Our newest assessment tool is called MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) testing. This testing helps you individualize instruction and analyze programs being used. Our second grade team piloted this program last year and third grade is going to be participating in MAP testing this coming school year. For third grade, we are going to have MAP testing at the beginning of the year and in the middle of the year. The testing is done on the computer and you can choose which areas you would like to assess. We are going to be doing math and reading. The reports generated from MAP will show you where your students are performing. We can use this information to form tutoring groups, small group instruction, enrichment groups, etc.
Second grade really liked this testing last year and they (as well as third grade) is going to be taking the testing to the next level. We really want to analyze the information to better teach the students and individualize their instruction. We think this will really improve learning for our students.
For more information on MAP testing, click here.
Other basic assessment tools include STAR testing which shows reading levels and Accelerated Reader. Third grade doesn't do much with AR testing, but some teachers do run reports with it. I like to send home STAR reports to my students' parents so they can see grade level equivalents for their reading. I don't place a whole lot of emphasis on these reports, but I think it is a good guide for them to know what types of books they should help their children pick out. I think it is a good starting place for kids to pick out books themselves, but I also want them to know whether or not a book is hard/too hard.
