Achievement tests' impact on pupils is great

Doing well on state achievement tests is important for Ohio schools.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
PEP RALLIES, POSTER CONTESTS AND banners in the halls all sound like schools getting ready for the big football game. But it's no game that Ohio schools have been preparing for in recent weeks.
It's time for the annual Ohio Achievement Tests for pupils in grades three through eight, and it's a serious matter for schools whose state local report card rankings are dependent upon their pupils performing well.
Schoolchildren, depending on their grade level, will be taking math, reading, writing and science tests starting April 30, and local schools have been working hard to get them ready.
Many of the test questions are multiple choice but there are also extended-response questions that require the children to write short answers.
"Do Your Best on the Test" was the theme at Paul C. Bunn Elementary School in Youngstown.
The school held an academic rally, complete with tiny pompom-waving cheerleaders, just before spring break to get the children fired up for the tests, and the younger kids in kindergarten, first and second grade participated in a door-decorating contest to show support for the third- and fourth-graders taking the tests.
Don Sharpless of Everett Avenue was one of the parents who showed up for the rally. His son, Tyler, is a third-grader and will be taking the tests for the first time.
Sharpless said he supports the efforts by the school to get the children ready.
"I just wish more parents showed up," he said, noting that a notice of the rally was sent home with the children.
The teachers and administrators at Bunn developed a form to help determine which pupils might have difficulty with the tests and focused on helping them prepare, said Principal Maria Pappas.
A study skills group was formed for those fourth-graders deemed to be at risk and their parents were called in to school to enlist their support in getting their children to work a little harder, she said.
A lot of small group instruction in reading and math, the use of practice tests and third- and fourth-graders staying late each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for a month to work on areas of weakness went into the preparation effort, she said.
"A lot of it is their attitude. They need to know someone believes in them," Pappas said, explaining that much of the effort is designed to boost pupil confidence in themselves.
Help after school
E.J. Blott Elementary School in Liberty set up an after-school program for third- and fourth-graders in March to meet two hours on Mondays and Wednesdays to work on math skills and two hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays to work on reading.
The school also has instituted Destination Reading and Destination Math programs in its computer lab where pupils can take a "pre-test" to help focus on areas of weakness, said Principal Kathleen Carlile.
The children also do special "packets" of material in math and reading that are related to the state academic standards. That's used all year long as a teaching tool, Carlile said.
"The kids love doing them," she said, noting that completing the packets brings rewards such as getting time to play math games in the multi-purpose room.
"Spike Our Achievement Results" (SOAR) is the theme at Blott, which also had a big rally as part of the final push toward test week.
The Liberty schools offer a variety of pupil interventions, in-school, after school and in class, said Superintendent Lawrence Prince.
There is a push to do well at Blott, but no more emphasis there than at any of the other buildings, he said.
Blott was recently added to the state list of Education Choice schools because of being ranked in "academic watch" on the state local report card for two consecutive years.
Getting placed in the Education Choice program allows Blott pupils to apply for tuition vouchers to leave Blott and attend private schools deemed to offer a better education.
One of the things Blott works on is developing note-taking skills.
Taking notes involves going back into a written passage to get the information you need, and that's good preparation for the achievement tests, Carlile said.
'Study Island'
Salem Middle School introduced "Study Island," a Web-based incentive program aligned with state standards for math and reading, said Principal Sean Kirkland.
The pupils get a blue ribbon for each section of Study Island completed. When they get enough ribbons, they get to pick a prize, such as cookies, from the school "treasure chest," he said.
Pupils being tested get a school breakfast and juice during test week and testing is done in small group settings rather than putting everyone into one large room, Kirkland said. The children are more comfortable in the small group situation, he said.
Lowellville Elementary School runs a "Winter Intervention Program" for grades three through six, with children spending 90 minutes after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays doing math and reading for a period of five or six weeks to hone their skills.
"That has helped us in the past with our achievement scores," said Principal Sam Ramunno.
Over the last couple of years, eighth-graders identified as having academic problems have been spending study hall time working with teachers on areas of weakness, he said.
Lowellville doesn't hold any pre-test assemblies or rallies, but the parent-teacher organization provides a post-test party or some similar event as a reward.
Offering incentives
Some schools run special achievement test programs that offer rewards such as a day at a skating park for pupils who participate and voluntarily put in the extra time.
Carlile said Blott will make sure all of its pupils get breakfast on the morning of their tests. Children who have difficulty taking tests in large group situations will be allowed to take their tests in small groups, she added.
School officials noted that the long spring break over the Easter holiday (some kids were out of classes for six days) put a crimp in their test preparation plans.
To help restore some of the momentum, Bunn Elementary launched a 10-day countdown to test days on their first day back from break, Pappas said.
Bunn also gives each child a "survival kit" that contains all they need to succeed, she said.
There's a Candy Kiss to remind them they are loved, a Starburst candy for a burst of energy, a stick of gum to remind them to "stick to it," a Fireball candy to light their fire, a Snickers candy bar to remind them to laugh and a bunch of confetti so they can have some fun when they're done.
gwin@vindy.com