In the reading classes at the end of each theme, students are given theme tests based on the skills they were supposed to have learned throughout the theme. I have had multiple opportunities to give these theme tests. One thing I learned while student teaching is that in the regular classroom the skills test is used as a review and then the students are given the major theme test. However, in the resource room the students are only given the skills test because they complete writing tests in writing classes and it is to be more focused on the specific skills.
When administering the test, I could not help the students extensively. All of the students I work with have accommodations on their IEP that allow me to read the test to them and/or explain any unknown words to them, as long as it does not give them the answer. This particular assessment was easy to administer. It helped that the students had been pre-exposed to these tests previously and were familiar with their style and format. Also, all of the skills that are covered on the assessment are skills that we are continuously working on when we read stories and at other times in class.
I think that these tests provide valid information. The test is broken up by the specific skills so the students do not have to continually try and negotiate what they are to be doing because the directions are the same for a set of problems. I also think that the information is valid because the skills that are being tested are skills that the students need to know how to do. If the student cannot do well on the test then that gives information that the student might need the skill(s) to be retaught.
The test is simple to score and understand whether or not the student has met the predetermined criteria. The scoring chart provides a quick reference to see how the student is doing compared to how they should be doing. There is a scoring chart that is attached to the front of the test that looks like the following.
Skill |
Possible Score |
Criteria Score |
Student Score |
Text Organization |
5 |
4 |
|
Categorize and Classify |
5 |
4 |
|
Vocabulary |
10 |
8 |
|
Spelling |
10 |
8 |
|
Grammar |
5 |
4 |