Standardized Testing - Help

[FunFamily]

Hi Friends,

What do you recommend to assist a young child in developing standardized test taking skills. This child is testing far below capability. The primary standardized test of interest is the ERB.

Thank you in advance,
FunFamily

 

[MoniqueU]

I don't do anything. The schoolsdrill and harras my kids enough about this. I don't care how my kids test for this,, I only care that they do their best and about report cards. IThese tests mean very little to me.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I don't recommend studying for standarized testing.

I would look to the classes being taken and the school the child is in. What the grades are, struggles you are having, etc....

Then if the child is falling behind in school, I would look to get the child some help and pinpoint the problems.

 

[taximomfor4]

Standardized testing's purpose is to test WHERE THE KIDS ARE. So I do nothing. I am cynical about the usefulness of these standardized tests, anyway. But they aren't the kind of thing you prep for, other than a good night's sleep, 2 sharpened pencils, and breakfast that morning.

 

[EthansMom]

I wouldn't do anything to improve the performance on just the test.

However, the test measures performance on particular academics. I'd want to know what concepts my child performed badly on so that we could work on improving those skills at home. In all likelihood, the teacher could tell you (may already have via report cards and PT conferences) which areas the child needs to work on.

 

[RachelEllen]

I'll be a bit more cynical and encourge you to practice standarized test taking skills. I think the best way to do this is to get some practice tests and knock out some practice.

I agree that the tests /should/ be testing where you are, but, let's face it, some people are just better testers than others. The way the world is, being good at standarized tests is a valuble skill and will help you get further in school.

If there are discepencies in different areas, then I agree, work on the weak subject matter. If its just a general accross the board not testing to potential, then work on testing skills.

 

[Crystal0608]

My dd just finished her 3rd grade EOG yesterday. The school had tutoring for it for all students wanting to attend once a week for an hour. The teacher sent home review sheets and I had dd review every night as requested. I also printed out practice test samples online for NC EOG and her grade level and reviewed those at night this week to get her prepared for the formatting. They were the same sheets used in tutoring she said. My ds took the Iowa Basic Skills test two weeks ago and I wasn't given any materials for him to study just regular homework and nightly reading. With both kids, school requests bedtime between 8-8:30 and be at school on time so we did that with both of course and hopefully they will do well.

 

[hichewlova]

I don't think you need to focus on the standardized tests. Like taximomfor4 I think they are meant to test where you are thus studying is useless. I think if you are working on your reading/ writing skills and keeping up with school work the test will be fine.

 

[Cindy B]

As a teacher and a mom, I will say that every student may or may not do well in these tests. I just finished my testing week and it has been very interesting to see how my students did. In some cases, my brightest kids were the ones not filling out the forms correctly and doodling. Some other kids (my strugglers) were the ones working really hard on doing their best.

If your district offers Study Island (an online test prep software) use it from home. My students seem to love it. You can also look online for sample tests and parent booklets-which have sample tests inside. You can usually find samples and parent booklest online on your state department of ed website.

 

[Aristomommy]

I think there are two different issues: academic skills vs. test taking skills. Some kids do well academically but for reasons such as nervousness or slow processing skills do not perform well on the tests.

I see nothing wrong with a parent teaching their kids how to take a test. It will only help to reduce anxiety and make a better experience for the child. There are some books (Amazon has them among others) that have practice tests similar to what the school provides. Learning how to move from one question to another, fill in bubbles and how to reason multiple choice questions are valuable skills that will later help with graduation tests, SAT etc later on.

I personally don't understand the attitude some parents have about the testing the schools are mandated to do and judged by. Most teachers would be happy if they didn't have these tests, but it's a necessary evil. I am happy to provide them a child that does well on the test in exchange for good instruction all year long.

 

[GJM]

I also don't do anything. My DS just had testing this week, they stress the kids over these tests so much. I tell my DS do the best you can and don't rush thru it.

He is on the A - B Honor Roll and does well on his report card.

 

[MushyMushy]

I wouldn't do anything. The schools practice and practice and practice enough, then when they're done they throw in some reading/writing/rithmatic.

I think part of the problem with a lot of schools is test fatigue.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My children use PUPR at their school. It helped my daughter learn how to take a test. In 3rd grade, my daughter did okay on her reading EOG and last year she was in the 99% in reading. She learned how to take a test.

