The Genre of Test Reading: Integrating Test Preparation into the Reading Workshop Using the Mini-Lesson Framework Compiled by Candice Johnson, Grades 3-5

The Genre of Test Reading:

Integrating Test Preparation into the Reading Workshop Using the Mini-Lesson Framework

Compiled by Candice Johnson, Grades 3-5 Literacy Coach, Fall 2011

Mentor Texts 2

Mentor Texts 3

“We’re not teaching to the test; we’re teaching READERS how to think and apply strategies in order to be strategic, successful text takers.”

-Greene & Melton, 2007

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Three Fundamental Beliefs About Preparing Students for Testing

Successful test takers must first be smart readers.

Successful test takers must be able to translate the unique language of the test (test genre reading).

Learning to be a successful test taker can be fun!

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Expose Students to All Genres Found on Test

Fiction

Nonfiction

Poetry / Prose

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#1 PRIORTIY…BUILD STUDENTS’ STAMINA WITH LOTS OF TIME FOR INDEPENDENT READING!

Developing Strategies That Help Readers Become Test Takers

Mini-Lesson Ideas

Use these mini-lessons and anchor chart ideas to

prepare ALL your students for the Test Reading

Genre.

(Depending on your learners and their grade-level, some of these mini-

lessons may not be necessary. The sequence in which you teach them is

also dependent on your learners.)

Developing Strategies That Help Readers Become Test TakersDo I know how thinking while I read will

make the test easier?

Do I know how activating my schema will make the test easier?

Do I know how to find and use the author’s clues to make the test easier?

Do I know how to find and use the directions to make the test easier?

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Developing Strategies That Help Readers Become Test Takers

Do I know how to use rereading to make the test easier?

Do I know how to read the special structure of the test genre?

Do I know how to eliminate answers that don’t match to make the test easier?

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Anchor Chart—All Test Reading Strategies

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Successful Test Takers are Readers 1st!

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Activate Schema12

Use the test author’s clues 13

Find and read the test directions

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Think about the text structure/format in the test reading genre

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Eliminate (get rid of) answers that don’t make sense on multiple-choice questions

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Recognize Test Talk

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Other Useful Anchor Charts for

Preparing Students for the Test Genre

Charts created from compiled information from Strategies That Work, Harvey & Goudvis, 2007

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Test Reading vs. Real Reading

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Filling in Answer Bubbles for Multiple-Choice Questions

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Answering Short-Answer Questions

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Recognize the difference between literal and inferential questions

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When I’m done with the test…

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Strategies for Finishing the Test Within the Time Limit

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Resources to Help You Find Sample Test Passages and Sample Test Questions to Use within the Mini-Lesson Framework

Interactive Read-Alouds by Linda Hoyt See Infusing Test Language/Questions at the end of each lesson Weave the use of these questions prior to the test for test

preparation and after the test to develop strategic test takers/readers all year long.

Released Test Items from Wisconsin and Other States Visit www.dpi.wi.us for the Wisconsin Released Items and

administer the practice test to all your students prior to taking the WKCE.

Google other states to obtain more released items (most very similar to Wisconsin) to use for mini-lesson/guided practice passages.

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http://www.dpi.wi.us/

Sample Pages from Interactive Read-Alouds

Use Following Slides as Suggested Mini-Lesson Ideas That

Meet the Need of Your Students (As Needed)

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Finding the Main Idea in Test Selections: Utilizing Inferring and Determining Importance

Mini-Lesson Ideas

Finding the Main Idea in Test Selections:Utilizing Inferring and Determining Importance

Can I decide what is important in a picture and use this information to find the main idea?

Do I remember how to identify the main idea of a poem?

Can I find and understand main idea test talk?

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Sample Main Idea Test Questions

What is the main idea of this story?

Which sentence from the story best states its main idea?

What is this passage mainly about?

What does the author of this passage want the reader to know?

What is this story mostly about?

Which best states the main idea of ______________?

