now that January has rolled around, we will start working more towards the test any ideas on how to make this fun?
We actually have workbooks specifically for the tests
Any thoughts? also I will have a student teacher on board at the end of the month.
My brain is still on vacation, but I know I should be thinking about this.
Ha. That is exactly what has been on my mind since yesterday. Kind of put a damper on my otherwise great vacation so far.
I'm sad, actually, that my focus from now through March will be 'have I done enough to prepare them for the tests'? "Have I missed anything", etc.
As for fun....not sure. I teach in a community where parents expect that they do well, so when I say, 'This is something you need to know/know how to be able to do', they generally take it very seriously. So, I haven't had to make it 'fun' in year's past. I just make it very serious and they climb on board. In my class, much of the stuff we do all year long is done in a 'fun' manner. So, they know it is time for some serious buckling down.
I do have some small group activities planned...where they have to work together to figure out ______________ (insert topic). They always enjoy this. Then, we come together and share what it is they had to figure out.
Off to look at my State Reading Assessment folder to see what I need to specifically do come Jan. Ugh!
I sure know what you mean about making it fun. My class won't concentrate 5 minutes if its not fun.
One thing I did last year is I made a paper chain with one link for each day until the test. This was a physical reminder to all of us how much time we had left until the tests. They loved it. At the end of the day I'd choose a special helper who was sitting quietly to rip off the link for the day.
For Valentines day last year I gave the class red pens as a gift. Then in the afternoon after all the festivities I gave them a reading passage (that had something to do w/ valentines) but the twist was that I had already done the work. They had to use their red pens to check and/or correct the work.
We also go over practice pages by letting everyone show their answer by getting up and going to a corner of the room labled with the letter. It really helps to get them up and moving.
I've cut up copies of their practice tests and posted them around the room. Students move in groups around the room and do the problem shown then they get to flip it over and check their work.
One of our testing dates is......Valentine's Day!!! I cannot believe it!
Testing in the a.m., party in the p.m. Lame....who schedules these!?!? Certainly not teachers.
I like your paper chain idea. Am going to do that.
Your post reminded me that I also do 'CSAP graders'. (CSAP is the name of our state assessment). The students get to be CSAP graders and use the actual rubric to grade 3 pieces of writing. They do love this, and I hope it helps them 'see' what constitutes a 4, a 3, and a 2.
I like your idea of practice test around the room. I may try that.
I'm not sure at what stage your student teacher will be come state testing time, but...she could work in small groups doing important review work for either those who are struggling w/certain concepts that will be on the state test......
or....you could work in small groups w/those who are struggling w/certain concepts while she takes the higher kiddos and does something w/them.
As for the workbooks---we don't have workbooks, per se...just released items that we are allowed to give for practice.
I try to spread them out... a reading passage 1 day, then another concept that I know will be on it (ex.--root words/suffixes/prefixes), the next. Each day I try to do 1 review concept, in some form or another. Some of this can be hands on---print out root words, suffixes and prefixes on cardstock. Have students find their matching partner by wandering around the room (forming words). Then, take it from there into a review lesson. "Root words, stand up". "Suffixes, stand up" "Root words, turn around and sit down". Etc.
(I have 17 boys and only 6 girls....so frequent movement is a must in my class).
I guess that is how I try to make it fun. Do a hands on activity, then a practice worksheet.
Let's face it...there's no fun about it!
When do you test? We test in Feb. and again in March.
fourth grade the past several years and was transferred to third this year. So, this is the first year the third graders take the test. During conferences, half of the parents were interested in how I was preparing the kids for "the test" and another third said third grade shouldn't be about "the test".
Are you able to download sample test questions from the DOE website for your kids to practice (in addition to the other resources and a crowbar we utilize to squeeze it all into our schedule)? I also provide parents with the DOE link so they can utilize the resource at home.
I also teach the kids some Brain Gym exercises that they can do during the test if they need. Google brain gym exercises and you will get a bunch of great ideas. (Sorry my things are at school).
I really like your ideas. Can you give me more details about the practice test around the room? I really like doing this on Friday's and for Math. Can you give me any more hints? This is my 1st year teaching and in a grade that state test really does count for passing the grade.
With your reading test being in November---haven't the kiddos only been 3rd graders for like 3 months?!
I think Feb. is early---but they want to get the results back before the end of the year. At least they have been 3rd graders for 6 months before we test.
School begins the day after Labor Day. The testing window opens the last week of October and closes the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Actually, they have been third graders for seven weeks!!!
