FCPS-Are you kids taking two very long tests not part of the curriculum-math and language arts?

[Anonymous]

Is this the Universal Screener tests we heard about at back to school? I haven't heard the term iReady.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this the Universal Screener tests we heard about at back to school? I haven't heard the term iReady.

Yes

[Anonymous]

How much did this screening tool cost FCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you ready the "scientific data" on the iready website you will see that in order to find the Lexile level for their passages, the put it into Microsoft word and let that tell the, the level. They say this- so next time you want to know your kids reading level, just type a few sentences from their book into word and ask it to tell you.... after all it is what your kids school system did.

What's wrong with that? Seems like a good way to determine lexile level, which indicates the difficulty of the text. Lexile isn't DRA.

[Anonymous]

I agree lexile isn't dra... So if this "screener" takes the place of DRA for 60% of the student population- how are the teachers appropriately leveling your child for reading

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree lexile isn't dra... So if this "screener" takes the place of DRA for 60% of the student population- how are the teachers appropriately leveling your child for reading

The DRA is familiar, but it's not perfect. There are reasons to criticize it, and other school districts use other metrics.

If the iready test is a good one, teachers will adapt and use the information it gives. There aren't many reviews of it online, some are positive and some are negative.

[Anonymous]

Ever feel like our kids are just lab rats? Universal screened (iReady), eCART, SOL, DRA, ... when do teachers get to teach and extend learning units? If a particular class is excited about frogs, it would be great if a teacher could capitalize on that and create extensions that engage the students further in multiple disciplines (e.g., math, reading, science, etc.). Instead, they're always having to stick to a pre-programmed regimine lest the testing schedule for some big data educational entity be thrown off. Or at least, it feels that way. I like analyzing data, and I understand benchmarks provide useful info, but there seems to be so much in addition to classroom tests, that the testing seems excessive.

[Anonymous]

The DRA is a reading comprehension and writing test. Is the I-ready test similar?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not ask their teachers? Why wasn't it your first instinct to ask at school rather than here? Sorry, I honestly don't mean to sound snarky, I just always wonder, when this kind of "What was my child talking about?" question comes up, the first stop is here instead of the school. Here, you'll get suppositions and probably some misinformation, and then a lot of opinion about the evils of testing etc., etc.....

I can tell you why. Because teachers and principals don't want parents meddling in their business and make sure parents know this subtly if you go around asking these questions.

I have never had this experience, and my kids come first so if I was treated that way I promise you it would only happen once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They better not be included as part of the student's grade

Even if it were what is the issue with your child being graded on information they should already know. The teachers are not the enemy, I have had one bad experience in 11 years and that teacher was horrible, I made it very clear to the Administration that her bad behavior better not ever impact my child again or the next time I start in the Superintendent's office, not the ES Office. Problem was solved. There was no negative reporcussions and I got along with the administration without any issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much did this screening tool cost FCPS?

I believe it was about $2 million, but Ill have to go back and check in that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ever feel like our kids are just lab rats? Universal screened (iReady), eCART, SOL, DRA, ... when do teachers get to teach and extend learning units? If a particular class is excited about frogs, it would be great if a teacher could capitalize on that and create extensions that engage the students further in multiple disciplines (e.g., math, reading, science, etc.). Instead, they're always having to stick to a pre-programmed regimine lest the testing schedule for some big data educational entity be thrown off. Or at least, it feels that way. I like analyzing data, and I understand benchmarks provide useful info, but there seems to be so much in addition to classroom tests, that the testing seems excessive.

As a teacher, one positive I see in the screener is that it should eliminate the need to administer the DRA to every student. Each year I lose hours of instruction over a good month or so in the spring administering the DRA. I look forward to gaining some back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ever feel like our kids are just lab rats? Universal screened (iReady), eCART, SOL, DRA, ... when do teachers get to teach and extend learning units? If a particular class is excited about frogs, it would be great if a teacher could capitalize on that and create extensions that engage the students further in multiple disciplines (e.g., math, reading, science, etc.). Instead, they're always having to stick to a pre-programmed regimine lest the testing schedule for some big data educational entity be thrown off. Or at least, it feels that way. I like analyzing data, and I understand benchmarks provide useful info, but there seems to be so much in addition to classroom tests, that the testing seems excessive.

As a teacher, one positive I see in the screener is that it should eliminate the need to administer the DRA to every student. Each year I lose hours of instruction over a good month or so in the spring administering the DRA. I look forward to gaining some back.

Is it a comparable test though? The DRA has a lot of written responses required. Is this test similar?

[Anonymous]

As a teacher, I totally understand the need for instructional time. I wonder what the price comparison between the Universal screener and a sub day for every teacher to administer the DRA or even the would be. I personally get a lot of information when I test my kids myself. Nonverbal body language, fluency information, the wait time they need, confidence level and I just can't see this "screener" replicating any of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, I totally understand the need for instructional time. I wonder what the price comparison between the Universal screener and a sub day for every teacher to administer the DRA or even the would be. I personally get a lot of information when I test my kids myself. Nonverbal body language, fluency information, the wait time they need, confidence level and I just can't see this "screener" replicating any of that.

Don't you get a lot of that information when you meet with the children in reading groups? I imagine you could probably gauge each student's DRA level accurately just from class.