scholarly journals Less Truth Than Error: Massachusetts Teacher Tests

1999 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walt Haney ◽  
Clarke Fowler ◽  
Anne Wheelock ◽  
Damian Bebell ◽  
Nicole Malec
Keyword(s):  
Writing Skills ◽  
Verbal Ability ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Pass Rate ◽  
Reading And Writing ◽  
Large Margin ◽  
Writing Test ◽  
Margin Of Error ◽  
Grading Scale ◽  
Writing Scores

Scores on the Massachusetts Teacher Tests of reading and writing are highly unreliable. The tests' margin of error is close to double to triple the range found on well-developed tests. A person retaking the MTT several times could have huge fluctuations in their scores even if their skill level did not change significantly. In fact, the 9 to 17 point margin of error calculated for the tests represents more than 10 percent of the grading scale (assumed to be 0 to 100). The large margin of error means there is both a high false-pass rate and a high false-failure rate. For example, a person who received a score of 72 on the writing test could have scored an 89 or a 55 simply because of the unreliability of the test. Since adults' reading and writing skills do not change a great deal over several months, this range of scores on the same test should not be possible. While this test is being touted as an accurate assessment of a person's fitness to be a teacher, one would expect the scores to accurately reflect a test-taker's verbal ability level. In addition to the large margin of error, the MTT contain questionable content that make them poor tools for measuring test-takers' reading and writing skills. The content and lack of correlation between the reading and writing scores reduces the meaningfulness, or validity, of the tests. The validity is affected not just by the content, but by a host of factors, such as the conditions under which tests were administered and how they were scored. Interviews with a small sample of test-takers confirmed published reports concerning problems with the content and administration.

Using Escribo Play Video Games to Improve Phonological Awareness, Early Reading, and Writing in Preschool

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 188-197
Author(s):  
Americo N. Amorim ◽  
Lieny Jeon ◽  
Yolanda Abel ◽  
Eduardo F. Felisberto ◽  
Leopoldo N. F. Barbosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phonological Awareness ◽  
Word Reading ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Reading Scores ◽  
Reading And Writing ◽  
Preschool Students ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
D 20 ◽  
Writing Scores

The increased use of smartphones and tablets sets the stage for new mobile-based educational programs that seek to increase student learning and engagement in school and at home. This study examines the effectiveness of Escribo Play, a game-enhanced educational program, on preschool students’ phonological awareness, word reading, and writing skills. The randomized controlled trial was conducted with 749 students from 62 classrooms from 17 schools located in five cities. Quantitative pretesting and posttesting procedures using standardized instruments were employed. The results indicate that the experimental classrooms that used the 20 games for 3 months gained 68% in their reading scores compared to control classrooms ( d = .40). They also gained 48% more in writing scores ( d = .20). Multilevel analysis indicated that these findings were statistically significant.

THE ROLE OF LITERACY METHODS IN MASTERING OF WRITTEN LANGUAGE BY STUDENTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DYSLEXIA

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-18
Author(s):  
Tsvetanka Tsenova
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Work ◽  
Developmental Dyslexia ◽  
Reading Skills ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Written Language ◽  
Reading And Writing ◽  
Empirical Verification ◽  
Literacy Methods ◽  
The Relationship

This article focuses on the relationship between literacy methods applied at school and the emergence of serious difficulties in mastering reading and writing skills that shape the developmental dyslexia. The problem was analyzed theoretically and subjected to empirical verification. Experimental work was presented which aims to study the phonological and global reading skills of 4- th grade students with and without dyslexia. Better global reading skills have been demonstrated in all tested children, and this is much more pronounced in those with dyslexia than their peers without disorders. Hence, the need to develop a special, corrective methodology for literacy of students with developmental dyslexia consistent with their psychopathological characteristics.

scholarly journals Maternal depressive symptoms and children's academic performance: sex differences in the mediating role of school experiences

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Marilyn N. Ahun ◽  
Lamprini Psychogiou ◽  
Frédéric Guay ◽  
Michel Boivin ◽  
Richard E. Tremblay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Peer Victimization ◽  
School Engagement ◽  
School Experiences ◽  
Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Reading And Writing ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Writing Scores

Abstract Background Maternal depressive symptoms (MDSs) are negatively associated with children's academic performance, with stronger effects sometimes reported in boys. However, few studies have tested the mechanisms of this association. We examined the mediating role of school engagement and peer victimization in this association and tested for sex differences. Methods Participants were 1173 families from a population-based longitudinal Canadian study. MDSs were self-reported annually using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (child's age: 5 months to 5 years). Data on mediators (peer victimization, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional school engagement) were reported annually from ages 6–10 by multiple informants including children, parents, and teachers using items from validated scales. Mathematics, reading, and writing exam scores at age 12 were obtained from standardized exams administered by Québec's Ministry of Education and Teaching. Structural equation modeling was used to test mediation by school experiences in boys and girls. Results Exposure to MDSs was negatively associated with mathematics, reading, and writing scores in girls and with mathematics only in boys. Cognitive and behavioral engagement significantly mediated the association between MDSs and mathematics, reading, and writing scores in girls. There were no significant mediators for boys. Conclusions Prevention and intervention strategies aiming to improve school engagement might be beneficial for daughters of mothers experiencing depressive symptoms. Further research is needed to replicate these findings and to identify the mechanisms explaining this association in boys.