"No Child Left Untested" in Wisconsin is done in November. It looks like this:
--third grade - reading and math
--fourth grade - reading, math, science, social studies, written language - children who score basic and minimal in any of these areas are looked at for retention
--fifth grade/sixth grade/seventh grade - reading and math
--eighth grade - reading, math, science, social studies, written language - children who score basic and minimal in any of these areas are looked at for retention
--ninth grade - reading and math
--tenth grade - reading, math, science, social studies, written language - children who score basic and minimal in any of these areas are on a track to not graduate
80% of the test is multiple choice, and 20% of the test is short answer/essay. Yikes!!
A teacher of 32 years at our school highly recommended buying the review books by Spectrum. She even told me the exact location at Barnes &Noble..."enter next to Old Navy on Level 2, turn right, first shelf."
Has anyone else used these or would advise buying them?
Our school does a contest.
Each week the kids take a quiz in reading and math. Based off their scores (and the use of their strategies) they get a certain number of tickets.
Then on Friday afternoons, we have an assembly and a certain number of kids names are drawn from each grade. They get to shoot a basket, if they make it they get a prize. If they don't, they can ask a teacher or other school adult for "help".
Basically, they can get anyone to help until they make the basket. When they make the basket, they get a prize.
It is pretty motivating for the kids to want to get lots of tickets. I know most of you won't be able to do a school-wide activity, but you might be able to modify this for your rooms.
many of the students at my school are basic or below, because they are English Language Learners! and sometimes lack of parental support compounds the problem...
When you mentioned you have workbooks specifically for the tests, can you provide more information (what state, where you get them, cost, grade level, etc.)?
Also, here is a group review activity my students enjoy. Separate your students into four or five groups (four per group is great but no more than 5 or six). Post large chart paper in various areas around the room (one for each group) Cover the chart paper with another piece of chart paper so groups cannot see each other's answers. Have individual groups select a leader (or you select), they decide how they will rotate in the group and give the group a name, give them a marker. Groups take a spot at one of the Chart-Paper stations and place the group name at the top of the chart. You ask a review question (short answer questions) and the first member of the group writes their response on the chart paper (keeping it covered when they are finished). I usually do not allow my students to confer with group members when answering questions....but have let some class groups confer in the past..which worked well with some of my challenged students. Then groups rotate recorders within the group (each student will be responsible for several answers this way). Continue asking questions and groups continue answering until you have asked as many questions as you want (I usually do 20-25 so students have several opportunities to answer). Then you review questions and answers as you score the answers on the chart paper orally with groups (alternate who answers the questions for the group again). The highest scoring group takes first place. I usually assign a point value for each question (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 points.....more difficult questions have higher point value)--making it more interesting as students must calculate their correct score point total. When answering, students put the point value beside their answer. Groups also have to add their correct response total....math!!
They have to decide which group is first, second, third, etc.....highest to lowest scores! Everyone wins something.....prizes are set for first place, second place, third place, etc... Hope this makes sense!!!!!!!
My students love it!!!
Happy New Year!
Good Luck on your tests!!!
I'm from Pennsylvania. Our district bought us PSSA Coach Books (not sure of the publisher or if that's the correct title) a few years ago. We've also had a few samples from various textbook publishers sent. We did just order Science prep books from a publisher called Buckle Down. You can google them. They also have math and reading and will send samples upon request. Not sure of cost.
Last year there were sample questions on the Pennsylvania department of education site that I used also.
We take the reading and math test in 3rd grade, but they must pass the reading test to be promoted. We use the test workbooks that come with our reading and social studies books. We do strategy that we call PIRATE, so everything we do is based around pirates. They can earn gold coins and tickets throughout our test practice for "pirate" goodies and a pirate party after the test. Each time they make above an 80 on one of our stamina tests that we do weekly, they get to wear the beads. This is a big deal to them, though I don't quite understand it. The competition between classes is a big motivator, because we want the most beads!
We really push them hard for the 2 months before the test, but they all do very well.
Buckle Down is a great resource for most states. You pick your state and then you can choose free samples for what you want. The samples are full workbooks so even if your district won't purchase the materials, you can use the samples for test prep.
Each student has a copy of a reading passage w/ questions. Beforehand I take an extra copy and do all the work and circle the correct answers. Then I cut each question out and tape it to the wall somewhere. I cover it with a piece of paper that has the question number on it. So when the students rotate to that spot, they see the question number they need to work. I give them a few minutes to do their work and discuss it. Then I give them a minute to check their work- they lift up the cover page and look at my answers. Then it is time to rotate to a new spot.
Its great. It is a nice change from desk work and it takes less than 10 minutes to prepare.
12-29-2007, 01:03 PM
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