In a previous post about Test Prep, I discussed 5 Key Teaching Points for a Test Prep Unit of Study. These key teaching points are intended to be objectives for the minilessons that lead to independent reading.
Just like during good ole everyday Readers' Workshop, you still confer with students during a Reading Test Prep Unit of Study. The conferring points are based on the key teaching points of the lessons.
When we confer with students on a daily basis during workshop, teachers aim to get to the issues and struggles that students are having within their independent reading and guide students through those struggles.
Conferring Points During Reading Test Prep
During Test Prep for a standardized reading test, we still confer with students to help guide them through the complexity of navigating a testing passage and applying what they have learned to this standardized genre.
The conferring conversations and conferring points are aligned with the 5 key teaching points seen below and discussed further in a previous post here, 5 Key Teaching Points for a Test Prep Unit of Study.
1️⃣ Readers get to know the text before reading to get the big picture
2️⃣ Readers annotate the text to create a 'road map' for question answering
3️⃣ Readers preview the text by reviewing the questions to set a purpose
4️⃣ Readers are familiar with the different types of questions that tests are asking
5️⃣ Readers must justify their answers in order to choose the best possible answer to multiple-choice questions
Packing Your Conferring Suitcase for Reading Test Prep
When conferring with students about navigating a testing passage, teachers must be equipped with several items.
Conferring guide/checklist (available to print below)
Previous conferring notes about the student as a reader and how they navigate independent reading
Sample (released) testing passages of several different genres or short texts (such as poetry, script, fiction short story, informational text, print media, etc.)
The Conferring Checklist is a guide that provides prompts and conversation starters for teachers to use while conferring with students about working through standardized testing passages.
These conferring points are aligned with the 5 key teaching points included in the Reading Test Prep Unit of Study previewed below.
Until next time...
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