The effects of the World Wide Web on reading and writing skills in a Spanish cultural studies courseLos efectos de la Web en la adquisición de destrezas lectoras y escritas en un curso de cultura hispana

ReCALL ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
CARMEN CABOT
Keyword(s):  
Writing Skills ◽  
Written Language ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Reading And Writing ◽  
Spanish Speaking ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
The University ◽  
Task Oriented ◽  
Target Culture

This paper presents the results of a study that demonstrates an effective use of the Web as a tool to increase motivation and thus promote reading and writing skills in Spanish as well as a deeper sense of the culture of the Spanish speaking world. In the study, thirty students of second year Spanish at the University of New South Wales were required to prepare an itinerary for a trip to a Spanish speaking country of their choice using the WWW as the only resource. In general our findings regarding improved language skills were consistent with the literature: an increase of vocabulary, more use of references, more student initiated interactions and greater interactivity in the classroom amongst students were observed. There was, however, one aspect, linguistic accuracy, in which improvement was not greatly noted. The data collected confirms that a task-oriented Web based course can increase the motivation of students, improve the scope of their reading, and enhance their perception of the target culture, all with a great effect on range of language explored, learned and re-processed, but a much lesser effect on the accuracy of written language produced.

Students’ Writing Difficulties in Procedure Text: An Analysis Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-22
Author(s):  
Heti Hidayah
Keyword(s):  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Dominant Factor ◽  
Function Structure ◽  
Writing Difficulties ◽  
Writing Test ◽  
Structure Text ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Procedure Text ◽  
Text Language

Abstract The function of writing skills is the most effective way to show someone’s English proficiency, including the ability and difficulties. The objective of this research was to know the factors and to the dominant factor of students’ writing difficulties in procedure text. The instruments of this research were interview and writing test as the support data. Therefore, the researcher conducted a descriptive qualitative study analysis. The technique in analysed the data of the interview was a descriptive analysis technique (percentage) and descriptive analysis technique without percentage to analyse the writing test. The researcher asked some aspects of students’ writing difficulties in writing procedure text based on the syllabus of class 9 K13 namely social function, structure text, language features, and topic. For the writing test, the students were asked to write a procedure text. So that the students had difficulties in social function, structure text, language features, and topic. This research showed the dominant factor students’ writing difficulties in procedure text was language features, like vocabulary and grammar which made the students difficult when writing the procedure text. Thus, the students still faced difficulties in writing skills like procedure text and the students have to improve their ability in writing skills.   Keywords: Difficulty, Writing, Procedure Text  

scholarly journals Book Reviews

2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 102
Author(s):  
John Sivell ◽  
Ellen Pilon
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Reading And Writing

Reviews of: 'How to Teach English: An Introduction to the Practice of English Language Teaching,' by Jeremy Harmer; and 'Focusing on IELTS: Reading and Writing Skills,' by Kerry O'Sullivan and Jeremy Lindeck.

scholarly journals An Attempt at Promoting Undergraduate Sudanese EFL Students’ Performance in Academic Writing Skills

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ammar Mohammed Ahmed Mudawy
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Extensive Reading ◽  
Reading And Writing ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Holy Quran ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
University Level

The study aims at suggesting effective methods and techniques that could improve English as a foreign language EFL students’ performance in writing skills. The researcher uses the descriptive, analytical method. Four tools were adopted pretest, post-test, supporting program, and a questionnaire for teachers for collecting data. Twenty-five students in Holy Quran University, Sudan, were chosen purposively, and thirty EFL teachers at a university level were randomly selected as a sample for the study. Ninty percent of the teachers agree on the suggested program and techniques. The findings of the study indicate that: using varied techniques and activities in pre-writing stage promotes students’ performances in writing, integration of reading and writing skills in the classroom improves students’ writing skills, as well as encouraging extensive reading outside the classroom promotes students’ performance in writing skills. Accordingly, the researcher recommends that: teachers should focus on the prewriting stage through different activities as well as reading and writing should be used in an integrated way in-class writing to guide the writing process.

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