Test Talk: Integrating Test Preparation into Reading Workshop

by Amy H. Greene, Glennon Doyle Melton, Glennon Doyle

Under No Child Left Behind, nearly every teacher faces a high-stakes balancing act; managing the often incompatible responsibilities of teaching students meaningfully or preparing them for standardized tests. Through their experiences teaching at a school that struggled to meet state test standards driven by NCLB, authors Amy Greene and Glennon Melton discovered a way to raise scores without compromising their strong beliefs about good teaching and learning. In Test Talk, Amy and Glennon share their story and their proven approach.

This compelling book shows that teachers don't have to choose between best practice teaching and test preparation; effective test-taking strategies can be integrated into authentic reading instruction. The authors demonstrate how to improve performance on tests without resorting to “teaching to the test,” mnemonic devices, or other gimmicks. Instead, they focus on encouraging student readers to explore tests as a specific genre containing unique language, format, and cues.

Concise and easy-to-use, Test Talk includes lesson plans and practice passages, as well as sample questions and suggested language to use during lessons. Throughout the book, classroom vignettes show how seamlessly one can weave the test genre into reading workshop and connect those specialized skills to more general reading strategies. It is an invaluable resource for any teacher who struggles with how to prepare kids for tests without sacrificing real teaching and learning.

Genres: Professional Development, Teaching

154 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book positions itself as a way to intergrate test prep into reading workshop at the elementary school level. I'm not sure I buy that they aren't teaching to the test and wonder whether (hope?) there is a fuller picutre of these classrooms/the school that is missing from the book? It is very strategy focused and if you know me, you know that drives me bonkers. But the pages that were not scripted strategies, were insightful in that it made transparent for me some of the things that I do unconsciously as a reader. It did get me thinking and inspired me to think about some things I can do with my SAT Prep class.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been working with the teachers at my school to find books to use to teach comprehension strategy lessons about inferring, drawing conclusions, synthesizing, etc. When my Teachers As Readers group decided to read this book, I wasn't overly excited until I realized how the two things fit nicely together. By taking a few days at the end of a strategy unit, you can integrate the two things over the year rather than cramming it all into the weeks before the test. I can't wait to share it with the teachers I work with.

[Michelle Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unfortunately, state-wide testing doesn't seem to be going anywhere. This book is a fantastic tool for teachers (and even parents) to add to their reading workshops and reading discussions with students. The language of the test, or "test talk" is evaluated as much as a child's comprehension and reading knowledge. Integrating test talk into your daily language familiarizes kids with what they'll encounter on the tests.

[The Reading Countess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read first time in spring 2009, but revisited each dreaded spring for, you guessed it, test talk. Written by teachers who "get it," this easy to read and easier to implement in the classroom book allows teachers to use best practice while still preparing kids for the dreaded bubbling.

[Lauren Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's nice to have some ideas on how to integrate test talk and strategies as PART of the reading workshop rather than a separate entity. The layout is nice and user friendly. Highly recommend to all teachers and reading specialists.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource for teaching test taking strategically. Sample lessons have some great ideas to use and build off of.

[Simona Maurice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super easy read and extremely effective.