Preread questions before reading the selection
Underline/highlight important facts in selection
Process of elimination (get rid of answers that can't possibly be correct)
Reread selection to find the answer

After answering 4 or 5 questions, check to make sure that you bubbled in the right answer. If the text is 3-4 pages break it up. After 2 pages, answers the questions that you know before reading the rest of the text.

If the text is too overwhelming, use your blank sheet of paper to cover the text and only look at one paragraph at a time.

Take a moment to clear your head before starting the next selection.

 

[MushyMushy]

How do you pronounce it, like pooper? LOL I might have to tell my daughter about it. I bet she'll remember the steps that way! She never remembers to read the questions first, which I think goes a long way in aiding memory.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

How do you pronounce it, like pooper? LOL I might have to tell my daughter about it. I bet she'll remember the steps that way! She never remembers to read the questions first, which I think goes a long way in aiding memory.

They call it PUP ER. This really has helped my LD son pass his EOGs. It just gave him a fighting chance.

 

[TwinsinCA]

I know they don't really matter when it comes to grades, but I have seen just how much these test scores matter in terms of placement. One MAPS test in 2nd grade determined which math level my daughters would be placed in for all of 3rd grade. They said kids would be moved accordingly during the year. Never saw it happen.

Our school is in the process of determining which students will be admitted to GATE next year. There are a few steps in the process but only students that score at a certain level the state tests the year BEFORE even get to continue being evaluated. So again a single test taken in 2nd grade will affect their placement in 4th. If the OP's school works in the same way, I think the she would be wise to work on this with her child. It really could matter down the line.

The way I help my kids prepare is by getting the test prep for my daughters' grade at a local teacher's supply store. I went through the whole book with them in the 4-6 weeks leading up to the test. There are definitely things from earlier in the year that were a little fuzzy and other things they had barely covered at all. I don't know what ended up being ON the test, but I am sure helping them review didn't hurt.

 

[mum4jenn]

Our schools do the CRCT tests and in certain grades they MUST pass certain subjects in the test in order to be promoted. We just got some preliminary scores back this week and some kids only missed one question below the minimum score and they must attend summerschool or repeat the grade. It does not matter what their regular grades are.

 

[FunFamily]

Thank you Pirate of the Carolinas.

PUPR is exactly the type of information that I was seeking. A Google search turned up nothing. Do you know where I could find more information about the PUPR approach?

Thanks in advance,
FunFamily

 

[agnes!]

I know they don't really matter when it comes to grades, but I have seen just how much these test scores matter in terms of placement. One MAPS test in 2nd grade determined which math level my daughters would be placed in for all of 3rd grade. They said kids would be moved accordingly during the year. Never saw it happen.

Our school is in the process of determining which students will be admitted to GATE next year. There are a few steps in the process but only students that score at a certain level the state tests the year BEFORE even get to continue being evaluated. So again a single test taken in 2nd grade will affect their placement in 4th. If the OP's school works in the same way, I think the she would be wise to work on this with her child. It really could matter down the line. ...

I'm kind of veering off of the content-based standardized-testing in the OP, but here it's either the CogAT or Naglieri that they give the kids in 2nd Grade - I can't remember which. Those tests basically determine placement in 3rd/4th/5th/6th Grades - even MIDDLE SCHOOL - *years* later for kids to be placed into the GT (Gifted/Talented) program. If my DD had taken the test the year before or the year after her class did, she would have been placed in the GT pool, but her year happened to have higher scores, so didn't happen.

But back to the OP...
this year, in high school? Hoo-boy, in one class she's taking the AP Exam, the final AND the state-mandated test.

I'm sure all the testing makes sense to somebody, but three monster tests for one class ?....

agnes!

 

[Cindy B]

Thank you Pirate of the Carolinas.

PUPR is exactly the type of information that I was seeking. A Google search turned up nothing. Do you know where I could find more information about the PUPR approach?

Thanks in advance,
FunFamily

That just may be a "homegrown" district thing. Some districts just make up or create their own approaches and to goes from there.

I've used the following acronyms in teaching writing:

RACER-- this is used for open-ended prompts or persuasive writing:
(explain this.)
R- Restate, A- Answer, C- Cite, E- Explain, R- Rheterical Question

Another one I used for 6th graders for a persusasive writing piece is:
IRRROCK I- Information, 3R's - are your reasons, O-Opening, C- Closing, K-Kick (part of closing).

My grade level teachers use the IRROCK method. I didn't really like it but the kids used it during the testing week.