Overview
How to use this module:
Before:
- All teachers who will be administering F and P testing, will have a quick review in September. The review should include restating the assessment-at-a-glance/coding and scoring pages in the assessment guide as well as viewing a sample test either from the PD videos or other recordings. During the viewing, all staff will practice giving an assessment and will discuss their accuracy and comprehension scores. Ideally this would be done as a whole group but could be adapted to suit the needs in your school.
- In October, ELA teachers new to NWSD will be trained to use the F and P benchmark assessment system. This training will include looking at the materials in the kits, administering, scoring and summarizing tests (see PD training DVD). Set up this training to be conducted by the learning coach, SBIF, SSST, admin or any combination of these. After the initial training, the new teacher will observe a test being administered and then administer a test while being observed.
- Download the Fountas and Pinnell webinar for any staff members that need to learn about the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark assessment and have them watch it.
During:
- Explore the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark assessment kit so that you are familiar with it.
- Work with the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark assessment. Complete assessments as needed.
After:
- Each student’s F and P file will be housed in a central location by grade. All tests done should be placed in this file and the file should be returned between testing windows. After each testing period, tests will be checked by a second person (learning coach, SBIF, SSST or admin) to ensure accuracy and completeness.
- F and P benchmark tests will only be done during the allocated times set by the division. Although these times are set for grades 1-3, it is strongly recommended that F and P benchmark testing at all grade levels follow this time frame. Teachers should collaborate and use the files to decide upon the starting test levels before each testing period.
- Other Suggestions and considerations:
- Teachers should use a variety of reading assessments throughout the school year and the F and P Benchmark at testing time only. Talk to your learning coach or other literacy specialists for more specific ideas or resources.
- All staff should be familiar with grade appropriate levels and have an understanding of what skills students will need to move forward and be introduced to the F and P prompting guide.
- New staff could be given a kit with essential items for testing ready to go.
- One person could be put in charge of ensuring that the test papers for every level are ready for the teachers to simply take and use at testing time.
- A group celebration or meeting could be held after testing time to move cards on the data wall and answer questions/plan next steps etc.
- When teachers are feeling confident in their testing ability and are ready to use more data, MSV data should take place.