Students should feel prepared, but not dread, WASL testing

WASL testing scheduled for April 16-May 4, high schools began some testing in mid-March

by Dr. Mary Alice Heuschel, Superintendent, Renton School District

April 12, 2007—Standardized testing in general, and the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) specifically, is a hot-button issue in education, but many students aren’t actually feeling the heat. In a national study of middle and high school students, the great majority of students say they take tests seriously, and 95 percent say they don’t stress taking the tests.

That’s good news as we head into WASL testing this week. Adult approaches to the WASL can influence students positively, or increase the anxiety unnecessarily.

Students shouldn’t be stressed by the WASL; instead, they deserve to feel confident and prepared. I know our students can meet and exceed Washington standards. When panic over the test occurs, skills students possess might not be reflected in the results of the assessment. Renton teachers, and those around the state, are preparing students to take the reading, writing, mathematics, and science exams in ways that are careful, sensible and produce quality learning experiences. I see our educators making explicit connections between good test-taking practices and great learning experiences. The best teachers treat the state test as another useful guide and motivator, with no significant change in the way they present their classroom lessons or classroom assessments. Instead of a dreaded experience to worry about, the WASL is presented as an opportunity for students to demonstrate all they have learned.

The WASL is an achievement test that is group-administered to see what individual students know and are able to do. The results are presented for each student showing individual achievement against the established state standards using scores; 1 and 2 – below standard, 3 – meeting standard and 4 – exceeding standard. These results are then reported by schools, districts and state-wide in percentiles of students’ meeting/not meeting standards.

The WASL is a high-stakes test and students should take the exams seriously and do their very best. Do not leave answers blank – even if they are not absolutely sure of an answer, students should give it their best shot. On some questions, students can earn credit for explaining accurate mathematical thinking even if an error is made in the math calculations. Key is to read each question carefully and answer it completely; if it asks for an explanation of the answer – be sure to explain/show your work rather than just write the answer. Some “points” are easy to earn if you are careful in your work and double check your responses.

Students, families, educators and the community must keep the WASL and the test score results in perspective. While student results on the WASL matters, the greater measure of a student’s ability to succeed is integrity, creativity, individuality, imagination, and intellectual exploration. If we all nurture the desire to learn, children will succeed in the classroom and beyond.

Here are some simple strategies families can use to help prepare students for the WASL:

• Communicate your confidence in your child’s ability to do well.
• Talk about the test and acknowledge that some test anxiety is normal.
• Tell your child you are proud of their hard work and reinforce the importance of doing their very best.
• Do not schedule doctor or dentist appointments, or early dismissals, during testing days.
• Be sure your child has plenty of sleep.
• A nutritious breakfast is necessary - a nutritious snack should be brought to school.
• Find time to allow students to discuss the testing experience each evening and offer encouragement and support.