Modified Common Assessment Samantha Linnell

Student Description (IEP):

Student B Child with Aspergers. Poor attention span and lack of social skills. Strong reader
and math skills, but only does the math in their heads. Can express ideas verbally, but written
expression is weak.
Some weeks she is on and others she is not and falls behind. She likes to do things her way and

Original Common Assessment:

Directions for the Test: There are multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions, and
an essay question on this test. Each section has specific directions so make sure you read them
before you start each section. Point values for each set of questions are written within the
directions.

Multiple Choice Directions: Read each question carefully and choose the best answer choice.
Clearly mark your answer. Multiple choice questions worth 1 point each.

1.
a. Love is selfish
b. True love makes sacrifices
c. Value of possessions
d. If someone does not sacrifice for you, they do not love you

2. According to the text which is the most important?

a. Possessions
b. Family heirlooms
c. Your appearance
d. Love

3. *Which line from the text supports the theme of the story?
a.
b.
c.
just at prese
d.
4. In the ending, what did the author compare the couple to?
a. The Magi
b. Selfish people
c. Selfless people
d. Romeo and Juliet

5. Put the following statements in chronological order based on the text.

___Della sold her hair

___Della sobs about their financial state

Modified Common Assessment Samantha Linnell

___After receiving the chain for his watch, Jim recognizes the irony in their situation

6.

a. Sobs
b. Sniffles
c. Smiles
7. *Which word best describes Jim and Della's relationship with each other?
a. Their relationship is selfish.
b. Their relationship is loving.
c. Their relationship is thoughtless.
8. *Why does O. Henry consider the couple foolish as well as wise?
a. They are foolish to love each other.
b. They are foolish to love someone who is so poor.
c. They each make a seemingly foolish sacrifice for a wise reason.

True/False Directions: Read each statement and decide if it is true or false. Circle the word

marked. True/False questions worth 1 point each.

1.
happiness.
2. True or False: A theme of the story is that you should never make sacrifices for the
people you love.
3. True or False: By selling his watch Jim sacrificed a valuable heirloom for the person he
loved.
4. True or False: Throughout the story Della is constantly concerned about their financial
state.
5. *True or False: Della cut her hair even though she was worried that Jim would no longer
think she was pretty.
6. True or False? Della sells her hair to buy Jim a gift.
7. *True or False? Jim sells his watch to buy Della a locket.

Short Answer Directions: Read the question and develop an appropriate answer for the
question. Make sure your answer is well organized and fully answers all parts of the question.
Your responses should be between 2 and 5 sentences long. If the question ask for a list you may
write your answer using bullets, you do not have to use complete sentences. Short answer
questions worth 2 points each.

2. List the three most important events in the story.

Modified Common Assessment Samantha Linnell

3. Describe the irony in the ending. Explain why you believe this is a central idea using specific
details from the text.

4. What is one Central Idea from the text?

5.

Essay Directions: Write AT LEAST 3-4 paragraphs answering the question. The essay is worth
8 points. Make sure your essay answers all parts of the question.

1. *If Della had had short hair in the beginning of the story, what do you think that she
would have done? Why do you think so?

(For course instructor s use only: the Questions marked with an asterisk (*) came from
commercial sources.)

Modified Common Assessment:

Name: _________________________ Date_________________

Directions for the Test: There are multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions, and
an essay question on this test. Each section has specific directions so make sure you read them
before you start each section. Point values for each set of questions are written within the
directions.

Multiple Choice Directions:

- Read each question carefully so you understand what the question is asking. Then read
each possible answer choice.
- Select the best answer by circling the letter associated with the answer. Clearly mark your
answer so it is obvious which answer you have chosen.
- If you feel the need to justify your answer, use the lines below each question to do so.
This part is optional, it is not required.
- Multiple choice questions are worth 1 point each.

1. What is a central idea

a. True love makes sacrifices
b. Value of possessions
c. If someone does not sacrifice for you, they do not love you
Modified Common Assessment Samantha Linnell

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2. According to the text, which is most important?

a. Family heirlooms
b. Your appearance
c. Love
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

3. *Which line from the text supports the theme of the story?
a.
b.

c.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

4. In the ending, what did the author compare the couple to?
a. The Magi
b. Selfish people
c. Romeo and Juliet
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

5. Put the following statements in chronological order based on the text:

___Della sold her hair
___Jim gives Del
___Della sobs about their financial state
___After receiving the chain for his watch, Jim recognizes the irony in their situation

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

6. one did the

predominating
a. Sobs
b. Sniffles
c. Smiles
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

7. *Which word best describes Jim and Della's relationship with each other?
a. Their relationship is selfish.
Modified Common Assessment Samantha Linnell

b. Their relationship is loving.

c. Their relationship is thoughtless.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

8. *Why does O. Henry consider the couple foolish as well as wise?

a. They are foolish to love each other.
b. They are foolish to love someone who is so poor.
c. They each make a seemingly foolish sacrifice for a wise reason.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

True/False Directions:
- Read each statement carefully and decide if it is true or false.
- Circle to mark your answer
for each question. Make sure your answer is clearly marked so the teacher can easily
know which answer you choose.
- If you feel the need to justify your answer use the lines following each question to do so.
This part is optional, it is not required.
- True/False questions are worth 1 point each.

