MAP Examiner Training Homebound Teachers March, 2008

Overview Missouri Assessment Program is one of several educational initiatives mandated by the Outstanding Schools Act of 1993 The state Board of Education mandated the DESE to identify the knowledge, skills and competencies that Missouri students should acquire

DESE Guidelines: Homebound Students Must take the MAP if they are receiving homebound services Must have the test administered by a trained examiner who guarantees the security of testing materials May be tested either at home or at school

Test Security “Shall Nots” Testing material shall not be photocopied, duplicated or made accessible to non-testing personnel Testing materials shall not be viewed by examiners before testing Testing materials shall not be left in an unsecured area at any time, for any reason Testing materials shall not be discussed between examiners

Administration Time Each assessment could require a total of three to five hours of test administration time Each session should be completed in one “sitting” (unless an identified IEP accommodation)

Types of Test Items Selected Response Constructed Response Performance Events

Examiner’s Manuals Grade Level Specific Updated annually Familiarize yourself with it early! Strictly follow the directions

Examiner’s Manuals Steps 1 – 4: same information in all content areas Step 5: Test administration directions specific to Communication Arts, Mathematics and Science Steps 6 – 8: Contain the same information in all content areas

Preparing for Testing Testing schedules = page 1 for all content areas Review the test directions in the Examiner’s Manual in advance Testing materials shall not be viewed by the examiner before testing Some sessions are strictly times. Other sessions allow students who are making adequate progress, to complete the test Each test session must be completed in one sitting Accommodations are discussed in Step 7 in the Examiner’s Manual

Use Standardized Testing Procedures Read test directions exactly as written Observe time allowances for strictly-timed sessions Verify that students understand the directions and how to mark answers Test directions in the manual can be paraphrased Test items and their directions cannot be paraphrased

“Do’s” for Examiners Do eliminate noise distractions Do remove all information that might cue the student about test content or process

“Don’ts” for Examiners Don’t correct answers that are wrong Don’t return books to students who have completed their test Don’t ask students to finish incomplete answers after time has expired in any of the sessions

Test Booklets Use only #2 pencils (not mechanical) on all portions of the test, including the cover No highlighters, colored pencils No underlining on MC question stems No stray marks in coding tracks (answer choices)

2008 Changes Grades 3 – 8: 2008 MAP includes all required tests, bound together in one book: Comm. Arts, Math, Science (organized in this order) High school test booklets are still individual content areas: Math (gr. 10), Comm. Arts (gr. 11), Science (gr. 11)

Ancillary Materials for Math Students will be provided with a standard set of manipulatives. No other sets of manipulatives are allowed. Grades 8 – 10 will be provided with a reference sheet that contains formulas and conversions Calculators: Grades 3-5 = not allowed Grades 6 – 10 will not be allowed to use calculators during session 2 part 1

Ancillary Materials for Communication Arts Grade 3: a standard dictionary and extra paper for writing first drafts may be used only during Session 2 Grades 7 & 11: a standard dictionary, thesaurus, grammar handbook and extra paper for first drafts may be used during Session 2 Grades 4,5,6,8: NO tools may be used for any sessions

Ancillary Materials for Science Reference Sheets: Grades 5 & 11 will not be provided a reference sheet Grade 8 will be provided with a reference sheet Calculators: will not be allowed during any session of the test (grades 5,8 & 11)

Invalidation Categories Student cheating Examiner has paraphrased test questions Examiner reads any part of the Comm. Arts test to the student other than students who are Blind/Visually Impaired & do not read Braille Neither a student’s behavior nor judgment of effort can invalidate

Test Administration Help students relax & be positive Explain the purpose of the test Point out that some of the items may be more difficult or new to the students – they are not expected to know all the answers, just to do their best

Specific Instructions Sample questions are illustrated and printed in the Examiner’s Manual for each content A starting/stopping time graphic is printed for examiners to follow Sessions cannot be split over 2 days or lunch periods Break times are printed in the Examiner’s manual Notice the wording about not paraphrasing test questions and pronouncing only one word per sentence

Testing Schedule For Sessions 1 & 2 of Comm. Arts and Session 1 of Math, if a student is making adequate progress, should allow to finish Portions of Session 3 of Comm. Arts & Session 2 of Math are strictly timed. Schedules (in min.) on page 1 of Examiner’s Manual

Prior to Testing Review the Examiner’s Manual in advance Be sure student understands directions & how to mark answers Do not paraphrase directions Do not assist with any questions Encourage to answer every question Eliminate distractions

Tools Make sure you have the appropriate manipulatives Check Step 3 in the Examiner’s manual and the gray sidebars for specific tools No charts, word banks, written or verbal prompts etc.

Test Administration Can paraphrase test directions only (where it says SAY in the examiner’s manual) Cannot paraphrase directions relating to a question! Pronouncing a word should be restricted to ONE word per sentence

Scribing IEP accommodation or physical limitation Do not scribe because the student has poor handwritting, poor spelling or attention problems Scribe on draft copy without grammatical markings Let student edit

Level Not Determined (LND) Valid Attempt Oral reading on any part of the Comm. Arts test will invalidate Paraphrasing on any MAP test will invalidate

Prepare Students Help them approach in a relaxed positive way Explain the purpose Point out that some items will be more difficult & new to them They are not expected to know all the answers, but they are expected to do their best