[beselem]

There has been some discussion with my 3rd grade team about the lack of support that we can give our students that are taking the ITT. Some think that we shouldn't give any support even to those that are taking the Alternative test. They say it is a reading test, no support. Yes, but it is more about their reading strategies and comprehension. So how am I suppose to know if they have comprehended the selection if they can't even read it!! (I have some that have a very hard time with the alternative.)
So, how much support do you give your students? Do you read the passage with them? Do you help them with the questions?

Thanks

[pandora]

If you are giving it to them as an Assessment, then you can't help them, unless they have testing accomodations on their IEP or 504. If your kids take a state test, you certainly can't help them on that either, so they might as well get used to it. You just have to do the best you can to prepare them on a daily basis for reading cold text, and then use the data to fine-tune your teaching and figure out small groups. Good luck!

[MissA1stGrade]

I have three children that I scribe answers for. I read the short answer questions to them, they dictate their response, and I write it down. They do the rest on their own, but this is a little relief for them. Because it is a reading assessment, it doesn't really help for you to read the entire test to them, especially the cold read/short story. I know it can be frustrating, but they eventually need to learn some coping strategies to do their best. Good luck!

[Love3rdGrade]

We give a little bit of support for the tests. As the year goes on we give less and less. I know some teachers read the test to their students but I don't. We are supposed to give them some support. I always read the written response questions to them and explain a little bit of how to answer it. I have them underline the parts about "2 examples" because they don't do it otherwise. I also start the answer for them "restating the questions" because I think it helps them stay focused on what they are actually answering. I am not helping them read the story unless they ask me what a word is. I don't think this invalidates the purpose of the test but helps them get ready for those state tests that we can't help them on. I don't give the alternative test so I don't have any input on that, sorry.