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Identifying Author’s Intent/Purpose in Test Selections

Mini-Lesson Ideas

Identifying Author’s Intent /Purpose in Test Selections

Do I remember how to identify the author’s purpose for writing a specific text? (entertain, persuade, inform, instruct, describe)

Can I find and understand author’s intent test talk?

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Sample Author’s Intent / PurposeTest Questions about the Whole Passage

The author most likely wrote this passage to …

The poet most likely wrote this poem to…

The author both entertains and informs the reader by…

What was the author’s main purpose for writing this article?

The author probably wrote this article in order to…

The author probably wrote this poem in order to…

The author’s purpose in writing this passage was most likely to…

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Sample Author’s Intent / PurposeTest Questions about Parts of the Passage

The author included the last paragraph because it…

The author included the first two paragraphs in this passage in order to…

In the last paragraph the author uses words that…

The reason the author uses the phrase _______________ is to…

Why does the author use words like _________ or __________?

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Studying Words in Test SelectionsMini-Lesson Ideas

Studying Words in Test Selections

Do I remember how word parts help me spell and understand the meaning of a word?

Can I find and understand word study test talk?

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Sample Word StudyTest Questions

In paragraph two, the word…means…

In which word does re- mean the same as in reread?

Which word is the root word for…?

In which word does –ment mean the same as it does in the word settlement?

In the third stanza, the word ___________ means…

Read the definition entry above. Which definition matches the way the word “drew” is used in the following sentence:

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Fostering Poetic KnowledgeMini-Lesson Ideas

Fostering Poetic Knowledge

Do I remember and understand the conventions of poetry? (white space, lines, line breaks, stanzas,

similies, rhyme scheme [aabb, abca, abab], rhythm, free verse)

Can I find and understand poetry test talk?

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Sample Poetry Test Questions

In the fifth, stanza, the poem’s words gives the feeling of…

Which line tells of _______________________?

Which of the following is a theme of the poem?

In the third stanza, the words, “armed with nothing but tears and poetry” suggest that…

In lines thirteen and fourteen, the speaker suggests that…

The speaker is complaining of…

What is the rhyme pattern used in the poem ______________?

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Inferring to Build Meaning inTest Selections

Mini-Lesson Ideas

Inferring to Build Meaning inTest Selections

Do I remember how to make an inference?

Do I understand how dialogue can help me infer character traits?

Can I understand inferring test talk?

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Sample Inferring Test Questions

What does the word ______________ mean?

How did _____________ probably feel as she walked home?

In line two, what does ______________ mean?

When ____________ saw the letter was an invitation to a pool party, she felt…

In line eight, what does the author suggest Tara will do next?

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Inferring “TEST TALK”-- Key Words to Know in Test Questions

hint

suggest

idea presented

felt

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“TEST TALK”– In Questions

passage = story, text

states = says, said

mostly about = main idea/theme

takes place = setting

stanza

line

paragraph

speaker

Not = except (causes the reader to think backwards, all but one mentality )Which of these strategies is

not helpful to a reader?Which is not a main idea in

this story?All of the following describe

___________ except:

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“TEST TALK”-- In Answer Choices

explain tell about introduce

teach persuade compare

amuse entertain reveal

prove tell readers how define

give information frighten summarize

give instructions convince warn

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“TEST TALK”-- In Answer Choices

express a concern show

advertise demonstrate

negotiate give an example

influence provide suspense

inquire make you laugh

point out show how to…

be humorous help understand

inform describe

encourage the reader to…

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Bibliography of Resources Used to Aid in Teaching the Test Reading GenreTest Talk: Integrating Test Preparation into the

Reading Workshop by Amy H. Greene & Glennon Doyle Melton

Strategies That Work by Stephanie Harvey and Anne Goudvis (Chapter 15, The Genre of Test Reading)

Interactive Read-Alouds by Linda Hoyt (Infusing Test Language Excerpts)

Released Test Items (Practice Tests) from Wisconsin and other states

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Documents

The Genre of Test Reading: Integrating Test Preparation into the Reading Workshop Using the Mini-Lesson Framework Compiled by Candice Johnson, Grades 3-5