The best form of test preparation is integrating the necessary skills and habits of mind into daily instruction. This workshop provides the concepts and materials that instructors need in order to provide seamless Standards-based instruction that also prepares students to perform at their personal best. Concepts presented during this workshop include implementing instructional resources, using rubrics, constructing test-aligned items, using companion texts, and creating Do Now’s. Instructors will leave the workshop with a large repertoire of ideas and activities that they can employ in class the very next day.

• Misalignment between daily instruction and the demands of the high stakes assessments.
  
  
• Lack of familiarity with testing item types and scoring rubrics.
  
  
• Inadequate preparation of diverse learners, including students with special needs and English language learners.
  
  
• Difficulty in creating rigorous assessments that mirror the standards and format.
  

1. Design and Implement Standards-Aligned Assessments
   Participants will learn to develop high stakes testing using real test structures such as EBSRs, TECRs, and Prose Constructed Response (PCR) prompts. They'll understand how to align these with specific grade-level standards and classroom texts, ensuring that formative assessments reflect the proper depth and rigor.
   
   
2. Integrate Assessment Practices into Existing Curriculum
   Teachers will explore how to embed vocabulary, question types, and test-taking strategies into daily lessons without disrupting their current curriculum. This includes using released items, integrating technology tools, and applying standards-based questioning techniques across various text types.
   
   
3. Support Differentiated Needs of All Learners
   Educators will gain strategies for scaffolding instruction to meet the diverse needs of learners, including multilingual students and those with IEPs or other special needs. This includes methods such as visual supports, structured comprehension tasks, summarization strategies, and background knowledge activation.