and examples that allow middle and high school teachers to gauge students′ knowledge of core mathematics concepts and strengthen their ability to teach effectively. The authors provide 30 formative assessment probes—brief, easily administered activities targeting specific mathematics ideas—to reveal common understandings and misunderstandings in student thinking. Field-tested with teachers and students at various grade levels, these powerful diagnostic tools help teachers modify their teaching and identify areas that require more instruction. Written in accessible language, this invaluable book: Discusses standards, research results, and practical craft knowledge Describes the purpose, structure, and development of mathematics assessment probes Helps teachers build on students′ current understandings while addressing their identified difficulties Offers examples of the faulty thinking students are likely to exhibit and typical obstacles they may encounter These assessment probes will help teachers can make sound instructional choices and increase the mathematics knowledge of all their students!

Discussing standards, research, and more, these 30 probes help secondary teachers assess students' grasp of core mathematics concepts and modify their instruction to improve student achievement.

Pinpoint and reverse math misconceptions with laser-like accuracy Here’s the middle-grades math resource you’ve been waiting for! Bestselling authors Cheryl Tobey and Carolyn Arline are back with 25 entirely new assessment probes that pinpoint subconcepts within the new Common Core Standards for Mathematics to promote deep learning and expert math instruction. Learn to ask the right questions to uncover common student misconceptions. Get practical instructional ideas that build new and accurate skills--while learning is already underway. It’s all here in this detailed and grade-level specific guide. Organized by strand, the probes will enable you to: Quickly and objectively evaluate common misconceptions around fractions and decimals, linear equations, ratios and percents, statistics, and more Systematically address conceptual misunderstandings and procedural mistakes--before they become long-term problems Help students better understand areas of difficulty Plan targeted instruction that builds on students’ current understandings while addressing areas of struggle Master the essential CCSM mathematical processes and proficiencies for Grades 6-8 You’ll find sample student responses, extensive Teacher Notes, and research-based tips and resources. Eliminate the guesswork and join thousands of busy middle-grades teachers who’ve used these easy-to-implement tools to foster solid math proficiency! "This book will definitely help mathematics teachers now that the CCSS are becoming such a big part of our teaching." —Debra A. Scarpelli, Middle School Mathematics Teacher RIMLE President, PARCC/CCSS ELC Cadre for Rhode Island, and Adjunct Professor

"Uncovering Student Thinking in Mathematics shows us ways to listen and observe children and their mathematical understandings so we can find better ways to help them take their next learning steps. This book is a gift to educators who ′seek to understand before being understood.′" —From the Foreword by Anne Davies "A fresh and unique resource for mathematics teachers who recognize the importance of carefully establishing the starting points of instruction in terms of what students already know. The collection of assessment probes is inventive, engaging for students, and invaluable for teachers." —Richard H. Audet, Associate Professor, Roger Williams University Use formative assessment probes to take the guesswork out of mathematics instruction and improve learning! Students learn at varying rates, and if a misconception in mathematics develops early, it may be carried from year to year and obstruct a student′s progress. To identify fallacies in students′ preconceived ideas, Uncovering Student Thinking in Mathematics offers educators a powerful diagnostic technique in the form of field-tested assessment probes—brief, easily administered activities to determine students′ thinking on core mathematical concepts. Designed to question students′ conceptual knowledge and reveal common understandings and misunderstandings, the probes generate targeted information for modifying mathematics instruction, allowing teachers to build on students′ existing knowledge and individually address their identified difficulties. Linked to National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards, this invaluable handbook assists educators with: 25 ready-to-use mathematical probes Teacher guides for implementing each probe at any grade level Examples of typical obstacles and faulty thinking demonstrated by students This rich resource combines standards, educational research findings, and practical craft knowledge to help teachers deliver informed instruction that strengthens all students′ learning and achievement in mathematics.

Get to the core of your students’ understanding of math! Quickly and reliably identify your primary students’ math knowledge with these convenient and easy-to-implement diagnostic tools! Tobey and Fagan provide 25 new assessments specifically for Grades K–2 and directly aligned with the Common Core. Organized by strand, the probes will enable you to: Quickly and objectively evaluate each child’s prior knowledge of basic math and numeracy Systematically address common mistakes and obstacles before they become long-term problems Make sound instructional choices to improve all students’ math skills

"Finally, a book to help teachers differentiate math instruction using their own individualized, current data! The practical, simple-to-use formative assessments allow teachers to identify areas of difficulty, correct misconceptions, and guide learning."--Renee Peoples, Fourth Grade Teacher and K-5 District Math FacilitatorSwain County Schools, NC "This book offers ways for teachers to gain more insight into what their students know and don′t know."--Carol Amos, Teacher Leader/Mathematics CoordinatorTwinfield Union School, VT 25 targeted probes that gauge students′ mathematics comprehension in Grades K-5 Quickly identify each child′s level of understanding with these easy-to-use assessment tools! This sequel to the bestseller Uncovering Student Thinking in Mathematics answers teachers′ requests for more strategies to monitor classroom learning in real time. The authors provide 25 field-tested probes--brief, easily administered assessments--that can pinpoint students′ areas of struggle in mathematics. Aligned with NCTM standards, these grade-appropriate probes are easy to implement immediately and help teachers: Build on children′s current understandings while addressing their identified difficulties Quickly and objectively evaluate specific math skills Determine students′ common mistakes and obstacles to learning math Measure learners′ abilities and compare them to performance objectives Tobey and Minton include their proprietary QUEST cycle model, which provides teachers with the necessary tools to make sound instructional choices and improve all students′ mathematical knowledge.