Adding and Subtracting Rational Numbers Probes

About this resource

Aligned to Common Core 7.NS.A.1 (add and subtract rational numbers). One skill, start to finish. An adding and subtracting rational numbers IEP goal, six equivalent probe forms that measure it, an answer key and a graph scaled to the probe. Baseline on Monday, goal written by Tuesday, first data point on Friday.

Every problem adds or subtracts, and at least one number in every problem is negative, such as -7 + 12 or 3/4 - (-1/2). Each form has ten problems built the same way: four with integers, three with decimals and three with fractions, five adding and five subtracting. No problem appears on two forms, and no two problems on a form have the same answer, so the score means the same thing on Form A and on Form F. Every answer was computed by the program that wrote the forms and is printed on the key.

WHAT IS INCLUDED - 20 pages, six probe forms of ten problems each (60 problems: 24 integer, 18 decimal and 18 fraction, 30 adding and 30 subtracting), a two-page answer key, a teacher notes page, a binder cover and divider tabs, a caseload page, a family update page, and 350 type-in fields

A Binder Cover And Divider Tabs

• A binder cover with student, case manager and school year fields
• Six divider tabs, one per section of this file, print and cut

The Goal Page

• A sample goal with every bracket meant to be edited by the team
• The six-part goal frame as type-in fields: by (date), given, student will, criterion, on ___ of ___ consecutive probes, as measured by
• A baseline table: three probes and the median
• Three benchmark rows with target date, target score, actual score and met
• The giving-and-scoring directions, and lines for this student's own scoring rules

A Number Line Page For The Student (Page 6)

• Two drawn number lines: adding hops right, subtracting hops left, with the "subtracting a negative" switch and four problems to try

Six Probe Forms, A Through F (Pages 7-12)

• Ten problems per form, with room to write each answer
• A big My name line, one short instruction with a pencil picture
• No answers, goal text or scoring strip on a student sheet

A Two-Page Answer Key (Pages 13-14)

• Every problem on all six forms with its answer, so a paraprofessional can score without doing the math
• A mark box for each item and a Correct ___ / 10 box under each form

Teacher Notes (Page 15)

• Reading the errors: the wrong sign, subtracting a negative, a slipped decimal point or fraction part, and a missing fact

The Data Log And Graph (Page 16)

• A y-axis already scaled 0 to 10, twelve probe columns, and the instruction to draw the aim line from the baseline to the criterion first
• A twelve-row log with date, form, correct, errors, the score used on the graph and notes

The Caseload Summary (Page 17)

• Eleven student rows, baseline and criterion, eight probe columns, a trend column and a decision column

A Worked Example (Page 18)

• Priya, seventh grade, invented. Twelve weekly probes: the baseline as a median, three points under the aim line forcing a teaching change, the criterion met, and the progress-report sentence the log produces

A Family Update And Team Handoff Page (Page 19)

• A family update with blanks for this week's score, a team handoff checklist, and a meeting summary sentence with blanks for two numbers off the log

What This Is, And What It Is Not

It is a fillable PDF. The goal page, data log, caseload page, family update page and the mark boxes on the answer key are type-in fields: open the file in a PDF reader, click a line or a cell, type, and Save As once per student. The probe forms print clean: the student writes on paper.

It is not a norm-referenced assessment and it carries no benchmark score or "typical" rate. The criteria in the sample goal are in brackets because your team sets them from the baseline and the student's IEP. The forms are untimed on purpose, so the condition stays the same all year. Your district's own rules for goals and scoring go on the blank lines provided. It is not a Google Slides, Docs or PowerPoint file.

Who This Is For

Sixth, seventh and eighth grade special education teachers and case managers writing integer, decimal and fraction goals, intervention teachers, and the paraprofessionals who give the weekly probe.