Here are some ideas I have used: When some of my students struggled, I would allow them to read the story to me. For both the weekly test and the holistic, I showed the kids how to use a highlighter to find main idea. I had them use sticky notes for parts they didn't understand, so I could do error analysis. I had them un-staple the test so they could have the questions next to the story so they didn't have to keep flipping pages while they used the "look back" strategy. If you are confident she is a good reader, I would meet with her and discuss her choices. She may not understand how to choose the best answer and may see one or two as possible choices. Some of the holistic ones at the second grade level are very long and she may not have developed enough stamina, yet. She may be bored senseless by the tediousness of the weekly test.
If the holistic score is the benchmark for success for the principal, the above suggestions may lead to greater success on the very meaningless weekly/holistic tests. Hope this helps. I truly empathize with your situation. On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 5:16 AM, Nancy Ehrlich <[email protected]>wrote: > I was required to use the Harcourt series and found the end of story > tests useless. (I'm the only one using Reading Workshop this year, but I > still give the theme tests -- don't ask.) > > Many of the students did well on the weekly tests and I knew they were > remedial readers. They were good at guessing. On the other hand, some of my > strongest readers would come to me and "argue" why more than one choice > could be correct. Also, I re-wrote all of the "essays" because the ones > included didn't require any meaningful analysis or require the students to > infer or draw conclusions. > > I will post some more ideas in another response. > > On Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 1:27 PM, Kendra Carroll < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> "I'm a 2nd grade teacher in a low SES urban school. I'm stuck on a >> student. She has good decoding skills and comprehension. She is a DRA >> instructional >> >> M (independent M)." >> >> >> >> Could it be that she is more of a global thinker? What about a strategy >> like UNRAVVEL? I can tell you more about it if you need me to. >> >> >> >> Kendra Carroll >> >> >> >> Email Disclaimer: Please be advised that the contents of this message >> and any reply may be subject to disclosure under North Carolina law. >> This communication is for use by the intended recipient and contains >> information that may be privileged, confidential, or copyrighted under >> applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby >> formally notified that any use, copying, or distribution of this >> communication, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Please >> advise the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete this message >> and any attachments without retaining a copy. This communication does >> not constitute consent to the use of sender's contact information for >> direct marketing purposes or for transfers of data to third parties. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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. >> >> > > > -- > Nancy > -- Nancy _______________________________________________ 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.
