ELA exam

April showers bring ---well a month full of testing. As the end of the school year is quickly approaching us, citywide testing is the topic of discussions. I had an opportunity to sit down wit a fourth grade teacher and test grader who gave me her thoughts about the ELA.

As a teacher, how do you think the test was?

The state ELA exam was fair. Day 1 was the reading comprehension part had several passages to read with several follow up questions for each passage. The passages ranged from non fiction to poetry to narrative procedure to fiction. Students reading at or above grade level should do very well...however due to the states norming procedures that is not always the case.



How did you prepare your students to succeed on the exam?

With lots of test prep. The students were prepared, however the most growth is always seen in the students that are approaching or below level, especially if it is an election year.


What are your thoughts on testing? Do you think standardized tests are the most effective way to measure student’s academic performance?

I do not put much faith in the result of the test due to the norming. I have seen students that were not fluent readers receive a 3 and above average students receive a 3 as well. So when I give marks on the report card my standards are much higher than the states. A students grade may not reflect the score they received on the state exam. Day 2 and 3 of the test is written responses and are marked by teachers. Some of the marking may be done by early childhood teachers, ELL teachers, anyone that the principal chooses to send. I have gone to the marking several years. I can tell you marking these exams is very subjective, thankfully it does not carry as much weight as
day 1(which makes up about 60% of the grade).