Strategies for Improvement on Ohio’s State Tests

1. Methods of Analysis

2. State Performance Analysis

3. A Word of Caution

4. Extended-Response Rubrics and Strategies

5. Supportive Classroom Practices

Overview

Step-by-Step Item

Analysis

1. Access the Student Success Web site.

• Select tests you wish to study.

• Select testing date, grade and

subject you would like to view.

2. In the upper left, click “Analyze Items on Test” link.

4. This page shows released questions in groups by question type.

How students answered each question.

Average percent correct for each question by school, district and state.

3. Print page and leave web site open for later.

5. Look through percent correct averages and identify items as strengths and weaknesses. Mark above and below average questions.

• For the averages of different question types, refer to handout.

6. Go back to the web site and click the item number next to each question you identified.

7. In the question window, you can see each question and answer options available.

Look above and below question for more information needed.

8. Note the content theme of the question and the specific material covered.

• Include any other clue words or comments that are important to the question.

• Organize written comments in “above average” and “below average” groups.

For Example:

9. Look at the list of comments for any trends.

• Does a strong area emerge?

• Are there any topics that score below state the average?

• Dig Deeper: If topics end up in both the above average and

below average lists, look closer at the questions.

Is it Really a Strength or Weakness?

• This method uses comparisons with the state to judge students’ performance.

• The school could outperform the state average on a question, but score poorly.

• To find objective trends, also look at the expectations of the standard.

• How strong are your strengths? How weak are your weaknesses?

Caution:

11. Look through the score report again.

• This time, mark each question that scored: Above 85 percent Below 40 percent

• Use table on handout to convert scores to a percentage.

Measuring Actual Performance

Measuring Actual Performance

• Go back to the Success Web site and review questions for content and clue words and record comments like before.

• Identify any trends from the comments.

• Does what you observe now compare to the trends you saw using the previous method?

Which Method Works Best?

Compare to State Average

Actual Performance

Pro:More likely to be based on

content than question difficulty.

Demonstrates students' familiarity with the

subject.

Con:Can give a false positive

about the students’ actual knowledge.

Risk of false negatives. Some standards can

randomly be harder than others.

Observed Trends District

Mathematics:

Reading and Writing:

Science:

Social Studies:

• Math Trends Here

• Reading And Writing Trends Here

• Science Trends Here

• Social Studies Trends Here

• Test-Wide Trends Here

• Multiple-Choice ≈ (Pass Rate Here) • Short-Answer ≈ (Pass Rate Here)• Extended-Response ≈ (Pass Rate Here)

• Difficult Keywords Here

Pass Rates by Question Types:

Test-Wide:

Keywords:

A Word of Caution

• Don’t read too much into trends.

• These exams do not assess all of the content standards.

• Prioritize limited classroom time to:

Focus on both strengths and weaknesses

Develop students’ content and skills

Extended-Response Questions

• Typically difficult for students.

• Each wants specific things from students.

Extended-Response and Short-Answer Questions

To find these requirements, look at the scoring guide…

1. Start on the ODE homepage.2. Near the top-right of the page, click on Testing. 3. On the left menu, click on Released Test Materials.4. Select Released Test Materials for Ohio's Grade 3-8

Achievement Tests.

How to Find Scoring Guides

5. Select your grade, subject and year of the test. Scoring guides are on the right.

Patterns of a Four-Point Question

Questions contain keywords and expect an answer for each one:

Ex: Identify, describe, explain, compare, determine, list, draw, graph, give details, etc…

• Special keywords: Describe, explain and compare. Require more depth and detail. Worth two points since there is partial credit.

• When reading the question, mark all keywords. If there are fewer marked keywords than the number of points, the special keywords need extra attention.

For example, instead of a quick description, a full and detailed description is needed.

Test makers do not make all questions in the same way:

• Questions have a mix of keywords, special keywords and subjects.

• The most common combinations are:• Four Keywords• Two Special Keywords for one Subject• Two Keywords on two Subjects

Two Special Keywords for One Subject

Four Keywords

One Special Keyword for Two Subjects

For Reading, Social Studies, Science and Math.

