Testing Fundamentals Overview

Testing Fundamentals Program Overview

How it Works

• Testing Fundamentals systematically teaches the skills and strategies students need to effectively answer questions from the four major question categories appearing on standardized tests. These four categories include:

- Finding Word Meaning in Context: Vocabulary
- Literal Questions: Paying attention to detail
- Determining Importance: Finding the main idea
- Inferential Questions: Reading the unwritten word

• Teachers model reading comprehension strategies by reading and thinking aloud from touchtone texts in a whole group setting.

• Students are provided multiple opportunities for both guided and independent practice to reinforce the skills and strategies taught.

• Lessons explicitly link the reading strategies and skills needed to effectively answer questions presented during test-taking situations, effectively building a bridge between reading instruction and test preparation. In addition to becoming better readers, students learn to become test savvy and to recognize common testing "tricks and traps".

Whole-Group Instruction Set Using Touchstone Texts

Includes 9 Touchstone Texts per program:
The teacher models a skill or strategy by thinking aloud while reading and pointing out sections of an exemplar text. Each Unit includes 2-4 explicit whole-group lessons; approximately 15 lessons in total per program.

Small-Group Instruction Set with Skill Checks

Includes 8 Texts, 6 copies of each; and Sixteen Skill Checks are included with each program.

The students practice the skills and strategies introduced in the whole-group instruction in small groups with support from the teacher. Each program includes 48 books (8 titles, 6 copies of each) for small-group work. Students read from the selected books and, with teacher support, answer 10 questions (Skill Checks) that simulate a standardized test.

Whole Group Unit Assessments with Class Set

Includes a class set (25 copies) of one title; and Four Practice Tests are included with each program.
The students independently practice the strategy instruction. Students read from the selected title and independently answer 15 questions that simulate a standardized test.