In our district we modified the DRA2 testing schedule by establishing grade level ceilings. Although we test three times yearly, children are exempted from the testing if they have met the ceilings. The decision to do so was motivated by several circumstances. The new version is more rigorous and requires more thinking. However, the previous version had motivated teachers (along with all the pressure of test-manical society right now) to push children to levels where their test performance was very shaky, neglecting genre, author and broad reading in doing so. Reading results from other testing measures were not remotely in alignment. It is not that we expect all measures to yeild identical information, but when children who are deemed proficient with one measure are below basic with another, it does lead to one to question not just the validity of an instrument but the type of teaching spurred by it. With the DRA2, we felt teachers who might not otherwise include a strong focus on comprehension strategy work and writing in reaction or relation to reading would then be compelled to do so. Also, bless the children, let's find a way to lessen the testing load whenever possible an let teachers teach!
The fact that we do not test above the benchmark has been accepted by most teachers. We had some parental concerns, but provided a brochure explaining why we adopted the benchmarks and ceilings along with the new DRA2. We have other measures that show how 'high' kids are performing. I have been willing to field parent phone calls from around the district and have had only three (we are a district of approximately 2000 k-12 kids, if that gives any indication). We have been very firm on the position. Thus far, we are showing more alignment (and by that I simply mean not wildly differing results) with our measures. Best yet, our coaching staff is seeing more strategy instruction and wide reading. Lori Jackson District Literacy Coach and Mentor Todd County School District Box 87 Mission SD 5755 ----- Original message ----- From: kandrews-babcock <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group <[email protected]> Date: 2008, 02, Friday Of May 05:21 Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Do You Test Those Well Above Your Benchmark? > Mary, are you testing with DRA2 or the first DRA? DRA2 requires written > responses at that level, timed fluency and passing both fiction and > nonfiction to be considered independent. We've had kids that have passed a > high DRA at early grades (although never a 28 in grade 1! Impressive.) In > our district every child is required to be tested in Sept and May, so my > answer would be yes. I also am thinking of the information that you are > getting from the child to guide instruction. Perhaps if they were given a > level 30 - you may know better how to instruct...does that make any sense? > Kelly AB > > On 5/2/08 6:55 AM, "Mary Kendall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Let's say you have children who test at Level 28 or above at the end of > > first grade on the DRA. Do you test them again in second grade? They have > > already met your exiting benchmark of Level 28. I'm curious about how you > > all handle the pressures of time and testing. Should you simply leave it to > > the classroom teacher's discretion since he or she has worked with the child > > and knows how well they do read? Those really accomplished readers often > > handle the DRA with no trouble very early on. > > > > Mary > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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. > > _______________________________________________ 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.
