Mr. Anker Tests

Contents

Introduction

A Note on Reading...

Features Common to Tests

Unique Features on Various Tests

Record Keeping

System Requirements

Technical Information

Acknowledgements

English Tests Overview

Spanish Tests Overview

*For more information about these tests not covered here, please contact Henry Anker at:

Mr._Anker@alexandria-es5.lausd.K12.ca.us



Introduction

Before you read too far into this manual, let me advise you that it is not necessary to read it in order for your students to use these tests. What makes this true, and what makes effective educational software work best for teachers, is that students will be able to figure out how to use it on their own, and teach each other how to use it, if need be.

But before you toss this guide aside, there is information in here that won't take long to absorb, and will make your use of the tests easier, more efficient and effective. So read on! Also, check out the "Welcome Message" included on this CD for a quick overview. This information is also found on Alexandria Elementary's Web Site at: http://alexandria-es10.lausd.k12.ca.us/Staff_Pages/Henry_Anker/HyperCard_Activities.html

These tests have many uses for the varied needs of teachers and the students they work with. As teachers, we know that we don't choose our students. Each year brings new students with new challenges, different abilities and needs.

Because this collection of tests includes a variety of levels, you can use them at different times of year as your students are prepared to use them. For example, you might use the Grade 1 Tests at the beginning of Second Grade as an assessment tool. This would help you know what areas of weakness need to be addressed, and where your students may be ready for more challenging work.

Within a class, you may have students at many different levels: some who are just acquiring English or working below grade level, a larger group working at grade level, and some working above grade level. Students can progress through the test activities at their own pace, and repeat them as necessary. Some students can even work on tests well beyond their grade level if they show the motivation to do so.

That's a big part of where you come in. As with any educational task, the enthusiasm and skill a good teacher has in the delivery of a lesson and the motivation he or she provides through the activity makes all the difference. If you show your students you value the content of a lesson or the acquisition of a skill, your students will too. A few well-chosen kind words or a pat on the back are sometimes all it takes to get the extra effort out of a student we all want.

A Note on Reading...

While you'll see tests labeled Math, Civics, US Presidents, Measurement, ASL, etc..., every test in essence is a reading test. Make this point very clear to your students. Demonstrate the pitfalls of poor reading for understanding. As you introduce new tests to your students, ask them to read the questions aloud, then restate the question, or what is being asked. We know from experience that published standardized tests are filled with tricky questions that attempt to catch a student off guard. For students reading well below grade level, this can be a wake up call. Let them know that. Poor reading students must understand how reading impacts everything they are being asked to do.

Alignment to Standards (California State Standards & L.A.U.S.D. Standards)

You will notice that a great number of these standards are covered throughout a great many of these tests.

Features Common to Tests

All the tests are in Black & White. Most of the tests have 20 questions. In most of the tests, a correct score is worth 3 points, and an incorrect answer causes the student to lose a point, sometimes more than one on a question.

Previewing the tests quickly

To move through the questions in any test quickly, repeatedly press command-3 (next card), or to move backward through a test, press command-2 (previous card), as necessary.

Unique Features on Various Tests

Some tests include a spoken question. Generally the student has the ability to hear a question over again. The majority of the tests are multiple choice, others require the student to type in the answer. Most tests require the student to continue looking for the right answer until it is found, others simply show the correct answer and move on.

Record Keeping

All tests ask for the name of the student at the beginning, and record it in a roster at the end. If you want to track the performance of students in your class on one computer, you can view and print a list of the names of your students, followed by each student's grade. If a student quits in the middle of a quiz, no grade is shown. It is, however, not necessary for a student to type their name to use the test.

This "Results" card can be seen by pressing the command-3 on the keyboard after the "Final Score" card. You can also get to the Results card by pressing command-2 (previous card) while on the Title Card (the first card) of any quiz, or pressing command-4, which is the command to go directly to the last card. If you would like a student to restart a test (because the student didn't how to do it, for example), press command-1 (first card).

To clear the name list and start tracking new results, click on the "clear scores" button, and on the password prompt, type "Henry". Do not reveal this password to your students.

System Requirements

These tests will run on any Macintosh computer with a monitor that can display 640 x 480 pixels on the screen (typically referred to as a 14" or larger monitor). These tests will work on any monitor that can display higher resolutions as well.

