There's new research out from The Principals' Partnership which explores secrets of acing standardized exams. Some of the tips are consistent with what I've documented in other posts on this blog. According to the research, you should:
• Feel good when entering a testing arena, possessing a positive frame of mind
• Think of the tests as exciting challenges, not something to be endured
• Review and discuss the formats regularly prior to the exam
• Use a lot of practice tests and make sure to learn the vocabulary of the instructions
• Periodically, administer timed tests
• Teach specific skills such as: how to read a passage, reading questions before the passage, outlining writing prompts before writing, underlining key words in the test questions and directions, planning the use of time, completing the questions they know first, going with their first answer, answering every question and not allowing themselves to be distracted by others.
• Get a good night’s rest before the test and to allow sufficient time to arrive at the testing locating with time to settle in and get comfy
• Practice deep breathing and counting to ten to help relax
• Dress in layers so that you can keep comfy during the exam
• Eat a good breakfast and bring a snack that is not salty
• Find and study your weaknesses.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Better readers get better test scores
I came across a report entitled The Data Are In:
Teaching Reading Prepares Students for Standardized Tests.
The report analyzes data from tests taken from New York's ELA in November 2008, March 2009, and June 2009 involving data from 50,000 students. Students were in 3rd through 8th grades. The study found the following trends.
• As reading levels increase, percentages of students passing the state exam increase.
• As reading levels increase, scale scores increase.
• The increase in percentages of students passing and scores rising, taken together, creates a precise pattern that is repeated over and over in each grade and time frame of the year.
• Benchmarks are sometimes wider, sometimes narrower, and often higher than we previously thought.
• Benchmarks also sometimes show slippage from one grade to the next, particularly from 5th to 6th and from 6th to 7th.
Might be a good time to read that order that subscription to Science Magazine after all...
Teaching Reading Prepares Students for Standardized Tests.
The report analyzes data from tests taken from New York's ELA in November 2008, March 2009, and June 2009 involving data from 50,000 students. Students were in 3rd through 8th grades. The study found the following trends.
• As reading levels increase, percentages of students passing the state exam increase.
• As reading levels increase, scale scores increase.
• The increase in percentages of students passing and scores rising, taken together, creates a precise pattern that is repeated over and over in each grade and time frame of the year.
• Benchmarks are sometimes wider, sometimes narrower, and often higher than we previously thought.
• Benchmarks also sometimes show slippage from one grade to the next, particularly from 5th to 6th and from 6th to 7th.
Might be a good time to read that order that subscription to Science Magazine after all...
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