assists basic or below basic students.
1. Providing a complete diagnostic testing process.
Our testing process not only ascertains student’s grade level, our evaluations identify the distinct skills students possess or lack.
(a) Self Assessment Evaluation Testing:
This test is designed to help remediate and refresh students at the start of a new school year. These tests are available in Math and English and are divided by grade level. Each grade level test is then separated into different assessment strands that correlate to most states’ standards. Tests vary in length dependent on the scope of the material required. They are, however, designed to be completed in one typical period, or 40 minutes.
After completing each test, students are automatically given a report on their test. Our self assessment tests require students to answer 80% of the questions correctly in order to display proficiency. If this proficiency requirement is not met, students will receive links to topic pages within the Click A Tutor system that correlate to each students’ incorrect answers.
In this manner, students can refresh themselves before beginning the diagnostic testing process.
(b) Skills Assessment Testing:
Now that students have been properly reintroduced to the material, our diagnostic testing process then moves to identify skills students lack. Our skill testing starts with skills learned in Kindergarten and moves through the basic skills required of a typical eighth grader in Math and English. Skills Assessment Tests are divided into segments that correspond with students’ grade level. Teachers can choose to have their students take the entire test, which outlines 96 separate skills in both Math and English, or start students at a level 2 to 3 grade levels beneath them.
With this test, teachers and parents are given a detailed report outlining the skills their student(s) possesses. From this point, teachers and parents can create individualized lesson plans that combat the deficiencies identified by the testing. Students can participate in the classroom as they normally would; only now the teacher would immediately know the areas that need to be supplemented to ensure their students’ success.
(c) Grade Level Evaluation
Once teachers have identified the deficient and proficient skills possessed by their students, teachers can now test students in relationship to grade level. Our Grade Level Evaluation Tests are comprehensive tests that provide a detailed analysis of students’ achievement level. Divided into basic strands and further divided into sub-categories, this test offers students a thorough examination. Our Grade Level Evaluation Tests ensures proper grade level placement by grading students on a slightly higher level of difficulty than is actually required for their grade.
Rather than offering just four potential answers, the Grade Level Evaluation Test offers students a fifth option. This option allows students to honestly attest that they do not know the correct answer. This curbs some students from simply guessing the correct answer, as they could very well do on other multiple choice diagnostic tests. In this manner, our Grade Level Evaluation Test provides a more accurate depiction of students’ capabilities.
If a student admits that they do not know a certain answer, the sub-category is ear-marked for remediation—even if the student has answered all other questions correctly to that point. Also, our program takes into account the speed in which students answer questions. The program will inform teachers when students are taking too much time to answer questions—again, even if they answer them correctly—and when they are not taking enough time.
Another benefit of the program is its size. Though it is an incredibly comprehensive evaluation tool, six of these complete tests can fit on one single floppy disk. Our program is not tethered to a computer lab or so large that it would burden desktop computers at home. Our GLE’s are portable and can be taken anywhere there is a computer.
Once a student has completed the examination, one quick keystroke will print out a 12 to 25 page report detailing students’ proficiency with the content. This report is a valuable asset when preparing students for state mandated testing.
(d) State Standards Achievement Tests
Now that teachers have identified students’ skill and grade level, it is time to administer the first of ten monthly examinations. This exam, the State Standards Achievement Test, is designed to mimic the standards both appropriate to the grade level and state requirements. This test allows students to become comfortable with the material and level of difficulty that will be tested on later in the year. It also sets a precedent and further defines the expectations placed upon the student in the upcoming school year.
Few students will pass their first test, which is correct and completely natural. The test is designed to be passed only by students with a level of competency one grade level beyond them. For example, in order to pass the 3rd grade math exam, students would need to know all of the content that will be taught in the third grade. When taking the first test, students will probably only have experiences a handful of classes, so passing the exam is not a realistic goal.
The goal is, however, to get students accustomed to the level of difficulty they will be tested on. Using our system, students will have one opportunity a month to pass the testing for math and reading. Schools can, however, choose to take the exam less often. Monthly examinations provide teachers and administration a precise window into students’ abilities. A passing score on two or more State Standard Achievement Test signifies the student will almost certainly achieve grade level on state standard testing.
Teachers will know students’ achievement levels long before schools administer state testing. This gives teachers enough time to provide help to students in the specific area they need it.
This is where Click A Tutor’s lesson planning can help students achieve grade level.
II. Click A Tutor Online Lesson Plans
It is often difficult for teachers to effectively teach the grade level content while simultaneously helping students grasp concepts dramatically below grade level. Rather than having teachers deviate from their traditional classroom lessons, they can create online lesson plans using Click A Tutor content to aid students in those trouble areas.
The process begins by teachers creating a framework lesson plan that aligns with the current classroom topic. Then, teachers can individualize the lesson plan for each student, including topics from other grade levels to either enrich or remediate students’ knowledge. By incorporating lower grade level topic pages into a frame-worked lesson plan, students will never know that they are receiving content below grade level. Teachers can build up their students step by step until they attain grade level.
Using a Click A Tutor parent account, parents themselves can either recommend coursework for their children or be able to follow their child’s progress within their assigned lesson plans. By giving parents a window into their students’ academic lives, Click A Tutor extends the boundaries of the classroom and makes learning easier at home.
Parents can not only help develop curriculum, but they can communicate with teachers as well. Click A Tutor features its own intranet email service through the Email Center feature. This feature allows students and parents to communicate with teachers in a completely safe environment. The very nature of the intranet system ensures students will only be in contact with their peers, teachers and other credible educators.
Click A Tutor also features an amazing number of supplemental features as well.
First and most prominent of these is our Liquid Library. Our Liquid Library hosts over five hundred digitized books that students have access to 24 hours a day. Rather than being confined to a set number of classroom texts or reading lists, the Liquid Library gives teachers and students the freedom to choose books that interest them. Teachers can even expose students to certain passages or chapters of classic books without having to force students to read the entire text. Along with the supplemental Bridgeway Digital Library, we have over three hundred classic books for students to choose from, including every single play written by William Shakespeare.
Click A Tutor has another library within the system, a Research Library. This Library is ideal for students who are writing their first report or research paper. The Research Library contains an archive of theme oriented research materials catalogued to allow students to quickly research their desired topic. The links within the library direct students to the best information the internet has to offer. Click A Tutor also features links to free online encyclopedias as well as an online dictionary and thesaurus.
Perhaps the best part of Click A Tutor is its accessibility. Students can log into Click A Tutor at any time, in any place as long as they have a connection to the internet. Whether on an extended vacation, serving an expulsion or snowed in, teachers will always have access to their students using the Click A Tutor system.
There may be other topics that are brought in, other features within the Click A Tutor system that I did not mention here, but this represents a fairly accurate—stream of consciousness portrayal of the presentation.