TELPAS for Math

The Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System or, TELPAS, is, as the name suggests, a set of tests that assess a students proficiency of the english language. I am not involved in much of TELPAS, other than collecting a writing sample. You say "oh that should be easy, I remember writing a bunch of stuff in school"...but did you write that much in Math?

According to state mandate, every LEP student needs 5 grade-able writing samples. And the LEP students can not be singled out in this process. So, each school typically instructs every teacher to collect a writing sample from every student they teach. Again, this may sound easy for English or Social Studies, but is sometimes rather difficult for Math. The other kicker is that the sample should include the vocabulary used in the class. Could you write a full page using math vocabulary, like circumference and trapezoid?

My writing samples have typically been along the lines of:
"Explain the steps to solve the equation 2x-3y=42"

As you might imagine, this prompt is typically met with grumbles and groans and very shoddy work.

So this year, I tried to think out of the box and got together with some of the other math teachers and we tried to come up with more exciting prompts.

ETA: I was just informed that all of my samples were REJECTED and that I would have to redo them, because the below prompts do not show usage of math vocabulary. yippeee :-(

Here were our ideas (some of which were found on the internet and other resources)

1) "Imagine you are a reporter for the Math World News. Write the lead story for the evening news in the city of Arithmetown, where everything that happens involves math."

2) "Imagine you are a Math teacher writing a love letter to your sweetheart for Valentines day"

3) "Give specific directions from your house to school. You cannot list street names or distances in terms of mils or blocks. You can only give directions by counting objects. (Example: Go past two houses with red doors and turn right. Go past four mailboxes that are bricked and turn left). Be creative!"

The kids seemed to really like these story type prompts. This is a sample from one of my kids: (disregard the spelling errors and the slightly inappropriate content)

"Math Love Story

Selena Gomez I think we make the perfect couple. We are congruent and our feelings are proportionate.
You are my 2+2 in a world full of pathegreon theorems. In case you didn't know that equals 4.
When you and I go out red carpet covers the floor.
Me + You= Great if they see me with you I know they'll hate.
Like you I probably wont graduate.
When I'm home alone I think of you and contemplate.
I wanna solve your equation and find your square root.
I'll even write your name on the bottom of my cowboy boot.
Our love will take off faster than the speed of light
The square root of 69 is 8.30 so you know im bright
Our love can be complicated like PI or simple like 1+1=2
Today you look so bored but I know what to do
Our Love's Vertical will be so high it will reach mars
I'll show a a side of me that will make you see stars"