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 Benchmark Testing-4th grade Math? 
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Our county has just started Benchmark testing and we noticed suprisingly low scores across the board on the 4th grade math test. Those same students last year performed well on the third grade math. Yes, it is a different grade and different COS, but we are thinking there is something fishy going on, as the entire county is seeing a difference...Could the state be changing the grading scale at the end of the year to have the scores align with third and fifth grades????Who knows?

If your county is using benchmark testing, did your county notice significantly lower 4th grade math scores?

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Leigh Anne Frye


Wed Jan 31, 2007 3:28 pm
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So much depends on who wrote your bench mark questions and whether or not they were aligned with the curriculum being taught. Teachers need to know what is on the bench mark so they know what to address before the test. Remember that it is important to start with the end in mind. What do you want the children to know at the bench mark time? What do you need to do as a teacher to help them learn the material? This is not teaching to the test, but the teaching must be aligned with the test and the test must be based on the skills or knowledge you want children to master.

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Jackie Shaw


Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:59 pm
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Benchmarking probably helps raise test scores, but I just hate to see even more time given to the Testing Gods. Oh! The sacrifice these deities require!

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"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." M. Twain


Thu Feb 01, 2007 7:11 am
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We also participate in Benchmark testing and Jackie is right on the money. Who wrote your benchmark questions and did they adhere to the county pacing guide? Or more importantly, is your school and your county using the same pacing guide? Our school uses a Benchmark test that covers the entire SCOS; therefore, at the midyear our students should be around the 50% mark. Is this the best way? I don't think so and that is why we are now using ClassScape as our method of assessment.

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Stephanie Williams


Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:07 am
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If teachers follow their curriculum maps in our county then students should be prepared for their benchmark tests. We have trouble getting students to take these tests seriously. If they don't take them seriously then how can the results be reliable?

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Neil Atkins


Thu Feb 01, 2007 3:38 pm
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Stephanie, Can you tell me more about ClassScape? What is it and where can I find out more about it?

LA

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Leigh Anne Frye


Fri Feb 02, 2007 11:33 am
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Classscape is an online assessment tool that is aligned with the NCSCOS. It is the result of a partnership between DPI and NCSU. Teachers in our system have been trained to use classscape. We're just now scratching the surface of what we can do with this thing. Here's the link:

http://classscape.ncsu.edu/

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Neil Atkins


Fri Feb 02, 2007 2:18 pm
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Thanks, Neil. I will look into this over the weekend...may have more questions later!

LA

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Leigh Anne Frye


Fri Feb 02, 2007 3:21 pm
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John,
Benchmark testing I believe is a good thing if it is used wisely. Good bench mark testing is short and focused. Good benchmark testing will give the teacher and student feedback on what needs to be reinforced. The problem now is that we test so much that students do not take it serious and the results are meaningless.

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Jeremiah McCluney


Fri Feb 02, 2007 3:35 pm
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Leigh Anne,
Is a tool developed by NCSU to help teachers with formative assessments or as I like to say (diagnostic/prescriptive) in order to evaluate the effectiveness of a particular instructional strategy in order to target and improve instruction. The link is http://classscape.ncsu.edu/
Its best quality is that if all teachers are teaching the same goals and objectives wouldn't it make sense to assess all the students with the same assessment? Most students have the same type of assessment at the end of the year. I realize that all students are not on the same level, but sometimes, when a teacher teaches a concept and no one seems to get it, this could help spot those situations. If a teacher is very strong in a particular area this could help identify it and collaboration could be the prescription. We need to share our talents not horde them.

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Stephanie Williams


Fri Feb 02, 2007 3:49 pm
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Do you guys know when the 7th and 8th grade Lang Arts test will be online with ClassScape. The website said January 15 but we havn't had any luck setting up assessments for these grades. I emailed ClassScape last week but havn't heard back yet....

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Heath Belcher


Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:44 pm
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My county is similar to Neil's. There is a pacing guide that outlines what goals and objectives are to be taught each nine weeks. The benchmark tests are developed to test what has been taught.

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Amy Hord


Mon Feb 05, 2007 3:49 pm
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