These tests were created in an application called HyperCard. You don't need to have the HyperCard application on your computer. They will run with the included HyperCard Player. In fact, it is better to not have HyperCard application on the computer's hard drive, as students could attempt to alter a test (mischieveously or otherwise) with its tools, if the HyperCard application were present. More infornmation concerning this issue is mentioned in the Installation Instructions file.

Technical Information

There are a few problems you may encounter while using one or more of these tests. Most could be related to the system software you are using on each Mac. While care was taken to use only system fonts, some text may still appear strangely if you have the feature "Smooth all fonts on screen" set in System 8.5 and above. You can resolve this if you turn off this feature using the "Appearance" Control Panel.

In order to prevent students from trying to advance through questions without answering them, the menu bar has been hidden from the user. You may need to adjust the volume level for some tests or make some other adjustment, such as the monitor bit depth (though the stacks will run in any resolution) after the stack has been opened. To make the menu bar and control strip appear, press the command key (also called the "Apple key") and the spacebar. Press them again to hide the menu bar and control strip.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank all the teachers and students who assisted me in the creation and testing of these programs. I could not have compiled the variety and quantity of questions contained here without the input and contributions of the teachers at Alexandria.

The students at Alexandria were incredibly helpful in their testing and 'hacking' into the tests to make sure they worked properly, and that students could not bypass the scoring and recordkeeping functions of these tests.

A huge thank you to Theodore Fukushima for his technical support.

I could not have made these without the support of our Principal at Alexandria, Carol Labrow. She is a technology-using teacher's ideal principal!

Thank you to my wife, Barbara, for all of her encouragement, and for putting up with some long nights with books and computers. Thank you to my sons, David & Steven, who inspired the creation and enhancement of many of these tests. ÁGracias a toda mi familia!

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English Tests

K Animal Match 1a, 1b, 1c

In this test, the student clicks of the voice button, and then chooses the matching animal. The layout of the animals is the same in each test, but the animal named will be different. The most recognizable animals are named at the first level.

K Animal Match 2a, 2b, 2c

In this test, the student sees a word, and then chooses the matching animal. The layout of the animals is the same in each test, but the animal named will be different. The words for the animals with shortest names are named at the first level.

K Picture Match A

In this test, the student clicks of the voice button, and then chooses the matching picture.

K Picture Match B

In this test, the student clicks on the picture that matches the word shown above.

K Picture Match C

In this test, the student clicks on the word (from the three choices) that matches the picture.

K Picture Match D

In this test, the student matches the picture to the spoken prompt, such as: "Which of these is used to write a story?"

1 Dictation

This test is a simple simulation of the dictation skill. The student clicks on the voice prompt and then types the sentence. The student can hear the prompt as many times as needed. Spacing between words can be varied, but at least one space is mandatory, and capitalization and ending punctuation must be correct.

1 Just Nickels!

This test eliminates the confusion children at this age feel when they have to count pennies or dimes at the same time. Counting by 5's then, is the skill that is isolated.

1 Math A

Provides Math application questions. The first 10 are prompted by a voice. The remainder of the 20 questions require some reading.

1 Math B

Provides Math application questions. More reading is required in this test than the first.

1 Math B

Provides Math application questions. More reading is required in this test than in Part A & B, and the questions require more careful attention to the way the questions are prompted in voice and text.

1 Math Fractions

Questions are prompted with the phrase, "How much is shaded?" Fractions are shown in different ways; e.g. regions of a shape, or shaded objects as part of the group.

1 Measurement Practice

There are 10 practice exercises here. In each one, the student can move the ruler on the screen (left, right, up down), or the object being measured until the edge of the object is "homed" at the zero inch mark on the ruler. It begins with whole inch, then half inch and finally quarter inch distances. The objects measured are common household and school items (pencil, paperclip, toothbrush, etc...). The scorecard keeps track of which items the student measured correctly, and shows the result of each activity at the end.

1 Nickel's & Dimes!

Here the student will count by only 5's or only 10's first. Then they are combined, but no one's have to be counted in yet. Once this skill is mastered, then students can more easily use academic software that asks them to count all denominations of coins at once.

1 Reading Vocabulary A

The first 15 questions include a picture, where the student needs to choose the corresponding word. The last 5 have no picture, but clues are built into the question's sentence.

1 Reading Vocabulary A

This test has 20 questions and has no pictures. Many of the answers can be derived by using context clues either in the sentence or by comparing the answer choices.

