Claim 2: Problem Solving - Students can solve a range of complex well-posed problems in pure and applied mathematics, making productive use of knowledge and problem solving strategies.

Learn About Claim 2

• What is the rationale for Claim 2?
  Assessment items and tasks focused on this claim include well-posed problems in pure mathematics and problems set in context. These problems require students to construct their own solution pathway, rather than to follow a provided one. Such problems will therefore be less structured than items and tasks presented under Claim #1, and will require students to select appropriate conceptual and physical tools to use. Read more.

• What does sufficient evidence looks like for Claim 2?
  Although items and tasks designed to provide evidence for this claim must primarily assess the student‘s ability to identify the problem and to arrive at an acceptable solution, mathematical problems nevertheless require students to apply mathematical concepts and procedures. Thus, though the primary purpose of items/tasks associated with this claim is assess problem solving skill, these items/tasks might also contribute to evidence that is gathered for Claim #1. Read more.

• What are the assessment targets for Claim 2?
  Claim #2 is aligned to the mathematical practices from the MCCSS, which are consistent across grade levels. For this reason, the Assessment Targets are not divided into a grade-by-grade description. Rather, a general set of targets is provided, which can be used as guidance for the development of item and test specifications for each grade. Read more.

Unit/Lesson Planning

Tools

• Understanding the Standards
• California's eStandards for CCSS    
  Search the CCSS for ELA & Literacy and Math by keyword
• Mathematical Practices Learning Community Templates (Utah)    
  Nine templates from the Utah State Office for Eduation for use in professional learning around the CCSS Mathematical Practices.
• Domain and Cluster Posters by Grade Level   08/04/2011 (328.72 KB)
• Math Practices Poster in Student Language   12/03/2012 (566.38 KB)
  Created by the Jordan School District, these posters offer student friendly descriptions of each of the eight mathematical practices.
• CCSS Math Practices Posters in Spanish    
  These posters were designed by Javier S. Guerrero and are provided as part of the Common Core Translation Project.

• Planning Templates
• CCSS Student Report Templates (K-5)    
  These templates, designed by Corvallis SD TOSA Chris Caster, include the standards for each grade K-5 and are designed to be used to track CCSS related assignments and assessments. Scroll down to "Standards Report" to find the templates.
• Quality Review Rubric for Units and Lessons    
  The Tri-State Collaborative (composed of educational leaders from Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island and facilitated by Achieve) has developed criterion-based rubrics and review processes to evaluate the quality of lessons and units intended to address the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

Teaching & Learning

Tools

• Videos of instruction
• Persistence in Problem Solving    
  Third graders work on math problem solving. They learn how to find multiple pathways and cooperating with their peers to deepen their understanding. Focus on Math Practice 1.
• Inside Mathematics    
  A collection of video resources illustrating the CCSS for Mathematical Practice

• Differentiating for individual student needs
• Meeting the Needs of Students with Disabilities and Diverse Learners    
  The documents on these pages provide all educators with resources that focus on the differentiated instruction of students with special needs. Educators should continue to reference the resources available on other CCSS pages for content-specific information.
• Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners    
  The documents on this page provide all educators with resources that focus on the needs of English language learners. Educators should continue to reference the resources available on other CCSS pages for content-specific information.
• Differentiation Training Module    
  This site contains 10 training modules on differentiation, developed as part of the Oregon DATA Project. GET PASSWORD

• Instructional Strategies
• Mathematics Assessment Project PD Module: Problem Solving Lessons    
  In most Mathematics classrooms, students are provided with structured tasks and are told precisely which techniques to use: students learn by following instructions. Problems and situations that arise in the world require students to make simplifications, model situations, choose appropriate knowledge and processes from their ‘toolkit’, and test whether their solution is ‘good enough’ for the purpose in hand.
• Problem Solving: It Has to Begin with Noticing and Wondering    
  This article provides a teacher's account of the effectiveness of the "I Notice, I Wonder" strategy when working with student on problem solving.
• Focus on Student Practice    
  In this article, Suzanne Alejandre offers practical tips and examples for helping students “Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.”

• Lessons
  NOTE: The inclusion of links to these sites does not constitute an endorsement by ODE.
• Mathematics Assessment Project Formative Assessment Lessons (MS & HS)    
  Problem Solving Lessons are designed to assess and develop students’ capacity to apply their mathematics flexibly to non-routine unstructured problems, both from the real world and within pure mathematics. Professional development modules have been developed to support these lessons.
• Problems of the Month (Inside Mathematics)    
  The Problems of the Month are designed to be used schoolwide to promote a problem-solving theme at your school. The problem is divided into five levels, Level A through Level E, to allow access and scaffolding for the students into different aspects of the problem and to stretch students to go deeper into mathematical complexity.
• National Digital Science Library    
  The NSDL Math Common Core collection features digital learning resources that address concept and skills components of the Math Common Core State Standards.
• EduCore: Math Tools    
  Formative assessment lessons and instructional videos for mathematics aligned to the Common Core.
• Open Education Resources (OER) Commons    
  A collection of open education resources (OER) including Common Core implementation plans, transition guides, assessment tasks, exemplars and curriculum.

Assessment

Tools

• MAP Professional Development Module: Formative Assessment    
  The effective use of formative assessment lessons depends on the quality of feedback given by teachers to students. One important way of moving students’ thinking forward is to prompt them to reconsider their reasoning by asking carefully chosen questions.
• Mathematics Assessment Project Summative Tasks (MS & HS)    
  MAP summative assessment materials assess performance in mathematics, as described in the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics. Includes novice, apprentice, and expert tasks.

• Smarter Balanced Sample Summative Items for Teachers
  Covering all possible item types (selected response, constructed response, extended response, technology enhanced, and performance tasks), these samples include student items, as well as sample student responses and evaluation rubrics where appropriate. Educators can use these items to get an idea of how to design classroom tasks that will prepare students for the Smarter Balanced Assessment.
• Grades 3-5    
• Grades 6-8    
• High School    
  
• Sample Items and Tasks for Students    
  The items on these sites include a combination of computer adaptive items (selected response, constructed response, extended response) and performance tasks. Items can be scored using sample student responses and their accompanying scores as reference for reviewing your answer.
• Smarter Balanced Training Tests    
  Training tests for each grade level and subject area have been released to assist students with becoming familiar with the new item types that are present on the Smarter Balanced Pilot Test. NOTE: The training tests and online calculators can only be accessed on Mozilla Firefox.

• Mark Freed     (503) 947-5610
  Teaching & Learning Team - Education Specialist