9. True or False: Della was not

happiness.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

10. True or False: A theme of the story is that you should never make sacrifices for the
people you love.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

11. True or False: By selling his watch Jim sacrificed a valuable heirloom for the person he
loved.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

12. True or False: Throughout the story Della is constantly concerned about their financial
state.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

13. *True or False: Della cut her hair even though she was worried that Jim would no longer
think she was pretty.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Modified Common Assessment Samantha Linnell

14. True or False? Della sells her hair to buy Jim a gift.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

15. *True or False? Jim sells his watch to buy Della a locket.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Short Answer Directions: When you get to this point let the teacher know and you may go out
into the hallway to complete this part of the test.
- Read each question carefully and develop an appropriate answer.
- Make sure your answer is well organized and fully answers all parts of the question.
- You will record your response using the Transcribe software downloaded on a classroom
iPad.
- Make sure to look back over the transcription of what you recorded and make any
changes you wish to make so that your response completely answers the question.
- Your response should be between 2 and 5 sentences long. This gives you enough room to
completely answer the question.
- If the question ask for a list you may list your answer.
- Short answer questions are worth 2 points each.

2. List the three (3) most important events in the story.

3. Describe the irony in the ending of the story.

4.

Essay Directions:
- Using the prompt below construct a response to answer the question.
- You should use your imagination to answer this question but also use details and facts
from the text. Make sure that your answer can fit logically with the story.
- You will use the Transcribe software to respond to this prompt.
- Review the transcription when you are finished to make sure it fully answers the
question.
- There is not a minimum number of words required, but make sure that your response
answers all parts of the prompt.
- The essay portion is worth 8 points.

Prompt: *If Della had had short hair in the beginning of the story, what would she have done?
Why do you think this? Explain your reasoning using details from the text.
Modified Common Assessment Samantha Linnell

For course instructor s use only: the Questions marked with an asterisk (*) came from
commercial sources. (This would not appear on the student version of the test, it is only to
provide credit for the sources of the questions)

Scoring Guide:
Answer key for Modified Common Assessment:

Multiple Choice:
1.
a. True love makes sacrifices
b. Value of possessions
c. If someone does not sacrifice for you, they do not love you

2. According to the text which is the most important?

a. Family heirlooms
b. Your appearance
c. Love
3. *Which line from the text supports the theme of the story?
a.
b. L et s put our Chr istmas pr esents away and keep em a while.
They r e too nice to use j ust at pr esent. I sold the watch to get the
money to buy your combs.
c.

*Adapted from: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/testing/releasedforms

(English II EOC Question 9)

4. In the ending, what did the author compare the couple to?
a. The Magi
b. Selfish people
c. Romeo and Juliet

5. Put the following statements in chronological order based on the text.

_2__Della sold her hair
_5__Jim gives Della The Combs that sh
_1__Della sobs about their financial state
_4__After receiving the chain for his watch, Jim recognizes the irony in their situation
_3

a. Sobs
Modified Common Assessment Samantha Linnell

b. Sniffles
c. Smiles
7. *Which word best describes Jim and Della's relationship with each other?
a. Their relationship is selfish.
b. Their relationship is loving.
c. Their relationship is thoughtless.

*"The Gift of The Magi" Self-Test. (2007). Retrieved October 12, 2016, from
http://www.phschool.com/webcodes10/index.cfm?wcprefix=epa

8. Why does O. Henry consider the couple foolish as well as wise?

a. They are foolish to love each other.
b. They are foolish to love someone who is so poor.
c. They each make a seemingly foolish sacrifice for a wise reason.

"The Gift of The Magi" Self-Test. (2007). Retrieved October 12, 2016, from
http://www.phschool.com/webcodes10/index.cfm?wcprefix=epa

True/False
1. True or False
happiness.
2. True or False: A theme of the story is that you should never make sacrifices for the
people you love.
3. True or False: By selling his watch Jim sacrificed a valuable heirloom for the person he
loved.
4. True or False: Throughout the story Della is constantly concerned about their financial
state.
5. True or False: Della cut her hair even though she was worried that Jim would no longer
think she was pretty.
6. *True or False? Della sells her hair to buy Jim a gift.
Holt, Rinehart, & Winston. (2005). Elements of Literature Annotated Teacher's Edition
(3rd ed.). Austin, TX: A Harcourt Education Company.
7. *True or False? Jim sells his watch to buy Della a locket.
Holt, Rinehart, & Winston. (2005). Elements of Literature Annotated Teacher's Edition
(3rd ed.). Austin, TX: A Harcourt Education Company.

