Maggie, I don't ever stop and teach a formal unit on testing. My school gives a school wide Mock TAKS test using an old copy of the test. I use those test papers in class to really help the kids understand the process. I don't like to spend much time on it. My kids start so far behind in reading that I feel like they need to spend as much time as possible reading, thinking, and talking about reading. I want them to be able to really read - not just pass a test that says they can! I am required to do test prep tutoring after school for those that need it.
I can't get to my files right now. I got the idea for the question stems somewhere online - I think from Austin ISD. I use the curriculum area of Austin ISD's website to help organize my planning because they have spent tremendous amounts of time correlating curriculum to Texas TEKS and TAKS. I don't use the details - just the framework. I have a link below. If you go to this document it shows the reading stems for 6th grade standards - you can easily modify it for your grade. It is very similar to what I use. http://www.austinisd.org/academics/docs/TAKS_Stems_Reading_G6.pdf Hope this helps. Kat 3rd/TX ----- Original Message ----- From: "Maggie Dillier" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 2:46 PM Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Standardized reading tests + reading workshop > Kat, > You have given me some FABULOUS ideas for test preparation. I love the > idea > of integrating the questions into the normal read-aloud time. So you have > the kids themselves think of a question type (main idea, for example) that > fits with what you just read, and then *they* create the answer choices? > That's a great metacognitive approach. And you are so right that the > important part of test prep is the reviewing and discussing. > > More questions: Do you do a formal test prep unit at all? Do you have a > list > of the question types (summarizing, inferencing, etc.) and try to make > sure > they are all touched upon? I ask because I have a Time for Kids kit with > twelve types of skills and graphic organizers for each one, and I am a > little overwhelmed thinking about teaching all of them formally. I love > the > idea of sliding the questions in under the radar, but I would be afraid of > not teaching all the skills fully enough. (I'm a newish newbie!) > > Anyone else have input on test prep?? > ~Maggie > 5th/TX > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
