1. (Due to the notable improvements within my students’ benchmark performances this year, the following is a
chart and explanation that I complied upon request of my principal to show to the school board.)
Ms. Richardson’s 3rd Grade Benchmark Data from Trimester 1 to Trimester 2
These are the comparable results of Trimester 1 and 2 benchmark assessments from Ms. Richardson's 3rd grade
class this year.
Math: Majority of the students who were performing at a basic or below basic level trimester 1 on their math
benchmark (yellow and orange) performed at proficient or increased from below basic to basic. The primary
difference from trimester 1 to trimester 2 is the incorporation of supplemental Common Core materials to the
math Envision curriculum. Third grade supplemented the math Envision curriculum with Engage NY's
curriculum because we believe Engage NY does a better job at teaching our students' the necessary skills and
knowledge pertinent for success with the common core standards.
Benchmark
1 Math
Multiple
Choice
Benchmark 1
Math
Constructive
Response
Averaged
Benchmark
1 Math
Score
Benchmark
2 Math
Benchmark
1 ELA
Benchmark
2 ELA
Students
1 71% 33% 52% 68% 50% 53%
2 64% 17% 40% 88% 50% 76%
3 93% 33% 63% 68% 17% 75%
4 86% 67% 76% 88% 54% 94%
5 86% 50% 68% 80% 71% 91%
6 79% 33% 56% 68% 63% 66%
7 64% 50% 57% 84% 42% 86%
8 36% 17% 26% 72% 46% 38%
9 50% 17% 33% 60% 13% 82%
10 50% 0% 25% 32% 17% 40%
11 57% 33% 45% 88% 0% 67%
12 64% 33% 49% 84% 17% 82%
13 64% 17% 40% 60% 29% 87%
14 100% 50% 75% 100% 58% 74%
15 79% 50% 64% 76% 46% 61%
16 100% 33% 67% 32% 25% 96%
17 71% 33% 52% 76% 54% 84%
18 86% 50% 68% 80% 21% 58%
19 29% 0% 14% 32% 29% 24%
20 64% 50% 57% 84% 54% 81%
21 86% 50% 68% 100% 33% 87%
22 64% 83% 74% 80% 42% 76%
23 86% 50% 68% 60% 13% 58%
24 71% 0% 36% 40% 13% 60%
25 71% 83% 77% 84% 88% 91%

2. ELA: In Trimester 1, only 3 students out of 25 placed as either proficient or advanced on the Trimester 1 ELA
benchmark, leaving 22 students performing at a far below basic, below basic or basic level. However, for
trimester 2, 11 students scored as advance, 7 as proficient, and only 4 as basic and 3 as below basic. Thus,
majority of the class is now performing at a proficient or advanced level in the 3rd grade language arts common
core standards.
Additionally, Ms. Richardson analyzed her students’ reading levels from January to March as determined by the
STAR Reading assessment, finding a notable increase in the majority of her students’ reading levels.
Particularly: two students increased by an entire year (from 1.7 to 2.7 and from 4.4 to 5.4), four students
increased by 6-7 months (i.e. from a 2.4 to 3.1) two students increased by 4- 5 months, seven students increased
by 2-3 months (i.e 3.1 to 3.5), and one of her IEP students increased from a reading level of 1.5 to 2.0 just in
this short time span.
The significant difference from first trimester to second trimester in ELA is use of supplemental materials to
help teach the language arts common core standards. Third grade used Imagine It! for the first trimester. Come
November, third grade supplemented the Imagine It! curriculum with Engage NY’s ELA curriculum for 3rd
grade. We personally love Engage NY and believe it does an exceptional job at teaching the common core
standards for reading, writing, speaking, and listening. We’ve seen a significant change in our students’
engagement during reading and writing lessons in class. Our students are more motivated to read on their own
and demonstrate excitement for completing reading and writing activities; something we rarely saw when using
only the Image It! curriculum. Moreover, our students are engaging in higher order thinking skills more often
and efficiently, these include: analyzing, comparing & contracting, questioning, creating, and making
inferences.