Standardized Testing Letter

Dear Lower School Families,

The following important information pertains to testing week. Please read carefully and to the end!

As mentioned in my newsletter last Friday, standardized testing will take place next week: April 30 - May 4. Lower School students in grades 2, 3 and 4 will be administered the Stanford 10, an UN-TIMED test of academic and listening skills. Test results will be used to chart each child’s annual academic growth and to serve as a baseline for students who are new to McLean this year. (Note: We will not be administering standardized tests to our kindergarten and grade 1 students this year.)

Lower School teachers are knowledgeable and experienced with administering standardized tests. They will work to alleviate the stress of the testing situation and to keep students focused on the tasks at hand. THERE WILL BE NO HOMEWORK ASSIGNED TO STUDENTS IN GRADES 2-4 DURING TESTING WEEK. However, we encourage continued nightly reading, if possible.

It is imperative that your child comes to school on time. There are multiple breaks built into the testing schedule. If your child misses a portion of the testing because of illness, make-up sessions will be arranged. PLEASE DO NOT SCHEDULE MEDICAL, DENTAL OR OTHER APPOINTMENTS FOR YOUR CHILD DURING THE WEEK OF STANDARDIZED TESTING. If you have already done so, please do your best to reschedule those appointments.

Here is how you can help to assist your child to be at her/his best:

Make sure your child has a HEALTHY BREAKFAST EVERY DAY.
Help your child to strive for PERFECT ATTENDANCE during testing week.
Send your child to bed early for a GOOD’S NIGHT SLEEP.
Pack a HEALTHY LUNCH AND LOTS OF SNACKS for break times.
DO NOT HELP YOUR CHILD “PREPARE” FOR TESTS BY DOING EXTRA WORK AT HOME.
DO NOT MAKE A “BIG DEAL” OF TESTING or put pressure on your child to succeed.

Grades 2, 3 and 4 students will have one forty-minute practice test on Friday to familiarize them with the format of the tests. Your child should know that students all over the country are given standardized tests as a tool to help teachers find the best way to teach them. A number of fun “decompression” activities have been scheduled throughout the week of testing. We look forward to the testing experience and expect a positive outcome for everyone.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at extension 685 or Fran Hertz at extension 669.

Sincerely,
Bobby Edwards
Head of Lower School