This. Stop, just stop the worries and comparisons. Will we be talking about time of potty training next or first words next? |
^^^ THIS |
Depends on the school. DD's teacher told me they only test to grade level. |
| At our school they only test one step above grade level, so if 28 is the score for end of 2nd grade, they will only test to 30. You should ask. |
It is not supposed to work like this. The FCPS rule is that you test a child until he/she fails either the fiction or nonfiction OR at the end of the next school year. That said, I know some schools allow testing until a child fails (even if beyond the next school year) and some stop testing even before FCPS' stated testing end point. That doesn't make it right because it is not permitted by FCPS. |
| The test takes a long time and with so many kids, some schools stop sooner than others (30 vs 38). Overcrowding affects many facets of education. |
And guess what? It's not a race. Where your kid is in 3rd grade DRA means nothing. The best thing you can do as a parent who wants to raise good readers, is to read yourself. Kid's tend to value what they see valued at home. |
You need to chill because this kind of anxiety will be passed to your kid. |
| 38 but it seems arbitrary. He has classmates who seem more skilled but scored lower. Weary of the test obsession. |
People weary of the test obsession don't post on a thread that asked about test scores. They're doing other things. |
Funny..not anxious at all. I'm a former FCPS teacher who was trained in how to administer the DRA so I was just explaining how it works and why a school may test higher or lower than others, but that it technically isn't up to the school to so this. |
I don't think you need to be a bit worried, not a BIT, please, but I think your last question is one that is easily and happily answered: Read ALOUD to her beyond her reading level books that YOU really enjoy and relish. When you come to words you think she's not familiar with, quickly define them or use a few synonyms. Talk to her frequently about the books you're reading together not in a quizzing-ya way, but in a We Enjoy Talking About Books way. Make a conscious effort to improve your vocabulary and also expose her to new information and experiences. I've added in some fun science podcasts for my kids (I like Tumble and Brains On!) because I don't use a lot of scientific vocabulary, and this is one way for my children to hear it more frequently. I'm not even going to mention encouraging her to read. Obviously this is important for creating fluent readers, but this is already quite hyped up and I think the other half of the equation gets short shrift-- the more a kid knows and has been exposed to, the easier it is for her to make those mental connections when reading. Again, I am not writing this because I think a third-grader's DRA is of great significance in or outside of AAP (on its own), but because it does add joy (in my opinion) to parents' and kids' lives when we start labeling things, and talking about things more, and it's a cool way to help our kids with their reading without even cracking open a book! |
Thank you so much PP! |
| 38. That's where they stop testing in second. But I echo what many others have said - this isn't something to worry about. During the AAP screening we had a few meetings with the AART and she mentioned that the DRA levels in 3rd grade AAP can range from mid-2nd grade to 6th grade. They work with the kids to close whatever gaps they may have, and other kids have other gaps. |
| 38 but teacher said it could likely be higher but as other posters said, they don't test higher. |