Lesson 4: Lesson Planning
Creating and Adapting Tests
It’s time for another field trip. This time we are visiting a topic right here on Suite101.com to read an article written by Elizabeth Batt about the Anglo-Saxons. Normally, you wouldn’t give a test on only one article, although you might create a similar review sheet. A test might reasonably cover 5-10 articles this size, depending on the age and abilities of the child. For our purposes though, one article is sufficient to demonstrate the types of test questions you might create.
True/False
The teacher creates a statement and the student decides if the statement is true or false. The statement must be completely true in order to be marked true. When children are first learning to take tests, the entire statement should be either true or false. When your children have more experience, create statements that are entirely true except for one detail. These are popular in college.
Read Life With the Anglo-Saxons and then answer the following questions true or false:
_____ 1. Thanes were wealthy men with much land and many slaves.
(This is entirely true. It is a basic question that might commonly be found on a test.)
_____ 2. The Anglo-Saxons did not approve of jewelry.
(This is entirely false.)
_____ 3. Anglo-Saxons love to be entertained by music, usually harps, bagpipes and flutes.
(This is entirely true until you reach the word flute. The correct instrument is lyre.)
Multiple choice:
Multiple choice questions offer a selection of answers. Students must choose the correct answer. Initially, the questions should be fairly simple. Later, they can be much like the true/false tests and include statements that are nearly true. Adding an All or None of the Above option makes the question harder since the student cannot just look for an answer that sounds familiar. When trying to make a question more difficult, be sure all the choices come from the lesson so that facts sound familiar, although they may not answer the question.
Examples:
Which of the following is not true of Anglo-Saxon homes? a) Their homes were made of timber. b) Wattle was woven to the walls. c) Cement was used in wealthier homes. d) Roofs were thatched with straw or woven reeds.
(This asks students to identify the single false fact and is a typical question. The correct answer is C. Cement is not mentioned in the entire article. This would be considered an easy question.)
Which of the following were freeman? a) churls b) wattle c) Thanes d) A and C e) B and C
(The correct answer is C. This is somewhat more difficult in that the student has to know if more than one answer is correct. Wattle is a bendy stick mentioned in the paragraph on homes. It is in the article, and will be familiar to students who read the material but did not learn it.)
Essay tests:
Asking a student to write a composition is the most difficult sort of test, particularly for learning disabled children with poor communication skills. A sample essay question might be: Describe an Anglo-Saxon village.
How did Churls and Thanes differ from one another?
How did a person become a slave?
For an article of this size, the answer will be very short. An older student who has studied the material in more depth might be asked to write 200-1000 words.
A learning disabled student may need accommodations for tests. Often children benefit from being given an unlimited amount of time in which to take the test. Children can be allowed to type or dictate their answers. Some children may need the questions read to them. Experiment by first giving these tests as worksheets so that you can find out how your children test. Don’t offer any accommodations initially, but watch them work. If they become frustrated, stop and change how the test is given. As test-taking skills improve, some children will be able to reduce the number of accommodations they need.
