It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got that Swing ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

(NAEP 2007 Reading Results) 33% of 4th graders are performing at or above Proficient Level in Reading (NAEP 2007 Reading Results) ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Why Standardized Tests Don’t Get Good Data Today’s Situation Why Standardized Tests Don’t Get Good Data ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

First Tier of Problems 50% of students have to fail. Tests don’t reveal whether the student knows the material or not. They’re biased Linguistically culturally They have arbitrary cut- scores ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

More Problems They happen in a vacuum No teachable moments Stupid questions Testing companies make mistakes They’re one-shot deals ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Even Worse! Ideologically driven rather than educationally They focus on a few easy to measure items to the detriment of other measures, accountability and important things to learn Of the 20 learning outcomes in the goals for 9th grade science, only 6 can be measured (Handle with care) ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Even Worse! They lack predictive value They don’t measure the most important things in life – compassion, creativity They define children as winners and losers Too narrow Of the 20 learning outcomes in the goals for 9th grade science, only 6 can be measured (Handle with care) ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Worse Still! They take the decision making out of the hands of those who can make the most difference ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Even Worse Still! Money spent diverts money from things that contribute directly to learning. ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Alberta Spends $12 million dollar per year on the Provincial Achievement testing (grades 3, 6, 9, and 12) as compared to $4 million per year on curriculum ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Ontario Spends between $50 and $59 million per year on testing (although Ontario shaved $5.2 million off their budget by eliminating one test) ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Worst of All: They’re taking the focus off what we’re trying to do. With the known consequences of testing, we aren’t preparing students for what we need in the future: critical thinkers, problem solvers, and effective communicators. ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Nifty Ways to Improve Test Scores Put all ESL in Special Ed Merge schools so that baseline changes Put all “dumb” kids in one class Lower cut-off scores Suspend kids so scores won’t factor in Encourage low-scoring kids to drop out Cheat ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Goals and Objectives of Assessment Gather evidence on what a learner can do Determine individual strengths and needs Make informed decisions Provide feedback to the learner Describe growth and development Communicate progress to stakeholders ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

The Best Assessments Give students a chance to choose Give them latitude Push them to do their best Have high expectations Show what they CAN do ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Looking at Data ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Using Data Getting From A to Z ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

No functional ability to write Level 1a  No functional ability to write Standard How it Looks Writing is indecipherable or consists of letter like forms ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

No functional ability to write Level 1a  No functional ability to write Standard Learn functionality of print. Learn to copy. Learn set expressions Labels, LEA Picture books How it Looks Writing is indecipherable or consists of letter like forms ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Able to communicate minimally with learned material. Level 1b  Able to communicate minimally with learned material. Standard Know functions of literacy, alphabet, directionality, spacing. Personal Information Writes words and short sentences. How it Looks Writes phrases, simple sentences. Few mechanics ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Able to communicate minimally with learned material Level 1b  Able to communicate minimally with learned material Standard Know functions of literacy, alphabet, directionality, spacing. Personal Information Writes words and short sentences. Memorize set expressions Learn ocabulary Practice writing/copying LEA Frame Sentences Environmental Print How it Looks Writes phrases, simple sentences. Few mechanics ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Sufficient control to meet survival needs Level 2  Sufficient control to meet survival needs Standard Simple writing on concrete and familiar topics, basic vocab., common structures and tenses. Conventional spelling. Punctuation. Organize ideas. How it Looks Invented spelling. Some cohesion. Some complex sentences. Many errors. ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Sufficient control to meet survival needs Level 2  Sufficient control to meet survival needs Standard Simple writing on concrete and familiar topics, basic vocab., common structures and tenses. Conventional spelling. Punctuation. Organize ideas. Read simple texts Build fluency and understanding Increase vocabulary How it Looks Invented spelling. Some cohesion. Some complex sentences. Many errors. ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Sufficient control to meet limited practical needs Level 3  Sufficient control to meet limited practical needs Standard Express complex thoughts. Expanded vocabulary Communicate across the curriculum. Cohesive paragraphs. Varied sentence structure. How it Looks Good control of grammar. Multi- paragraphs. Wide range of vocabulary. Frequent errors. ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Sufficient control to meet limited practical needs Level 3  Sufficient control to meet limited practical needs Standard Express complex thoughts. Expanded vocabulary Communicate across the curriculum. Cohesive paragraphs. Varied sentence structure. Familiar topics Guided reading Sentence combining Dictation Guided writing Reading beyond the classroom How it Looks Good control of grammar. Multi- paragraphs. Wide range of vocabulary. Frequent errors. ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Level 4  Standard How it Looks Sufficient control to meet most needs and academic demands Standard Complex sentences/ complex thoughts Control over grammar. Write independently for academic purposes. Multiple paragraphs. Effective organization How it Looks Approximates native speakers’ writing. Errors persist but more complex and less easy to fix or unravel. ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Increase control over structures Increase speed in reading Level 4  Sufficient control to meet most needs and academic demands Standard Complex sentences/ complex thoughts Control over grammar. Write independently for academic purposes. Multiple paragraphs. Effective organization Increase control over structures Increase speed in reading Increase writing and reading vocabulary How it Looks Approximates native speakers’ writing. Errors persist but more complex and less easy to fix or unravel. ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Ability to create with language. Standard Level 5  Ability to create with language. Standard Write with precision. Read at normal rate of speed Read subject matter with comprehension. How it Looks Writes with a “foreign accent.” Some errors in difficult grammatical structures. ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Increase control over structures Level 5  Ability to create with language. Standard Write with precision. Read at normal rate of speed Read subject matter with comprehension. Increase control over structures Increase speed in reading, increase vocabulary Practice taking accurate notes Extensive reading How it Looks Writes with a “foreign accent.” Some errors in difficult grammatical structures. ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Proficient for professional and college expectations Level 6  Proficient for professional and college expectations Standard Write effectively with accuracy. Mastery over syntax. Control. Errors don’t interfere with comprehension How it Looks Satisfies all requirements of school. Succeeds in all-English medium. ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018

Don’t sacrifice the creativity and the fun ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5/23/2018