How to "Excel" at Benchmark Assessment

CTAP Region IV Administrator Workshop #3

Activity B:  Class Analysis

 

Team B-4

Download the Benchmark Analyzer file.  Click on Class Analysis.

Open the Excel spreadsheet on one or two adjacent computers.  Open the wiki on a third computer.  Everyone on the team should contribute ideas. Choose a different scribe as the team moves from one station to another.  Click on the edit button above to get started typing in the wiki.  Click on the save button below when you finish.   Once you've saved, click on the sidebar over to the right of the screen to view how other teams have answered.

1. Review the Strand Analysis results for the five language arts strands. Which ones are you concerned about and why?  Discuss how the strands are weighted on the exam.

We're concerned about written conventions and strategies for writing because of the poor percentile scores in those 2 areas.

2. If you wanted to raise test scores, where would you put the focus to show the greatest impact?

We'd focus on written conventions because there are 13 questions and it's in an area of low achievement.

3. Looking at the spreadsheet data, choose a standard that concerns you. Now, look at the actual test questions booklet to see how these standards are tested.  What new information does it give you about what students know/don't know?

1.5 in writing conventions is of concern.   Perhaps the children have not learned this type of flow charting before.

4. You are one month out from the CST.  How could class time best be used?  Record your ideas and strategies.

We'd focus on reading comprehension and writing conventions.   Main ideas and expository text are both areas of weakness.  Therefore we could focus on writing expository text in order to maximize our time.