It's coming up on testing season in the early grades. Every time I hear the term "non-tested grade" I want to go crazy. We test, and test, and test these littles!

In the span of a few weeks, my kiddos will best tested using Fast, MAP, text-leveled assessments, and WIDA ACCESS. In addition to needing assessed on kindergarten year-long skills at regular intervals PLUS 4-5 assessments in subject areas every week (grades for reading, writing, math, science, social studies!)

As an EL teacher, ACCESS is at the forefront of my mind. I don't want to "test-prep" in the sense that they score higher on the test than their actual proficiency, but I do want to expose them to the types of items they will encounter beforehand so the test accurately measures what they are able to do, and not their test-taking ability.

ACCESS for kindergarten is given one-on-one, and is as developmentally appropriate as a test could be for our little learners. If you have a language support block or other time with your young ELs, here are a few ideas for how to prepare them for success on ACCESS:
Reading--

• Using a pack of picture/word vocabulary flash cards for everyday home/school items, have students tell you the items. Focus on items such as "sofa" or "jacket" that have more than one term associated. How did they know that it was a /s/ofa and not a /c/ouch? 
• Write a list of words on the board, and spread pictures out on the carpet. Have students pick one, and hold it next to the word that it matches. Have students practice explaining their answers to the class!
• Continue to focus on reading short phrases and sentences both in and out of context through shared reading, guided reading, and interactive read alouds.

Writing --

• Practice name writing without nametags available to gauge who needs the most practice.
• Practice writing the beginning and ending sounds next to pictures of words after teacher models.
• Have students look at a picture of an event or one spread from a story and write about everything they see. Students who are at the one-word or short-phrase phase can be invited to write lists of everything they can name.
• Have students listen to a narrative story and write each event in sequence. Expose students who are ready to the words first, next, then, and last.

Listening--

• Have students listen for pre-taught vocabulary in texts, and raise their hand when they hear the word!
• Play "Simon Says" with increasingly more difficult directions as a class. Practice listening for things you did not directly name (i.e. touch the part of your body you use to smell!)
• Play "hide in the room" and have them listen to put an object in a part of the classroom. Use words such as on, below, next to, or above.

Speaking --

• Play "I have, who has" with sets of vocabulary cards such as classroom items, items in a home, or animals.
• Show students two shapes, and have them talk about similarities and differences between them with a partner.
• In morning meeting and share times, call attention to students who are speaking in complete thoughts or sentences. Share a sentence frame with students who need one to speak in a full sentence.
• Praise, praise, praise the speaking efforts of students at every level. Remember that students progress differently through the domains!