The absence of mandatory kindergarten education for CNMI students has prompted educators to look into assessment measures that would cue first grade teachers where to kick start learning for first-time school students.<\/p>\n
Pacific Resources for Learning and Education program specialist Don Burger facilitated yesterday the second session of the Reading Assessment workshop gathering a team of teachers and principals to revisit Reading diagnostic tests in contrast to prevailing CNMI standards.<\/p>\n
“We want the students to conform with the standard at least by the 4th grade test,” said Mr. Burger.<\/p>\n
The visiting expert said the need to rework Reading assessments has been initiated to assist local students who have never been exposed to formal instruction prior to first grade.<\/p>\n
“Since kindergarten is not mandatory, many of them come to first grade not knowing the letters, not recognizing sounds it makes, and not comprehending its meaning,” he explained.<\/p>\n
Design teams yesterday surveyed four different diagnostic tests and devised ways to create better strategies on how to effectively inculcate Reading to first grade students.<\/p>\n
“So that the teachers can tailor reading instruction specifically to the child. This way, they can do a much better job of teaching the kids,” the expert said.<\/p>\n
Mr. Burger also underscored the importance of Reading for first-time students, saying it is the single most important area that determines how the students will do in other content areas.<\/p>\n
PREL, with aid from the local community, is assisting the Public School System develop Reading tests that would truly gauge the reading aptitude of public school students.<\/p>\n
The tests being developed for grades 4, 8, and 11 are projected to move away from the typical “bubble” tests normally used on state-imposed evaluations.<\/p>\n
According the experts, the proposed type of test purposely intends to measure the Reading standards and benchmarks for particular grade levels.<\/p>\n
Unlike the nationally-normed Stanford Achievement Test-9th edition, the new Reading evaluation would be able to tap specific areas of concern directly relevant to the CNMI situation, according to Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos.<\/p>\n
Parents, teachers, principals, government officials, and business professionals have been tapped to take a look at the state assessments and provide feedback.<\/p>\n
In September, the design team is scheduled to present a revised draft of Reading assessments based on collective data gathered from the two-day workshop.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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