1 Spelling (3 Letter Words)

This test includes words like bus, sit, hen, old, bee, egg. Pictures are included.

1 Sight Word Tests

These tests use the list of "The 100 Most Frequently Used Words in Print." This is a set of tests that ask the student to recognize the printed sight word from a voiced prompt, broken up into sets of 20 words. There is a companion set of tests that ask the student to spell each of the words as they are voiced. To avoid confusion, some of the words are used in a sentence when spoken, as in the case of homophones.

2 Alphabetizing

In this test, there are 10 sets of words presented in lists in random order. The student must retype the words (correctly spelled) into a new list. Most of the word lists are grouped thematically.

2 Dictation

This test is a simple simulation of the dictation skill. The student clicks on the voice prompt and then types the sentence. The student can hear the prompt as many times as needed. Spacing between words can be varied, but at least one space is mandatory, and capitalization and ending punctuation must be correct.

2 Language

This test is entirely supported by voice prompts. The first 10 questions ask for the appropriate end punctuation (period, question mark, exclamation mark). The last ten ask for the correct spelling of a contraction (don't, you've, etc...)

2 Math A

Provides a variety of Math application questions. Many include the same illustrations and prompts as Math 1 A, but with more difficult questions asked.

2 Math Fractions

Questions are prompted with the phrase, "How much is shaded?" Fractions are shown in different ways; e.g. regions of a shape, or shaded objects as part of the group. The first few are review and are similar to Grade 1 Fractions.

2 Parts of Speech

This test is filled entirely with questions on nouns, both multiple choice and identification within the sample sentences.

2 Reading Comprehension

This test includes the typical reading of a story or poem, and then answering questions based on their content. This test has 25 questions.

2 Sentences

This test quizzes students on recognizing complete sentences, incomplete sentences and run-on sentences.

2 Spelling (3-6 Letter Words)

This test includes words like apple, car, girl, cat, house. Pictures are included.

2 Synonyms

The student must choose the word that has the closest meaning to the underlined word shown

2 Table of Contents

This test shows three different Table of Contents with a variety of headings. The students must determine under which of the headings they would look to find information on that topic. The student clicks directly on the line within the T of C itself to indicate the answer.

3 Alphabetizing

In this test, there are 10 sets of words presented in lists in random order. The student must retype the words (correctly spelled) into a new list. Most of the word lists are grouped thematically.

3 Dictation

This test is a simple simulation of the dictation skill. The student clicks on the voice prompt and then types the sentence. The student can hear the prompt as many times as needed. Spacing between words can be varied, but at least one space is mandatory, and capitalization and ending punctuation must be correct.

3 Homophones

In this text, the student chooses from the two homophonic choices to correctly complete the cloze sentence.

3 Math A

This test includes a variety of math application questions. These include estimation, money, time, logic, reading graphs, etc...

3 Math B

This test includes a variety of math application questions. Most of the questions are in word problem form.

3 Math Fractions

Questions such as "How much is shaded?" "How much is not shaded?" "How much is not striped or shaded?" are incuded. Fractions are also represented in more complex ways.

3 Parts of Speech

This test includes nouns & verbs, both multiple choice and identification within the sample sentences.

3 Reading Comprehension

This test includes the typical reading of a story or poem, and then answering questions based on their content.

3 Vocabulary A

The student looks for the synonym for the underlined word in the sentence.

3 Vocabulary B

The student looks for the synonym for the underlined word in the given sentence.

3 Vocabulary C

The student looks for the sentence where the same word is used in the same way, or find the meaning of the underlined word in a sentence or paragraph.

3 Reading Vocabulary D 100

This is a vocabulary marathon. The test consists of 100 questions, broken down into groups of 10. After each 10 questions, the student is given his score, and is given the option of returning to the beginning of that group of 10 questions (with the score restored), or continuing on to the next set of ten, until question 100 is completed.

The majority of the words queried in the definitions and cloze tasks were gathered from the Social Studies and Science texts at this grade level and also 4th Grade. They were chosen by teachers because they were thought to be most likely to cause students trouble when reading and answering questions in these subjects.

American Sign Language Tests

These tests were preceded by the number 4 (Grade Level 4), as a logical place to used them. But they have been used with students in Kindergarten through grade 3 as well, with much success.

Each test has an Instructions & Help! button on its title screen as reference to the ASL fingerspelling alphabet. If the signs are reviewed using the computer as well as with the teacher modeling the signs with students, students can proceed confidently into these activities.

