Next week, we will begin "state test season". Third and fourth graders test in the subjects of English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. For each of these subjects, they'll take two tests, both computer-based:
We will ease into testing with a couple of days of practice, where we'll familiarize the kids with the Smarter Balanced interface, practice using the "tools", and go through some sample questions together. You can learn more about the Smarter Balanced tests here: http://www.smarterbalanced.org/parents/ Although we will go over the practice test as a class, most kids find it helpful to also take a look at it at home, with the purpose of building familiarity, comfort, and confidence: http://www.smarterbalanced.org/assessments/practice-and-training-tests/ Blue Heron Test Schedule (subject to change) Week of:
Please do all you can to make sure your child is at school during the testing window. Avoid scheduling vacations and doctors' appointments if at all possible. You can also help your children do their best on the state tests by sending them to school well-rested, well fed with “brain food" for breakfast, and plenty of encouragement fresh in their minds. Third and fourth graders tend to worry about the tests, which can negatively impact their experience and scores. So keep it positive and focus on success as trying your best. This "testing tips" slide show may be helpful to watch together at home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2UZYz_MCv4 Springwater’s philosophy has always been that standardized tests do not meet all students’ needs and gives us a limited view of academic achievement. The state test is just one of many assessment tools we use to capture student understanding. As a result, we don't teach to the test. We do try to help kids know what to expect and foster a positive attitude so that they can have a positive testing experience. We are happy to answer any questions you have about testing at our upcoming conferences. Comments are closed.
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