When whole class does poorly on test/what

[suprchq]

do you do? I gave my 5th graders an open book test on material they were supposed to read the night before. The questions were short answer questions on immigration. More than half the class failed, because there were only 13 questions. What do you do in this situation? Let the grade stand or tell them if they correct it you will average the two grades together. I am a first year teacher so I could use some guidance. Should I not do short answer, just multiple choice? But they need to be able to explain their answer.

Thanks
Susannah

 

[PrivateEyes]

What I'd do

Students need to be taught how to extract information from non-fictional texts. I would take the time to teach your students how to test well in that format. Treat it as a classroom assignment, not a test. Give them back their tests and use an overhead and multiple copies of the reading assignment.

First, have them read the question. Model how to find the answers, highlight, then have them highlight the passage with the answers. Then have them go back and answer the question. Model the correct answers on the overhead for the first few questions, then have students supply the answers as you complete the assignment together.

As an assignment assessment, give them a shorter passage and fewer questions. Review the correct answers when done, and check to see that they have highlighted and followed the steps. Obviously, they can't highlight textbooks, but they can mark with sticky notes or highlighting tape.

 

[mjoteach]

Retest

I agree with Private Eyes. Sometimes I retest with a different format after going over the old test and average the two scores. Sometimes I make them correct and return the test and just award bonus points for the corrections. This makes the score stand, but is raised a little if they put forth the effort.
If this is the first test you have given them, the shock value may be enough to make them study next time. My experience is that when you give an "open book" test, students think they don't have to study. They don't understand that you have to be more familiar with content than for a closed book test.
Hang in there!

 

[M.]

Re

First, when I give tests, I like to have a variety of sections...a matching section, a mutiple choice section, a true-false section, a short answer section, an essay section, etc. However, because this an open-book test, I don't see anything wrong with just short answer.

Second, I do not allow retakes unless many students did poorly. Basically, I feel that if many students did poorly, that there was probably something wrong with understanding...perhaps I didn't explain it well enough. When that happens, we review and I retest them, using a different test of course! I do not average the scores because when many do poorly, I feel it's more of a lack of understanding and that I might not have taught it as well I could.

You said the test was on material that they were suppose to read the night before. Did you go over it before the test? Could they have had some trouble understanding what they read? Could they not have read it? Even if they used their book, that still doesn't help if they didn't understand it and it doesn't help them as well if they hadn't read it prior to the test. Could you retest but review the material more in case there was some misunderstanding?

When I assign students to read a lesson from their book, I suggest that they took notes in their notebook. Then, I will occasionally give a pop quiz on it. Those students who took notes are allowed to use the notes for the quiz. Those who didn't can't. They know when I assign the reading that if they take notes and there's a quiz on the material, that they get to use the notes. It's a good tool for me because if the student took notes, I know for sure that he or she read it. It also helps them learn to take notes. I also think that taking notes helps to comprehend what the book is actually saying.

 

[Marie]

tests

I agree with the other posts....I always try to give my students a weeks notice before they are tested on something. I probably wouldn't assign a reading and then test on it. What is the reading level of the students who failed the test? I know that if I assigned reading, and then gave a test on it the next day, alot of my students would do poorly because alot of them are not good readers. Make sure that you are teaching the content to them...they should be reading the textbook for reinforcement of what was being taught in class. They should always know what they will be tested on and the test should be in a variety of formats. Give some matching, multiple choice and short answer questions...and give partial credit for the short answer questions if they get some of it right. If more than half the class failed, I would reteach, then re-assess. Obviously they aren't learning the information. I would also teach them how to answer short answer questions. Maybe they don't know what you are expecting from them. Also, talk to their teachers from last year, maybe they can give you some insight to their test-taking skills.

 

[cde]

tests

I also agree with the other posts. One thing I do after every open book test is to have the students correct their papers. They must include the page number where they found the answer and be prepared to show me where the answer is on that page. I do that randomly. They do not show me every answer but do have a page number down for the ones they missed. This is a reinforcement of how to look for answers in nonfictional text.

 

[Tearokie]

5th Grade Teacher

Maybe the problem is that the children either did not read the night before or they read but did not understand the information. Try discussing the material in the classroom and make a note of the students
problems, then give the test again.

 

[Florence]

bossygirl

When my kids do poorly on a test I really look at the test and what I taught. I usually find that I did not cover, review or explain as much as I thought I did. So I throw that test out, and then start again. Yes, you won't "keep up" with the million objectives we are required to cover, but it lets your kids know that you care if they l learn. Have the class look at the test, grade it together...maybe have them write some new questions that parallel the old ones and do them on the board.
Hope this helps!

 

[Florence]

bossygirl

When my kids do poorly on a test I really look at the test and what I taught. I usually find that I did not cover, review or explain as much as I thought I did. So I throw that test out, and then start again. Yes, you won't "keep up" with the million objectives we are required to cover, but it lets your kids know that you care if they learn. Have the class look at the test, grade it together...maybe have them write some new questions that parallel the old ones and do them on the board.
Hope this helps!

 

[study]

make sure the kids study. a great way to review is to play jepordy with the questions. its a lot of fun. no one can get out.