i-Ready Diagnostic Reading Assessment for Grade 7 & 8

From Todd Harrison, Bigelow Principal

Students in grade 7 and 8 and on Cluster 6B will participate in the spring administration of the i-Ready Diagnostic reading assessment. This is a formative assessment of reading skills that we began last year district-wide to learn more about our students’ literacy skills in order to inform our instruction. Cluster 6A students have an assembly on April 14, and will take iReady on April 15 and 16.

Given the many obstacles to teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to have a clear sense of students’ strengths and challenges as readers as we end the school year. For this reason, we ask that you please do not assist your child with the assessment.

All students will take the assessment with their teachers on Zoom. Below are the testing procedures.

In addition, when students are not testing or in the assembly on April 14, teachers will assign asynchronous work for students so that they can begin preparing google calendars for the new schedule which launches on April 28.

TESTING PROCEDURES FOR STUDENTS

  • Students should find a quiet place where they can take the test undisturbed.
  • Students will be taking the assessment remotely over a 2 hour period.
  • Teachers and support staff will be proctoring via Zoom.
  • Students will be put into individual breakout rooms and asked to share their screens.
  • Teachers/support staff will circulate between breakout rooms during testing.
  • Students can request help using the “Ask for Help” feature in Zoom.
  • If possible, students should use headphones while taking the test and have scrap paper/writing utensils available.
  • Students should use a Chromebook. IPads don’t work.