Friday, August 29, 2003

Basic skills testing to begin

Fulton County students in grades 2, 3, 5, and 8 will take the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) the week of September 5, with results expected back from the testing company in November.

The Georgia Department of Education requires the tests for students in grades 3, 5, and 8, and allows for either a spring or fall administration.In 2003-2004, Fulton also will give the tests to second graders.

Fulton County schools opted for a fall testing in order to have results back from the testing company in time to make sound instructional decisions.In addition, students take several other tests in the spring, and adding the ITBS was not thought to be in the best interest of the students.A fall testing helps remove some of the testing burden from elementary and middle schools in the spring, allows for more efficient management from the testing office, and prevents "test burnout" among students.

The Iowa Tests of Basic Skills are norm-referenced tests (NRT).Scores are used to compare the performance of Fulton's students with the performance of students in a national sample who are in the same grade and who took the tests at the same point in the school year.The ITBS is not a measure of what a child should know in his/her current grade level, but rather a measure of what children have learned over their entire time in school.The fall testing does not place students at a disadvantage because their scores are compared with scores from other students and schools across the nation taking the tests at the same time of year.

The following tips can help parents prepare their child for the upcoming tests:

· Make sure your child attends school regularly and on time.Avoid scheduling doctor's or dentist's appointments duringtesting times.

· Give your child encouragement.Praise him/her for the things done well throughout the year.A child who is afraid of failing is more likely to make a mistake.

· Ensure that your child has a well-rounded diet.A healthy body leads to a healthy, active mind.Make sure the child has a good breakfast on testing days, and everyday.

· Keep the lines of communication open between home and school.Parents and teachers should work together to benefit the child.

· Make sure your child is well rested on school days.Children who are tired are less likely to pay attention in class or to handle the demands of class work and tests.

· Try not to be overly anxious about test scores.Too much emphasis on test scores can be upsetting to children.

· Don't judge a child on the basis of a single test score.Test scores are NOT perfect measures of what a child can do.There are many other things that might influence a test score.

· Follow normal routines.Interruptions of normal routines may affect your child's performance.

· If your child wears an assistive device, such as glasses or hearing aids, be sure he/she remembers to bring it and wear it during all testing sessions.