4 ASL (A)

This test shows either the hand signed letter or the letter of the alphabet and the match is chosen from 3 choices.

4 ASL (B)

This test shows the letter sign and the student must type the corresponding letter.

4 ASL (C)

This test shows a short word statically fingerspelled out, and the student must match one of three pictures to it.

4 ASL (D)

This test shows a word statically fingerspelled out, and the student must match one of three synonyms in the first 10 questions, and match one of three antonyms in the last 10 questions to it.

4 ASL (E)

This test shows a word dynamically spelled out, beginning with simple words like "cat" and "mom". The student must type the signed word. The signed word can be displayed more that once if needed with no penalty.

4 ASL (F)

This test shows a word dynamically spelled out. The words are longer and less common than those used in part (E). The student must type the signed word. The signed word can be displayed more that once if needed with no penalty.

4 ASL (G)

This test shows sentences dynamically spelled out. The student must choose the signed sentence from a group of four. The signed sentence can be displayed more that once if needed with no penalty.

4 Alphabetizing

In this test, there are 10 sets of words presented in lists in random order. The student must retype the words (correctly spelled) into a new list. Most of the word lists are grouped thematically.

4 Dictation

This test is a simple simulation of the dictation skill. The student clicks on the voice prompt and then types the sentence. The student can hear the prompt as many times as needed. Spacing must be exact, capitalization (including proper nouns), and ending punctuation must be correct.

4 General Knowledge A & B

General knowledge questions to which most 4th grade teachers would agree students should have the answers.

4 Homophones A, B, C, D

In this text, the student chooses from the two homophonic choices to correctly complete the cloze sentence. The sentences and words used are more difficult than the Grade 3 version.

4 Math A, B, C

This test includes a variety of math application questions. These include estimation, money, time, logic, reading graphs, etc...

4 Math D

This test concentrates on area, perimeter and volume, both with and without illustrations.

4 Math Fractions A

This test is similar to the Grade 1 fractions test, though the illustrations become more complex, and all answers must be indicated in lowest terms to be correct.

4 Math Fractions B

This test utilizes no illustrations. The student must find or enter data to make equivilant fractions, as well as find the answer to questions like 1/4 of 32.

4 Parts of Speech

This test includes nouns, verbs, adjectives & adverbs, both multiple choice and identification within the sample sentences.

4 Phonics A

Students match the sound of the underlined letters in the word given with one of the choices provided.

4 Proofreading

In this test, the student must examine the sample sentence carefully, and then make changes to it in the editing area below, before pressing the "Proof It!" button.

4 Punctuation

Sentences are shown with punctuation missing. The needed punctuation must be found, if any is needed.

4 Reading Comprehension

All of the questions in this test are based on the same story, "Captain Rivera's Flight."

4 Reading Vocabulary A & B

The student looks for the synonym for the underlined word in the given sentence.

4 Reference Materials

The student must use knowledge of the use of resources such as an atlas, telephone book, dictionary, encyclopedia, etc...

4 Reference Skills

The student must use knowledge of things like parts of a book, ingredients, technical info, graphs, etc...

4 Reading Vocabulary & Spelling A & B

These are spelling tests that include the definition and spoken word.

4 Table of Contents

This test shows three different Table of Contents with a variety of headings. The students must determine under which of the headings they would look to find information on that topic. The student clicks directly on the line within the T of C itself to indicate the answer.

5 Compass Skills

Students identify missing points on a compass shown (including primary N,S,E,W; secondary NE,SW; and teriary ENE,SSW points). Students also compare compass directions to left, right, behind, clock number positions, etc...

5 Homophones A & B

In this test, the student chooses from the two homophonic choices to correctly complete the cloze sentence. The sentences and words used are more difficult than the Grade 4 version. There are many sentences which are written with the intention to trick the student into choosing the wrong word.

5 Math (Time)

This is, as most tests are, a reading test more than anything else. Units of time, and the use of these units in larger problems are here. Example: "How many days are there in three weeks?"

5 Math A, B & C

These are higher level elementary skills including geometry, time, money and word problems.

5 Math D

These are higher level elementary math questions focusing on units of measure (distance, volume, time, weight). Equivalencies must be typed in, rather than chosen.

5 Math Fractions A

In this test the student must type in numerators, denominators and comparison signs between fractions to make the statements or equations true.

