Formal Assessment Ideas

Distribute the Hispanic Heritage Project Test for a formal assessment of comprehension skills based on the reading passages within this project. The Project Test offers students exposure to standardized tests. The emphasis of the test should not be on the final grade, but on the students' grasp of the tested skills. The test includes tips for students on test-taking strategies.

1. d
2. c
3. c
4. d
5. d
6. b
7. d
8. a
9. b
10. c

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Writing Assessment Ideas:

Biography Report
Have students choose one profile that they would like to turn into a biographical essay about that person, and flesh out the information on their biography skill sheet from their own research online and in the library. Suggest that they use pictures, personal stories, vital statistics, and anything else they find interesting about the hero in their biography.

Visit Writing with Writers for a biography writing workshop! http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/biograph/index.htm

Spotlight on Great Latinos: Pam Muñoz Ryan
Book Report: Esperanza Rising
Read the online author's note about Esperanza Rising, and then read the novel. This can be done several ways: teacher-directed read aloud (only one book needed), small groups of 3–4 students (3–8 books needed) or whole class read around (must have a class set of books).

Tell students that this book recounts a part of the family heritage of Pam Muñoz Ryan. Then share Ryan's biography with students.

Students will then write a book report in an essay format. Depending on the skills on which you would like your students to focus, the report might include: author's purpose, literary analysis, plot structure, etc.

Visit Writing with Writers for a book review writing workshop! http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/bookrev/index.htm

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Project Assessment Ideas:

Famous Latino/Latina Magazine Article
Students choose someone to highlight from any of the Celebrate Hispanic Heritage activities. They will read the biography and flesh out information onto their biography skill sheet. Students are encouraged to also conduct their own research online and in the library. Suggest that they use pictures, personal stories, vital statistics, and anything else they find interesting about this person. Students will then write a magazine article about this famous Latino/Latina. The article can be written in several ways, here are two suggestions: First person narrative, where student writes as if they are the famous person, or third person narrative, where student writes in an interview format and they are the interviewer.

When students complete their articles, you can publish your students' work posting them onto your Class Homepage.

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Writing Rubric

Use the writing rubric as a way to assess your students' writing skills. This rubric can also serve as a model for a modified version that might include your state's writing standards.

Open Writing Rubic

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