What assessments do your students take throughout the year? I think my students are WAY over-tested...and their scores are inconsistent. I am a reading specialist, but part of my job is putting all the students' data into a spreadsheet, so I see how all the students are doing. Here are the assessments our students have to take: K-8: Running Records, three times a year (Oct, Jan/Feb, May) 3-8: Scholastic Reading Inventory, three times a year (Sept, Jan, May) Scholastic Math Inventory, twice a year (Sept, May) 4Sight Benchmarks, five times a year (Sept, Oct, Dec, Jan, Feb) PSSAs, three weeks in March (state testing, I'm in PA) Does anyone else have anything similar at their school? I am in charge of making sure all these assessments happen, and it drives me crazy!
We use running records three times a year, NWEA Map testing three times a year, math computation test three times a year, and math problem solving test three times a year. Plus state testing! We do use other methods to progress monitor students more often who need it. And we do feel over tested as well.
What system do you use for running records? We use Fountas and Pinnell's Benchmark system and it takes SO long.
We take: District reading assessment 3x per year Practice state test 3x per year District math curriculum 3x per year Writing test monthly Practice for the practice state test monthly Science test monthly for 5th grade Reading portfolio test 3x per year for 3rd grade K academic testing before school begins in the summer and 3x per year after that Teachers are required to keep data on middle and end of chapter tests for reading, math, and science Required AR testing, each grade level has to obtain certain numbers of points monthly SuccessMaker completed daily, student has to retest each time their score isn't high enough I know there's more, but I can't think of it right now. ...did I mention that we do fit a little bit of teaching in between tests...not much, but a little bit!
On the high school level here, if a student can pass all five sections of the Ohio Graduation Test on the first try, which is in March of his or her sophomore year, the major assessments are done. However, my school is a huge proponent of short cycle assessments so we know where we need to reteach.
We use the Treasures running record program as well as AIMSweb web. AIMSweb is what we use to benchmark and progress monitor.
Grades 3-8 assessments every 2 weeks until the "real test", but 3 pre tests-1 in August, 1 in Jan, and 1 in Feb!!!!!!! All we do is go over data!!!!!!!!
The following are required assessments: STAR test in September, January, and May (Reading) District Short Cycle assessments at the end of each 9 weeks (Reading & Math) OAA in May (Reading & Math) The following we do as needed: DRAs Benchmark assessments as determined by our teacher teams.
Wow, we are lucky! In the lower grades we do official PM running records at least 4 times a year and standardised maths, spelling and reading tests towards the end of the year. These are only school-based though. In years 3, 5, 7 and 9 we have a national numeracy and literacy test in May (in the 2nd term of our school year). That's the 'big' one and those grades seem to have to spend more time preparing each year - not a good trend! All of our other assessments are class/year level based and created by us.
