Constructed response
Last updated
A constructed response is a question students answer in their own words, such as a short written explanation, rather than choosing from options.
Topic: Reading and writing instruction
In plain terms
Constructed responses are common on state tests and classroom assignments, especially in reading and math. Many use a structure like restate the question, answer, cite evidence and explain. They require comprehension, organization and writing skills at once, so students with IEPs often need explicit teaching of the format.
How it shows up in an IEP
Goals can target constructed responses directly, scored with a rubric: "will write a response that answers the question and cites one piece of text evidence, scoring 3 of 4."
Example
Asked why a character moved, a student writes: "The family moved to be near Grandma. The text says they wanted to help every day." It earns 3 of 4 on the rubric.
Related terms
- Written expressionWritten expression is the ability to communicate ideas in writing, including planning, organizing, writing sentences and revising.
- Reading comprehensionReading comprehension is understanding and making meaning from text, by combining word reading, language knowledge and thinking skills.
- InferenceAn inference is a conclusion a reader or listener draws by combining clues in the text with their own knowledge.
- RubricA rubric is a scoring guide that describes several levels of quality for each part of a task, so work can be scored consistently.
On IEP Atlas
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