Test Prep

Study Zone

Parents,

With those all too important test looming in our precious third graders future, I have been researching some websites that are quality and useful for you and them to use at home to help them hone some skills and perhaps review some topics we have covered. Additionally, they can look over some things, particularly in math, that we may not have gotten to yet (we are only in our second quarter, after all).

Tonight, I stumbled upon a site that is wonderful. It was put together by a team of educators in New York. They scavenged the web to find the best sites for students to work on skills based on each content standard. Study Zone  includes content for Math, English and Language Arts (Reading) and Social Studies. Our third graders will only need to practice Math and English/ Language Arts. Because this was created by a team of teachers in New York, the standards referenced are New York standards but they are similar to those in Ohio.

To use this site, after choosing either English or Math and then selecting third grade you have the following choices:


  1. At the top of the screen on the right, there is a numerical list of options. These are skills that a child can practice. Click on a desired skill and you will be taken to a list of content standards.
  2. Look through that list of content standards to help narrow your selection. Click on your choice.
  3. Next, you will be taken to a screen listing a table of resources. Look at the column labeled "type". You will see that there is a letter code L,P,I, R, etc. Above that table, those codes are explained (L=lesson, P=practice, I=interactive game, etc.) You and your child can make a choice that suits their purpose and need.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is another high quality site that I highly recommend for students to use for math test prep.  This site offers common core, grade level specific practice for each standard.  Students can ask for hints for each question and get immediate feedback on their results.  Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom.  Math missions guide learners using state-of-the-art, adaptive technology that identifies strengths and learning gaps.

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Please take some time to look over this site and explore some of the wonderful links to excellent online learning resources for your children. Together, I know we can help your child achieve the best. It is through effort and struggle that the greatest growth occurs. We make a great team in your child's education. Thank you for everything you do to support your child's learning.

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Once a year and less time – 2015-2016 Ohio’s State Tests 


Ohio’s State Tests measure student progress toward Ohio’s Learning Standards. They help us make sure every Ohio student receives a high-quality education. Student test results show that students have the knowledge and skills they need to move successfully to their next steps in education or a career.

Students in grades 3-8 and high school will take Ohio’s State Tests in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies in the 2015-2016 school year. Districts have the option to give students the tests on computers, in paper format or using a combination of both formats.

How long is a test? 
Each test will be approximately three hours (180 minutes) and will be divided into two parts. Districts will choose whether their students will take a test in two 90-minute sessions or in one 180-minute session.

When will districts offer the tests? 

Each school district chooses a consecutive series of school days to administer state tests within specified windows, or periods of time. This does not mean a specific child is taking tests every day of the district’s testing dates. It simply means the district will be testing different students in different subjects and grades within the dates selected for the tests.

GRADE 3 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS - FALL TEST WINDOW 2015

  • Online tests – Five consecutive school days within the Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 window.
  • Paper tests – Five consecutive school days within the Dec. 1 to Dec. 11 window. 

SPRING TEST WINDOWS 2016

School districts are selecting either 10 consecutive days (for paper tests) or 15 consecutive days (for online tests) during the windows of dates allocated for the tests:
  • English language arts tests – April 4 to 22, paper tests; April 4 to 29, online tests.
  • Mathematics – April 4 to May 6, paper tests; April 4 to May 13, online tests. 

What will the tests look like? 
Test blueprints in English language arts and mathematics will be available in September 2015, with sample test items available in October 2015.

Who is developing the tests? 
Ohio will use its existing contract with the American Institutes for Research (AIR), a well-known test vendor. AIR provided Ohio’s 2014-2015 science and social studies tests. Ohio educators will help review and select the test questions.

When will districts receive results? 
Districts and schools will receive spring test results by June 15 for grade 3 English language arts and by June 30 for all other tests.) 

For more information
 See the State Test Updates page (www.education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing/State-Test-Updates-for-2015_2016), where those who are interested may sign up to receive email notification of major news.  Send any questions to statetests@education.ohio.gov.

AIR TESTS

Useful Tutorials

English language arts and Mathematics Sample Items Released

Sample items for Ohio’s State Tests are now available in the Student Practice Site. Students may log in as guests to access five to eight sample items for each of the following tests:
  • Grade 3 and high school English language arts
  • Grades 3-8 mathematics and high school mathematics, algebra and geometry
These new items join the practice tests for science and social studies on the site, offering students more opportunities to learn what to expect on state tests. Additional English language arts sample items for grades 4-8 will be released in December.
New support documents are available in the Student Practice Resources folder on the Portal. These include:
  • Practice Site Guidance Document
  • Answer keys for the sample English language arts and mathematics items
  • Writing rubrics
  • Interactive mathematics equation tutorial
You will see more details and links to these resources on the department’s Practice Test and Sample Items Web page.

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