• Read the question carefully and completely.

• Underline each keyword (action words).

• Circle each special keyword.

Extended-Response Recommendations

• Generally, students have a harder time responding to special keywords.

• Think of examples and details for each “describe, explain and compare” question.

Extended-Response Recommendations

Often the difference between a score of 2 and 4 is the lack of details or support for each of these special keywords.

Clue Word Action RequiredCompare Show both the similarities and differences.

Contrast Compare by showing differences.

CriticizeGive your judgment or reasoned opinion of something, illustrating its good and bad points. It is not necessary to attack it.

DefineGive the formal meaning by distinguishing it from related terms. This is often a matter of giving a memorized definition.

DescribeWrite a detailed account or verbal picture in a logical sequence or story form.

DiscussDescribe giving the details and explaining the pros and cons of the subject.

Explain Give reasons for.

List Produce a list of words, sentences, or comments.

8 Most Often Used Keywords

Types of Writing Question

• Informational Prompt• Narrative Prompt• Letter Writing

• Expository Prompt• Informational Prompt• Persuasive Prompt• Narrative Prompt• Letter Writing

Grade 7 and 10:

Grade 4:

Graders are given areas of importance to gauge completeness:

1. Treatment of Prompt/Topic

• Directly Addressed/Focused

2. Awareness of Audience/Purpose

• Clearly Adapted

3. Ideas, Examples and Details

• Strong/Compelling/Ample Available

4. Organization and Development

• Clearly Evident/ Exceptional

Writing Test Strategies

Graders are given areas of importance to gauge completeness:

5. Sentences and Vocabulary/Word Choice

• Consistent Variety/ Appropriate

6. Sequence and Style

• Unified and Coherent/Engaging

7. Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling, Paragraphing

• Few/No Errors - Grade 4

Writing Test Strategies

1. Did I answer the question completely?

2. Did I provide enough evidence or support to make my point?

3. Was my essay organized in a logical way?

4. Did I make good use of word choice and sentence structure?

5. Did I proofread my essay? (fix grammar, spelling, punctuation)

Students should ask themselves:

Writing Test Recommendations

• A two-point question has two brief tasks or one detailed task

• Have the same keywords and special keywords as constructed response. It asks:

Two keywords, or tasks.

One keyword for two subjects.

One special keyword about one subject.

Short-Answer Strategies

Classroom Practices that Develop Needed

Knowledge and Skills

• Advance organizers• Evaluation• Feedback• Corrective instruction• Mastery learning• Ability grouping• Homework• Clarity of presentation• Questioning

Effective Instructional Practices

• Use of experiments• Teacher estimation strategies• Teacher’s high expectations• Effort reinforcement• Classroom time management• Direct instruction• Memorization• Questioning• Homework• Classroom assessment

Effective Classroom Practices

Convergent Questions1. Cause students to summarize and draw conclusions.

2. Useful to bring about combination and recombination of experiences which lead to:

• Generalization

• Understanding

3. Their importance is limited since these questions tax the lower cognitive domain.

4. These are too common in the classroom.

5. Requires students to use mainly:

• Recall and limited reasoning

• Problem-solving limited to facts already stated

Divergent Questions1. Open-ended questions that lead to further questions,

cause students to experiment or lead to research

2. These questions:

• Foster thinking

• Enlarge the scope of material being studied

• Deepen students’ interest on the topic3. These are probably the least-asked questions

4. There are no “right” answers

5. Requires students to use both:

• Concrete thinking

• Abstract thinking

Sources of Classroom Data

• Homework assignments

• Teacher’s grade book

• Grade distribution

• Student progress reports

• Unit tests and daily quizzes

• Student portfolios

• Newsletters sent home

• District test data

comparisons

• Bulletin board displays

• Lesson and unit plans

• Scoring rubrics, if any

From the ODE homepage, select:

1. From the green “Educators menu, select “Academic Content Standards”

2. On the left menu select “Graduation Requirements/Ohio Core”

3. Scroll down, select “Ohio Core Resources”

Ohio Core Resources

Thank You!

Stan.Heffner@ode.state.oh.us