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Priorities of the
Upper Elementary Division
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Appreciation of Individual Excellence
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Philosophy of Gentle Guidance
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Creation of “Communities of Excellence”
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Strengthening of foundation built during primary years
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Fostering exploration of individual talents
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Every Decision with the Child in Mind
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Contact Information
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Dr. Lynda Csaszar
Head of Upper Elementary School Division
Parish Episcopal School
4101 Sigma Road
Dallas, Texas 75244
(972) 852-8778
email
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Upper Elementary News January 2008
Message from Dr. Csaszar: ERB Test Q&A
Dear Parents,
I thought it might be helpful to write you about our standardized testing that will occur in the fourth grade the week of April 29th, and to inform you in advance that I will be discussing our standardized testing at my coffee scheduled for Wednesday, February 20th, at 8:10 a.m. (Third grade parents are invited so you can be informed of what’s to come.)
Our fourth grade students take level four of the CTP4 (Comprehensive Testing Program) test which was developed for ERB (Educational Records Bureau) by the Educational Testing Service. The CTP4 is a norm-referenced test and is considered to be a rigorous test used by those striving for high achievement standards. It is interesting to note that over 1400 schools across the nation have memberships with ERB and participate in ERB testing.
When will the testing occur and how long does it last?
The actual testing will occur from Tuesday, April 29th, through Friday, May 2nd, during the morning hours from about 9:00 a.m. until a little after 11:00 a.m. Students typically will work on three different tests each morning, which could be a combination of three of the following: reading, math, writing, vocabulary and verbal reasoning, and there is a short break about halfway through. Students who receive “extended time” will have Monday morning to complete the testing.
Do the students practice prior to the actual testing?
Yes. We receive a sample booklet from the Educational Records Bureau, and students have the opportunity to practice every item in the booklet the week prior to the test. That means they practice every type of format that is given on the actual test the week prior to testing. In fourth grade, our students practice two class periods in math and cover all types of math items/problems, and they practice two class periods in their reading class and cover all types of reading, writing, vocabulary, and verbal reasoning types of items on the test.
What will I receive as a parent?
Parents receive an “Individual Subscore Report.” Included in this report will be information on your child’s scores in relation to national norms, suburban public school norms, and independent school norms. Independent school norms offer an opportunity to compare a student’s reasoning and skill development with students in other independent schools and offer the most helpful information for all of us at Parish.
More specifically, you will be able to see your child’s percentile ranks and stanine scores for all three types of norms. It is always useful for parents to know that a stanine of 4, 5, or 6 is considered to be in the average range, and it is helpful to keep in mind that an average percentile rank of 50 on an independent norm test equates to a percentile rank that is usually close to 80 on national norms.
When will we receive the Individual Subscore Report?
Parish typically receives the reports from the Educational Records Bureau in June, and we mail the reports to parents as soon as we receive them.
How do Parish students rank compared to students in other schools?
Speaking for fourth grade, Parish students have made a great showing! We have repeatedly ranked high in comparison to other independent schools in math, and last year, we ranked on the high side in reading comprehension and vocabulary. I am pleased to be able to say that we are not low in any area, and that we are basically “on par” across all areas of language arts. As an administrator, I naturally look for areas that need strengthening, and I would choose writing as an area of focus for our division.
What do I tell my child about the testing?
We prefer that you leave that to us at the school. Testing in the fourth grade is a low stress situation, and most of our students have demonstrated a relaxed demeanor in the past. We like to emphasize that testing helps us know how well we are teaching the students. We want them to do their best, but we keep it “low key” in order to avoid creating anxiety about the testing.
What do the students do if they complete certain sections early?
Across divisions, students are allowed to read a book when they finish early. This year, in fourth grade, I have decided to allow students to read only for the last 10 minutes of a 40 minute segment of time. My hope is to minimize the tendency to rush, and to encourage thoughtful completion and rechecking of responses on the test. We talked about this in one of my coffees, and I feel this will be a good compromise that will work in favor of most fourth grade students.
Can students bring a snack to have during the breaks?
Absolutely! Information from the fourth grade team is forthcoming about testing and recommended snacks for students to bring.
Could I see some of the sample questions?
Certainly! I will show sample questions in every subject area to be tested at my February coffee. The booklet that we are given provides sample questions for students in grades four through seven, and all students in those grades practice the same sample items. Most of the items require multiple choice responses, and there are two sections in math and reading that require a constructed response wherein students either demonstrate their ability to comprehend a passage or their ability to solve a math problem.
What if I have concerns about my child’s results?
Call me. I work throughout the summer months. In advance, I will say to remember that this is the students’ first time through, so try to remember to view your child’s testing over a three year period, and think in terms of overall strengths and areas for growth. Always remember that students get better at testing over a period of years as you will hear from Mrs. Crawford in the Middle School. Any single test is not fully representative of a child’s best strengths.
Are there any handouts?
Yes. I will provide a handout by the Educational Records Bureau at my February coffee, and I keep a stack in my office. It includes a sample copy of the Individual Subscore Report and some information on standardized scores. Feel free to come by if you would like one!
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