Short Answer:

He hugs her and tells her that nothing like a hair cut, a shave, or a shampoo
could make me like my gir l any less. He makes sur e that she knows he loves her
no matter what length her hair is. The response should include some
acknowledgment of Jim s unconditional love towar ds Della.
2. List the three most important events in the story.
1. Della sells her hair
2. Della buys Jim a chain for his watch
3. Jim gives Della the combs for her hair
Modified Common Assessment Samantha Linnell

Other Options may include:

- Della cuts her hair
-The couple exchanges presents
5.
Because the couple was poor, they could not afford to buy Christmas presents for
each other without sacrificing one of their own valuable possessions. Had the
couple been richer, they would not have had to sacrifice something in order
to get the other one a present. Had the couple not been poor the reader would
not have seen their unconditional, sacrificial love which is the root of their
relationship. The response should include how under different circumstances, the
couples love for each other would not have been as easily seen.

Essay:
1. If Della had had short hair in the beginning of the story, what do you think that she would
have done? Why do you think so?
Answers may vary but this is a possible example:
- She may have made a homemade gift that showed her love for Jim. This would
have expressed her love but in a way she could afford.
- She could have cooked Jim his favorite dinner and made the night special for Jim
based on his favorite things to do.
- She could have gotten a job to earn money to buy him a present.
- All responses should include a plausible way that Della could have obtained a
present for Jim while staying within the parameters of the story. Responses should
use at least 1 detail from the text to support their answer.

Reflection:

The goal of any assessment should be to measure student growth and learning. Because

of this it is important that the necessary modifications be made to individualize assessments to

help students show their knowledge. This assessment was created for a 9th grade English unit on

he skills learned were summarization, theme, central idea and

finding details. The goal of this assessment was to see how well students learned to summarize

the text, find the theme, explain the central idea and use details to explain the text. This specific

reading and math but struggles with a short attention span and not understanding the reasoning
Modified Common Assessment Samantha Linnell

behind directions or rules. This specific student is able to express her ideas better verbally rather

than writing them.

There are many ways to differentiate in the classroom, and there are many points during

the learning process at which differentiation can and should occur. Allison Nazzal writes that

differentiation of product is he use of a variety of products to assess what students have

Nazzal, 2011, 19). This means that differentiation aims to get the best possible results

from students by individualizing instruction, retention and assessment practices. For this

particular student, I took their specific needs into consideration and looked for ways I could

While making this modified assessment, I first noted all of this studen

created ways that these needs could be met. For example, this student is better at answering

questions verbally rather than writing them, so I found an inexpensive technology tool that

would allow this student to speak their responses into a microphone of a tablet where the

software would transcribe the recording. By using this tool, I can expect that this student will be

able to verbally answer the short answer questions better than they would have if they had to

write the answers. Becaus

the multiple choice and true/false questions I provided a few blank lines where the student could

justify the answer they chose if they wanted. This gave them space to explain their reasoning and

show the teacher their thought process. I also tried to address the short attention span by

bulleting the directions, shortening parts of the test and underlining important words in the

directions and within the questions. Last, I wanted the student to follow the directions I provided,

so I added some of my own justifications so that the student knows why the directions are
Modified Common Assessment Samantha Linnell

necessary. I made these adjustments to the assessment in hopes that the student would be more

comfortable taking this test, and, therefore, perform better, showing what they truly know.

After going through the process of modification, I now know my test better, and I see it

from a different point of view. Overall, the test still seems reasonable for the topic and grade

level. However, while making the modifications, I did find that I could have been more specific

in the instructions. If I were revising this test, I would make the expectations more clear, and I

would give better instructions so the students know exactly what to do.

At the beginning of the textbook we used this semester, the author discusses

differentiation and its importance. According to the textbook, differentiation is important

because it is taking a variety of strategies and using them at specific times to get the best learning

results for students (Wormeli, 2006). To do this I plan to incorporate individualized instruction in

my classroom every day. This could be done through the use of journals, notebooks or in other

ways. But I want to have a way where I am having one-on-one communication with each student

every day. This may be a lot to manage, but as I get more experience I will find ways to make

this practice less overwhelming for myself and more beneficial for the students. I also plan to

have many resources available to students, such as technology, that will help them learn and

grow in their education. When I am creating assessments, I could offer a variety of assignments

that the students can pick from that will showcase what the student has learned. Such

assessments could include projects, experiments, research papers and performance assessments.

Although this may not work for all summative assessments, I can incorporate this practice into

my classroom as much as possible.

After completing this modification assignment, I have realized just how much time and

effort it takes to make the necessary modifications for students. Although it may take more time
Modified Common Assessment Samantha Linnell

hat the student knows, and

modifications are an important part of that. Modifications and accommodations are necessary for

many students, and they are important if teachers want to see what their students really know.

For this specific student I will probably get a better representation of what she knows by giving

her the modified test rather than if I were to give her the original test, because the modified

assessment takes into consideration her strengths and weaknesses. Completing this assignment

has given me the opportunity to practice making modifications, which is an important part of

differentiation in the classroom.

References

Nazzal, A. (2011). Differentiation in Practice: An Exploration of First Year Teacher

Implementation of Differentiation Strategies as Expected Outcomes of Teacher

Preparation Program. Current Issues In Middle Level Education, 16(1), 17-27.

Classroom. Portland, Maine. Stenhouse Publishers. (3)