Saturday, March 14, 2015

Saturday Sayings: Test Prep



All kindergarten through third grade students in my state take a timed reading test at least two times a year called the IRI (Idaho Reading Indicator). By the end of first grade, my students are expected to read at least 53 words per minute on the IRI. The numbers all these little people produce form this test have much clout at the state level with dollar signs, reprimands, parental anxiety, and media attention attached.  

As with anything that drizzles down from the state level, there are rules and regulations that don't always make sense to those of us in the classroom.  For example, there's a certain window they call it, when our kids can take the test, and this year our window is around mid-April instead of its normal home of mid-May.  In fact, the first window they assigned us was in early April, which was changed to a few weeks later after much begging and pleading.  

With a state test in the near future, arriving sooner than normal, I'm certain teachers are feeling the heat.  I've for sure got a few readers who could use an extra few weeks of instruction under their belts before being asked to read 53 words per minute.  It's safe to say all classrooms have those kids, and their scores will greatly matter to someone, somewhere, resulting in teachers who feel the stress. I get it.  Even though I view this assessment with a grain of salt, I'd like my scores to reflect well on my instruction too, but bringing out the stop watch and random reading passages isn't the way to go.  That tactic might or might not improve scores, but it for sure won't teach them anything about being more strategic readers.  My goal for these learners is quality instruction and authentic practice.  Will they get to 53 words per minute by mid-April?  Maybe.  Maybe not, but they will have learned something long-lasting along the way.


Pin It!

12 comments:

  1. And, while fluency in a reader might be an admirable goal, at the end of the day, it's the stuff that we can't put a timer on that stand the test of time and mean the most for that child's heart, isn't it? Blessings as you work to increase fluency while nurturing that heartbeat!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barbara, Yes and amen. You are very right, of course!

      Delete
  2. Well, you know my stance on this! I'm expected to teach a year's curriculum in 3 months because we test our Kinders in December! Our powers-that-be do not see a problem in that, unfortunately. I also found it shameful that the upper grade students with their tests coming up soon had packets of practice questions to complete over Spring Break. That's all they do! Passages and passages, practice questions and practice questions-no real books to read anymore. Very sad time in education in my opinion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Miss Trayers, oh that's very sad. I worry for our kids when test prep replaces real life.

      Delete
  3. State testing time can be so stressful to everyone involved. I had a wise presenter once who told us that we shouldn't be doing all this test prep right before a test. That students actually do not do better from that. We should be doing authentic teaching all year keeping in mind the way students will be tested at the end and that actually helps them do better. Makes so much sense to me to teach best practices and have students answer in ways similar to what they would experience on the test- providing evidence to support their thinking, using the writing process, etc...
    Lori
    Conversations in Literacy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lori, That's basically what Regie Routman also says. It makes lots of sense, doesn't it?

      Delete
  4. I agree with Miss Trayers, this is a sad time in education. I'm glad you have enough wisdom and experience under your belt to not subject the kids to all the waste of time practice tests.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barb, I've seen kids spend their time in hallways with an adult, a stopwatch, and a reading passage and think that there's a better way. I keep my mouth shut. :)

      Delete
  5. Thank you for helping me not feel so alone. It is a very isolating feeling for some reason. We test our firsties on ORF next week. March! Oh my! And it reflects on my state evaluations. But what can I do but my best and to try to keep getting better through PD and reading of wonderful blogs like this one. Thank you.
    Em
    Curious firsties

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em, you are for sure not alone. I know you'll continue doing what's best for your kids.

      Delete
  6. Good thoughts, Tammy. We do AIMSWeb testing here...same sort of test measuring correct words per minute. It is not state testing--that starts in 3rd grade in KS. I have to test three times a year--beginning, middle, and end. We use the data to determine which kids need extra help, which as their teacher, I already know! Ha! I really didn't like the tests in first grade because it started with nonsense words (at the beginning of the year) and some of my best readers did poorly because they were trying to make them real words. Glad I work in a school where I still have the freedom to use the data as I wish and choose which students truly need the extra help!

    Crystal

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Crystal, we use AIMSWeb too. Sometimes it feels like a hoop we jump through, but I'm glad to hear you have lots of freedom in how you use your data. The information isn't very useful if that's not the case.

      Delete