If you haven't yet heard about or seen the Classroom Performance System (CPS), it's worth checking out. All you need is a computer and a projector to start using the CPS. For math, it's ideal! You can download a test or create your own. Simply give each child a response pad (my students call them the remotes and they come with 32) and begin the test. The students select the answers (A,B,C,D, or 1,2,3,4 etc.) and CPS does the rest. It will provide you with a gap analysis report, individual student reports and class summaries just to mention a few. You can make up multiple choice questions, yes/no questions or create a challenge game with the challenge board. No doubt every classroom could benefit from this tool.

Some things I learned from using the tool:

• Do your first round in the afternoon, the students love it and get wired!
• Don't use this tool more than once or twice a week, you don't want the novelty to wear off
• Beware that there is still a need to do some open response type tasks, the CPS is limited to multiple choice type questions
• Make time for students to share their strategies for answers, this always helps to clarify misconceptions other students may be having.

All in all, what a great tool!