Exponential Functions Progress Monitoring Probes

About this resource

One skill, start to finish. An exponential functions IEP goal, four equivalent untimed 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 form has eight problems over two student pages, four problems a page, each with a work box and answer boxes: two tables (is it growth or decay, and what is b), two equations to read (what are a and b), two equations f(x) = a(b)^x to evaluate, and two graphs (read f at a dot; growth or decay and a). The kinds of problem are in the same places on every form, so the score means the same thing on Form A and on Form D. Four of the eight problems on every form are growth and four are decay, in a different order on each form. Every answer is a whole number, a fraction or a short decimal for b, and every equation is written the way Algebra 1 writes it.

WHAT IS INCLUDED - 24 pages, four probe forms of eight problems each (32 problems, none repeated), 8 student form pages, a graph-it page where the student plots a growth table and a decay table, a two-page answer key, a directions page, a teacher notes page, a growth-and-decay reference page, a binder cover and divider tabs, a family update page

Start Here And The Goal

• A one-page quick start: six steps and which page is for which job
• A goal page with a sample goal (every bracket meant to be edited), the goal frame as type-in fields, a baseline table and three benchmark rows
• Lines for your district's own rules, this student's scoring rules and the supports the IEP allows

Four Probe Forms, A Through D

• A big My name line, one short instruction with a pencil picture, and a "Show your work" box and answer box for every problem
• Tables with a ratio row to fill in, equations written f(x) = a(b)^x, and graphs drawn with open dots on the gridline crossings
• Growth multipliers such as 2, 3, 4, 5, 3/2 and 1.05, and decay multipliers such as 1/2, 1/3, 2/3, 3/4 and 0.9
• No answers, goal text or scoring strip on a student sheet

Graph It

• One student page with two blank coordinate grids and two given tables (one growth, one decay): plot the points, draw the curve, circle growth or decay, write b

Directions, Answer Key And Teacher Notes

• A directions page: what to say, what is on every form, how each kind of problem is placed
• A two-page answer key with a mark box per problem, the working shown and the kind of problem named
• Reading the misses: b read as an amount to add, multiplying a and b before the power, reading the wrong axis on a graph, misses that cluster on one kind of problem
• A growth-and-decay reference page: the same relationship as a table, an equation, a graph and a story, growth and decay side by side

Data Log, Graph And Caseload

• A graph scaled 0 to 8 with twelve probe columns and a ten-row log
• A caseload summary grid, a filled-in example with a plotted graph (Devon, invented) and a family update and team handoff page

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: 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. Every probe is untimed on purpose. Your district's own rules for goals and scoring go on the blank lines provided.

Who This Is For

Eighth, ninth and tenth grade special education teachers and case managers writing exponential functions goals, math intervention and resource teachers, and the paraprofessionals who give the weekly probe.