Standardized Testing Skills

Strategies, Techniques, Activities To Help Raise Students’ Scores, 2nd Edition

Guinevere Durham

The purpose of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 was to “drive broad gains in student achievement and to hold states and schools more accountable.” As early as third grade, students are required to master the grade curriculum while also becoming proficient in test taking skills. These young children now experience the stress of having to “pass” the test in order to be promoted (a process continued through high school graduation.). Standardized Testing Skills provides the materials that prepare teachers, parents and students for this undertaking.

This book is organized into four sections:

Concepts: An introduction to and explanation of the state required tests, including how to access the student’s state test guidelines, including practice tests.
Computation: A description of types of tests with emphasis on test vocabulary.
Application: The heart of the book; includes practical and proven techniques, strategies, and activities that guide teachers and parents in teaching test taking skills. Includes material on recognizing the child’s learning style and dealing with test anxiety.
STOP: A review with added tips and ideas.

R&L Education

Pages: 158 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-61048-994-2 • Hardback • February 2014 • $62.00 • (£48.00)

978-1-61048-995-9 • Paperback • February 2014 • $36.00 • (£30.00)

978-1-61048-996-6 • eBook • February 2014 • $34.00 • (£25.00)

Subjects: Study Aids / Study & Test-Taking Skills, Education / Testing & Measurement

Standardized Testing Skills

Strategies, Techniques, Activities To Help Raise Students’ Scores, 2nd Edition

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

The purpose of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 was to “drive broad gains in student achievement and to hold states and schools more accountable.” As early as third grade, students are required to master the grade curriculum while also becoming proficient in test taking skills. These young children now experience the stress of having to “pass” the test in order to be promoted (a process continued through high school graduation.). Standardized Testing Skills provides the materials that prepare teachers, parents and students for this undertaking.

This book is organized into four sections:
1. Concepts: An introduction to and explanation of the state required tests, including how to access the student’s state test guidelines, including practice tests.
2. Computation: A description of types of tests with emphasis on test vocabulary.
3. Application: The heart of the book; includes practical and proven techniques, strategies, and activities that guide teachers and parents in teaching test taking skills. Includes material on recognizing the child’s learning style and dealing with test anxiety.
4. STOP: A review with added tips and ideas.

Details

R&L Education

Pages: 158 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-61048-994-2 • Hardback • February 2014 • $62.00 • (£48.00)

978-1-61048-995-9 • Paperback • February 2014 • $36.00 • (£30.00)

978-1-61048-996-6 • eBook • February 2014 • $34.00 • (£25.00)

Subjects: Study Aids / Study & Test-Taking Skills, Education / Testing & Measurement

Author

Dr. Guinevere Durham, retired educator of 30 years, writes from three perspectives; an elementary principal, a classroom teacher, and a mother of six. Her doctoral practicum dealt with creating a program to teach elementary students test taking skills.

Table of Contents

Part l: Concepts
1. Test-Wiseness: What, When, Why, and How
2. The State Criterion Referenced Testing of Students
3. The Five Categories of Tests
Part ll: Computation
4. Construction of Test Items
5. Weekly Format and Sample Lesson Plans

Part III: Application
6. Techniques: The Anxiety Factor
7. Techniques: Format Familiarity
8. Styles of Learning
9. Following Directions
10. Guessing: Narrowing to Two Choices
11. Guessing: Judging Answers
12. Working Backward
13. Key Words
14. Selecting Multiple-Choice Answers
15. Pacing
16. Math: Key Words, Reading Signs, Estimating
17. Science and Social Studies
18. Maps. Graphs, Tables, Charts, and Diagrams
19. Comprehension
20. Sequence
21. Writing

Part IV: Stop
22. Everyone’s Role: teacher, Parent, Student
23. Wind Down and Wrap Up

Appendices
A Definitions of Testing Terms
B Web Sites of State Departments of Education
C Game Chart
D Suggested Weekly Lesson Plan
E Daily Lesson Plan
F Definitions of Test Directions

References
About the Author

Reviews

I am a homeschooling mom, and my son has to face testing every year by the school board in order to matriculate. The skills I am learning from Dr. Durham’s book will help my son face those tests without anxiety and will help him perform to the best of his abilities. We all want our children to do their best. This book can help. I recommend it for parents – not only homeschooling parents – teachers, and tutors.
— Chrystal Slosson, homeschooling mom

I enjoyed every one of the chapters. How true, everything the book says. All the samples and activities are very helpful. The author has caught the bull by the horn….Easy to read, enjoyable, and enlightening….Thank you for giving us such a wonderful tool to work with.
— Elena Duran, teacher, Academia San José Elementary School

An insightful and perceptive book written by a former teacher that intends to alleviate test anxiety in students so they do their best when answering them. Easy to read, the book keeps your interest from beginning to end, giving ideas of how to avoid apprehension-causing items when preparing tests. She does not stop at that, but her imaginative work keeps giving novel examples for the preparation of tests and ideas and hints for children on how to answer them. This is a book every teacher should read and keep as a 'Bible.'
— Dora Muñiz de Soler, Psy.D., psychologist, Academia San José Elementary School