SarahGoodwin_Journal2

====When I visited my third grade classroom today, the students were taking a test about the story they read in their “Reading Street” books. The students read and discuss these stories as a class. These stories are used to promote comprehension and vocabulary. There is a list of vocabulary words that the students had been studying and working with over the past few days. This particular story was about how an Indian tribe pushed the sky up higher. This ties in nicely with their Social Studies unit on Native Americans. The teacher got the test from the “Reading Street” accompanying test book. The test consisted of 20 multiple choice questions about the vocabulary and content of the story. On the last page of the test there were two short answer questions. One was asking about the realistic and fantasy aspects of the story and one asked for an opinion. This is a routine test that happens every time they read a story from the “Reading Street” book.==== ====The classroom is set up into four rows of desks facing the center of the room. There are also three tables for center work in the classroom. When it is time to take a reading test, there are a few students who get distracted easily who sit at the tables instead of their desks. The students at their desks put up their privacy folders so other students cannot see their tests and they will not be tempted to look at other students’ tests. During the test the teacher was walking around answering questions of students that raise their hands. I was sitting at the table with a student who has trouble concentrating and read the test with her without giving her hints or answers. This student has an IEP and needs help with test-taking strategies. When the students finish the test they stay at their seats and read a book silently until everyone else finishes.==== ====I think that this is a relatively effective way to test students on their vocabulary and comprehension of a story. I know that multiple choice questions are not the best way to evaluate true understanding of a concept, but I think that for vocabulary and plot questions they are efficient. Students who know the answer will recognize it right away and students who do not know the answer will not be able to guess very well. The questions at the end got at the concepts that were being assessed. The students had been practicing recognizing real and fantasy in stories and this was the most important aspect of the test. The way the test was administered was effective because everyone was able to take it without distraction and the necessary accommodations were made. It might have been better if the teacher made up the test herself, but the book tests are relatively effective.====