5 Math Fractions B

In this test the student answer questions with illustrations, mixed numbers, equations using fractions among others.

5 Math Fractions C

This test utilizes no illustrations. The student must find or enter data to make equivilant fractions, as well as find the answer to questions like 3/5 of 40.

5 Math Place Value

In this test the student identifys the number in its place (ones, tens, ten thousands, etc...).

5 Math Rounding A

In this test the student must identify or enter the number rounded to the nearest 10, 100, 1000, 10,000, 100,000 & million.

5 Reading Comprehension

All of the questions in this test are based on the same story of "The Trojan Horse."

5 Reading Vocabulary A & B

Students use the vocabulary they have or the information in the sentence given to choose the synonym.

5 Roman Numerals A & B

The student must match the standard numeral with the Roman Numeral. In part B, the student must often type in the Roman Numeral to answer the question.

5 Time is Money

This test has only 10 questions, all of which are word problems involving time and money and the relationship between them is the real world (parking rates, hourly pay, etc...).

5 Twisted Word Problems

This test has 20 word problems where students use computation skills in one or two step problems like: "Add the number of continents on the Earth to the number of planets in our solar system, then divide the total by the number of sides on a rectangle." The student would figure the answer (7+9) / 4 = 4.

5 US History "Civics" #1, #2, #3

These 3 tests contain progressively more difficult and detailed US History abd Government questions. These tests can also be used with Adult ESL and Citizenship courses.

5 US Presidents #1

Identify, in order, the ten of the most familiar Presidents. This is done by clicking on the name from among 11 names in a list next to each portrait.

5 US Presidents #2

Identify, in random sequence, from a collection of nearly all of the US Presidents. This is done by clicking on the name from among 11 names in a list next to each portrait. Some may appear more than once. The sequence is different in every quiz.

5 US Presidents #3

In this quiz, the student must type in the name of the President correctly, based on the biographical information shown. If the first try is missed, a portion of the portrait is revealed, but points are lost, and the new value of a correct answer is reduced. A third try is offered, with the portrait unobstructed, but points are reduced again. Many answers are acceptable for each (John F. Kennedy, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, JFK, etc...).

6 Audio Spelling Game

This is a spelling/vocabulary test. The student can attempt to spell the needed word based on its definition or by hearing the spoken word. The selection of words is challenging.

6 Homophones

In this test, the student chooses from the two homophonic choices to correctly complete the cloze sentence. The sentences and words used are more difficult than the Grade 5 version. There are many sentences which are written with the intention to trick the student into choosing the wrong word.

6 Reading Comprehension

All of the questions in this test are based on the humorous person tale, "The Terrible Flight."

Mathematics

This is a set of 12 leveled tests that can be used by the teacher (or the students themselves) to evaluate their skill level in each of the 4 computation operations. There are 3 levels for each (+,-,x,/). These are intended to be done mentally. These tests can also be used for English speaking students, as they focus entirely on computation.

Missing Number Math

These tests work as the Mathematics (compuatation tests). The student must type in the missing addend, minuend, subtrahend, factor, dividend or divisor. There are two additional levels: addition beginner and division advanced. The student can press return or enter after each answer to move through the questions more quickly.



Spanish Tests



Matematicas

Same as above, though all the prompts are in Spanish.

1 Practica de lenguage

This test has questions that test a student's knowledge of end punctuation, capitalization and complete sentences.

1 Matematicas A & B

These tests are identical to the 1 Math A & B tests in English.

1 Vocabulario de lectura

This is the same test as the 1 Reading Vocabulary test.

2 Matematicas

This is the same test as the 2 Math A test in English.

2 Comprension de lectura

This is a reading comprehension test.

2 Habilidad de lenguage

In this test, the student is asked to recognize the word from the spoken sentence that is spelled correctly.

2 Practica de sinonimos

This test is similar to the Synonyms tests in English.

2 Practica de vocabulario

This is similar to the 3 Vocabulary 100 test. This one has 70 questions, also broken down into groups of 10.

3 Matematicas A & B

These are identical to the 3 Math A & B tests in English.

3 Comprension de lectura

This is a reading comprehension test.

4 Matematicas A

This is the same test as the English version 4 Math A.

5 Matematicas A & B

These are the identical tests as the 5 Math A & B in English

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©1993-2000 Henry Anker, Alexandria Avenue Elementary School Teacher

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