Subject: Math
Grade Level(s): 3 – 8
Measures Growth: No
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The Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress Plus assessment program tests students in grades 3-8 in ELA, math, science and social studies. The math test is administered to all grades from 3-8, using a combination of multiple choice and open response questions.
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Cons: Does not assess higher-order thinking • Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level
Pros: Data is presented clearly
Cons: Results are not returned quickly • It is hard to use the data
The 7th and 8th grade mathematics tests are at a very low level of rigor. The written portion is better than the multiple choice, but students can only show (or not show) so many skills in 4 questions. The multiple choice session is very basic, and I do not believe that this tests holds our students and teachers accountable to a high level of mathematical understanding.
Submitted by Tony in Indiana on March 29, 2012
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach • Assesses higher-order thinking • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Cons: Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level
Pros: Easy to administer
Cons: Results are not returned quickly • Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • It is hard to use the data • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
The ISTEP+ applied skills assessment is aligned to grade level standards. Some of the questions in the math portion are asked in a backwards or purposefully confusing way. I think this is valuable if we are looking to measure problem solving and critical thinking abilities. It becomes problematic if we are trying to gauge students' mastery of the actual Indiana math standards when questions have 3 or 4 steps. How do you isolate what they know and what they don't know? How do you determine what to reteach or improve? I also agree with another reviewer that the question difficulty seems to fluctuate from year to year.
We have the technology now to track students' progress on ISTEP from year to year. This data (including scores on individual standards) should be available for teachers, parents, and students.
Submitted by Ellen in Indiana on March 11, 2012
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach • Assesses higher-order thinking • Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Pros: Easy to administer • Helps me track my students' learning gains over the course of the school year • Data is presented clearly • Data I receive helps me understand where I am teaching well and where I need to improve
Cons: Results are not returned quickly
Some tests are more difficult than others, depends on the year.
Submitted by J.L. in Indiana on February 25, 2012
Pros: Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Does not assess higher-order thinking
Pros: Easy to administer • Data is presented clearly
Cons: Results are not returned quickly
I actually do not see anything wrong with the skills the Istep assesses. I think 8th graders should definitely know what is being assessed in the ISTEP. However, I teach Algebra to 8th graders. While common sense suggests students taking algebra should be able to pass a simple 8th grade math test, this is not always the case. You see, I dont teach the eighth grade math standards: box and whisker plots, measures of central tendency, geometric relationships and so forth. Therefore my kids are only prepared for the algebraic portion of ISTEP. It is difficult to prepare kids taking Algebra in the 8th grade because they will take 2 high stakes tests - ISTEP and the Algebra ECA.
I have since attempted to rectify a lack of 8th grade math instruction by reteaching concepts at certain points in the year. However, it is still an awkward spot for an 8th grade math classroom.
Submitted by Patrick in Indiana on February 13, 2012
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