Testing

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Home : 2003 : May : 22

Testing
By Danyelle

Our district's beginning, mid, end of the year assessments include timed fluency in grades 1&2 as a criteria for proficiency. I don't know how I feel about it, but it's been done for as long as I've worked with the younger
grades. We don't do timed test on a regular basis and I always tell the kids they did a great job reading, reguardless. (as not to frustrate them) But, there is a correlation between reading rate & comprehension. So, I guess that's the point. Rate improves with practice. As the children are better decoders they read faster. I don't think you can actually drill them to improve the

scores. But, it is a marker to where they are.
I never thought to much about it.

Oh, and I agree reading at this age is suppose to be enjoyable. And they are getting the basics. But, I feel we over-kill in general with testing. Our district test: beginning, middle & end district made assessment, standardized achievement(Tera-Nova), the BAM and the State level test in grade 3. Those are in reading and math and they're adding a test for science. OVERKILL!!