Dare I say the problem with the test is not another story, but the main edition? We have no such norms in place. With the old DRA, we saw our kiddos scoring in higher numbers in proficient and advanced categories, and an incredible drop in these same number with both of the standardized measures in place here. With the new DRA2, last year we saw a much closer alignment. I don't expect them to ever be side by side, as they are uniquely different measures, but with a few exceptions, children at advanced and proficient levels on the DRA2 maintained those levels on other measures. The same could be said for our below basic and basic kiddos. Kids who had trouble with writing sometimes score better on the standardized measure. Kids who shine more with the one to one attention sometimes score lower. It is not totally apples and oranges, more like oranges and grapefruit...
Lori Jackson District Literacy Coach and Mentor Todd County School District Box 87 Mission SD 5755 ----- Original message ----- From: Kathleen B. Linker <[email protected]> To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies EmailGroup <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, April 04, 2009 11:54 AM Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] DRA > I think that the main problem is the test itself but that's another story > that I could fill books with my gripes about it. This year the Reading test > was re-normed (well actually last year's tests also but we didn't receive > those results until January of this year). We had students who scored in the > 69th percentile still made a Level 2 (Level 3 is considered Grade Level with > Level 4 being the highest). According to our Gateways, a student with a > Level 2 at the end of third and fifth grade are automatically retained unless > the parents go through the appeals process, which usually lets most Level 2's > go on to the next grade if grades, attendence, other testing data is in place > to support the decision. We had academically-gifted students (for math) who > didn't pass the test. So, of course "the problem is 2nd grade and the > assessments" and "we aren't teaching them to read" etc... I won't even take > up everyone's time with that one. > > Kate in NC > > "What children can do together today, they can do alone tomorrow." - Lev > Vygotsky > ________________________________________ > From: Kristin Mitchell [[email protected]] > Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 6:03 PM > To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] DRA > > That's interesting you say that. My county in Colorado found a strong > correlation between how our kiddos tested on our state test and how they > tested on the DRA2 in grade 3. (unlike the lack of a correlation they found > with Dibles) > > Kristin Mitchell/4th/CO > "Be the change you want to see in the world" > -Ghandi > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Kathleen B. Linker <[email protected]> > > Sandy, > > We are actually phasing out DRAs for the same reasons that you mentioned plus > the fact that there isn't a correlation between the DRA levels for students > when they leave 2nd grade and when they take our state's standardized test in > 3rd grade. > > > ********************************************************************************************** > IMPORTANT: In compliance with federal law, the Rowan-Salisbury School System > administers all > educational programs, employment activities and admissions without > discrimination because of race, religion, > national or ethnic origin, color, age, military service, disability, or > gender, except where exemption is > appropriate and allowed by law. The contents of this email and any > attachments are confidential. They are > intended for the named recipient(s) only. If you have received this email in > error, please notify the system > manager or the sender immediately and do > not disclose the contents to anyone or make copies thereof. > *** eSafe scanned this email for viruses, vandals, and malicious content. *** > ********************************************************************************************** > > > _______________________________________________ > 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.
