Questions about the Terra Nova tests.

My son is in kindergarten and he recently took the Terra Nova tests. I had requested his results from his teacher (apparently, parents don't get the results unless we ask ) and my son did very well... although I have nothing to compare it to.

I have a few questions, and appreciate any help.

What are these tests used for? Are they even taken "seriously" at the kindergarten level?

Are they an in-house tool for 1st grade placement?

Could I find out how he did compared to other kindergarten students? Should that information be available to parents?

Thanks for any help!

Message edited 6/11/2009 11:19:36 PM.

Re: Questions about the Terra Nova tests.

don't worry about the terra novas. they are a standardized test, not a state test.

your son's teacher shouldn't even have the results yet! they are not scored in house--they are sent away to a company. teachers do not get the results--administration does and THEY pass it along to parents. you should get results mailed to you over the summer.

my students took it in march and the district hasn't gotten results yet.

typically, results are used to help identify students in academic need. besides that, they're just an indicator as to how your child is doing. keep in mind that students have NOT learned everything on the test since it's not given in june--there's still 4-5 months left of school and lessons when the tests are given. the only placement they should be used for is if your child needs reading/math help--but the teachers should know that already by working with him all year.

no, you should not be able to find out how he did compared to other students--that information is not appropriate for parents and honestly wouldn't tell you anything. i would hope your district doesn't release that information.

i personally don't like the terranovas. parents get so worked up about them and treat them like the 4th grade ELA, but they're not the same thing at all.

hope that helps. FM me if you have more questions.

Re: Questions about the Terra Nova tests.

i think they are used to show any areas of academic need, although i never understood taking those tests in kindergarden

i am a reading specialist and we use those scores to see who is eligible for extra reading or math help

and i think you can see how he did compared to others in the sense that the results show national percentiles and where your child stands compared to other students, its a graph
and you absolutely should get the parent's copy from your school, but as the other poster said depending when it was taken the results may not be available yet

Re: Questions about the Terra Nova tests.

My district doesn't give them in Kindergarten, only 2nd and 4th grade. We use it to identify students who will need Academic Intervention Services the following year. In years past, it has also been a partial criteria for placement in an enrichment program, but we don't have it anymore. Definitely not used for class placement....as a matter of fact, our placements are done way before we get Terra Nova results.

Re: Questions about the Terra Nova tests.

Thank you for your help ladies!

I was mostly curious as to what the tests are for on a kindergarten level. BTDT moms with older kids were giving me all sorts of conflicting info so I thought I'd ask the teachers here.

I have no interest in how "Timmy" or "Sally" did, just how the 100+ kindergarten students did as a whole.

I assume the tests are graded in the school since his teacher responded to me with his results on all 3 tests (Reading, Language and Math).

Anyhoo, this helped alot! I appreciate you all taking the time to respond!

Thanks again!