Does your state assess its students through annual achievement or proficiency tests? Most do. One middle school project that can help students review for this test is to make an Achievement Assessment Review Hallway.
Middle School Achievement Assessment Review Hallway
This is a project that could include the whole middle school. Most middle school students must pass a reading and math achievement test, as per the No Child Left Behind Act. In some states, students must also pass science and social studies achievement tests in fifth and eighth grade as well. So, each hallway for each grade level could be an achievement review for a separate test.
Achievement Assessment Review Hallway for Reading
For example, students in Ohio in grades five through eight need to pass the Ohio Achievement Assessment in reading at the middle school level. Each grade level has specific indicators in the English Language Arts Standards and Benchmarks that must be taught and learned in order for the students to be successful on the annual exams. This article will give specific details on how to create an Achievement Assessment Review Hallway for reading, specifically for the eighth grade.
However, many states give annual reading achievement tests and this project can be changed or modified to fit your state test and grade level. Of course, there are tests in most core subject areas, and review hallway can be modified accordingly.
Steps to Making a Review Hallway
Step 1: Make a list of all the tested standards, benchmarks and indicators. For example, on the Ohio Achievement Assessment for reading the standards as follows: are Acquisition of Vocabulary Standard,
Literary Text Standard, Reading Applications: Informational, Technical and Persuasive Text Standard, Reading Process: Concepts of Print, Comprehension Strategies and Self-Monitoring Strategies Standard.
Step 2: Each standard should have a separate section on the wall in the hallway. The teacher should make die cut letters for posters or computer generated posters defining each standard.
Student Created Indicator Poster
Step 3: Depending on the size of the class, each student can be assigned to make a poster for a specific indicator. For example, one specific literary text indicator for eighth grade is as follows: 1. Identify and explain various types of characters (e.g., flat, round, dynamic, static) and how their interactions and conflicts affect the plot.
The indicator should be copied correctly and decorated. The poster can be assessed using the criteria of use of color, creativity and neatness.
Step 4: After all of the posters are completed, students can hang their indicator poster under the correct standard.
Step 5: As teachers complete activities that connect to one of the indicators, they can select a few example papers to hang next to the indicator.
Every time the students walk down the hall, they will see the standards and indicators. Teachers in the building can continuously reinforce the indicators when they complete lessons or activities on the indicators. And, they will see examples of work completed in classes for each indicator.
