Friday, March 21, 2008
FCAT & FAASD for ESE
Today I completed the last section of the Alternate Assesssment for my students working toward a Special Diploma and yesterday concluded the final session of the FCAT and NRT testing for my 3rd grade, standard diploma students. Because my students have IEPs with accomodations, I was able to read the tests to them. It was awful! To watch my students struggle with the questions, exhibit the inability to "fill in the bubble completely" and avoid stray marks that may be read as their answer... not even close! My students had no concept of working their problems out; they just guessed. For the reading portion, I had students finish the entire test faster than I could have read half of the questions. Because of my experience, I played around with questions similiar to the ones I read in the tests. I created a computer based version of the tests that I did in small groups and allowed students to do in a one on one setting. With students looking at the questions on the computer, presented with scratch paper and told to work the problems, they were more successful. For example one student who scored a 12% on the most recent Math Commmon Assessment, was given the same questions featured in the Common Assesment taken last month. On the exact same questions, he improved his score from a 3/24 to a 17/24 (21%). I will be using the results of my experience as defense for a computer based test and a technology based test prep.
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3 comments:
Did I read your posting correctly - you have students in 3rd grade with a diploma option choice already? I thought that wasn't supposed to be decided upon until the student enters transition between ages 14 and 16. How does that effect your students later on?
I have also seen giving students frequent practice tests that are paper and pencil assists them in being less frightened by the experience and their scores increase, as well. Good luck getting your students ready for those big tests next year.
Diploma choices have to be placed by 8th grade, however they can be decided as early as 1st. I currently have one 4th grader and one 3rd grader who are on special diploma now, a second 3rd grader who I just switched to special diploma and moved to an SVE classroom. Two of my second graders will be changed to special diploma before this year ends. It is sad, but even with full time one on one assistance, it is obvious that some kids (like mine) will never be able to achieve the criteria for a standard high school diploma. For my guys and girls, changing diploma options now is the right thing to do. They cannot pass the FCAT; to expect them to even take the test is like torturing them. The anxiety is overwhelming (for them and me).
We give lots of practice tests and in many different formats. I give them a peppermint candy as we begin each test and I have conditioned them to brain stimulating music and breathing exercises and inspite the fact that we practice/discuss tests presented orally, pencil to paper, scantron and computer-based, they still get aggressive, severly depressed or physically sick over FCAT and Common Assessments.
Why do you think they were more successful with the computer-based test? Do you think their improvements had to do with the fact that the test was on the computer or because they could work at their own pace in a one-on-one setting?
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