Assessments you regularly use to determine student progress?

[Pio2166]

Hello!

I was wondering if anyone could help me in disscussing what forms of assessments you use regularly to determine your student progress? All comments would be greatly helpful and appreciated!!! :)

[Boxcar]

I'll help if I can. What age group are you asking about?

[Anna Lee]

I am in California, teaching at a program improvement school, ie. underperforming, not yet at 100% proficient according to NCLB standards.

We use assessments informally on a daily basis, with grading, quizzes, test scores.

On a trimester basis, grades 1-3 use DIBELs to assess reading fluency and comprehension. We also use RESULTS a group of assessments to check the first 300 most frequent words used, spelling (Shefflebine, I know I have his names spelled incorrectly), the Basic Phonics Skills Test version II, reading fluency and comprehension. Our teachers find the DIBEL to be very difficult for our students, and find RESULTS to be more easily given, and used for instructional purposes. We also use the assessments given in our adopted curriculum.

In a recent workshop on how to analyze the state assessment data, we found that in California we had a glimmer of hope over the last three school years to pull our school out of program improvement. But over the next 8 years we will be required to bring up test scores 11% per year.

In California we have to make the grade in API and AYP, Adequate Program Improvement and Adequate Yearly Progress which are based on two distinctly seperate accounting processes.

The first shows that if our Far Below Basic students make improvement we get a lot of points, the second is if those students at basic go to proficient.

And in California the two grades tested in Science are 3rd and 8th grades. So, most teachers focus on language and math and have no time to teach Science.

My paraprofessional who was assessing my students in the high frequency words was astonished when I told her the added assessments we had to cover. She said, "All we do it assess, when can I help you with the students who need help?"

The only positive thing I see about the "tests" is that teachers who are use to doing their own thing in the classroom are now being forced to actually teach out of the adopted curriculum. And they are fighting it tooth and nail.

Our school had a long way to go. But I am seeing better/improved teaching at my site.

If the primary teachers can move away from "play" and "themes" and actually do the task of teaching phonics, reading and basic math skills, the students will be better prepared for 3rd - 4th grade.

We use a system of intervention called Universal Access. It is similair to center work. It takes a lot of forethought and lesson planning to try and reach all learners where they are at.

[Pio2166]

Elementary grade level students, more specifically Kindergarten if possible. Thanks so much!;)

[Pio2166]

Thank you so MUCH your quick response it was excellent and very helpful!

[mopar]

I have used the DIBELS with kindergarten students, it is very informative. It has a letter identification piece and phonics pieces. We have also used DRA for basic fluency and reading comprehension. This assessment is given quarterly throughout the year for most students. It also has a small writing component at 2nd/3rd grade levels. I have used aimsweb testing more frequently throughout the year. This has a fluency, math computation, reading comprehension, writing and spelling piece. It can be given as often as twice a week to students to three times a year.This can be given at the kindergarten level as well. Also the Dolch word lists are great for sight words and will span from kindergarten until about 2nd grade.
There are very few math assessments for students outside of facts. I know that I have used the key math test will young elementary but not kindergarten. We also use NWEA Maps testing with 2nd and up.

[Yiyang]

If it involves fact / knowledge -- recall, daily or weekly test is good. It has two benefit: 1, emphasis what you think is important and want them to remember ; 2, repetition engraves memory.

[teach1027]

I use oral questions, WE play Jeopardy, Homework, group work, reports, journals, tests and quizzes, family projects.