Test Prep Twist for Struggling Readers

It's a question we all wrestle with. How to help our struggling decoders read high-stakes tests that are written above their reading level?

While it isn't possible to solve the problem instantly, I like to harness my existing decoding skills intervention to do double duty as supplemental test prep.

STEPS:

First, I check out sample tests looking for words that my students might encounter across more than one testing situation.
Then I use these words in my regular decoding intervention sessions.
During decoding intervention time, I show my decoders how to use the strategy I'm currently teaching to decode the words.
After teaching them strategies they can use to decode these words, we use word work practice to transfer as many of the words as possible to their automatic sight reading vocabulary.

TEACH DECODING SKILLS:

I teach my decoders to look for word parts and small words they may already know inside bigger, more daunting words. So during decoding test prep lessons, I teach them how to find these smaller parts inside the words on the testing words list.

PRACTICE WORDS

We use our personal white boards to practice breaking the words up into the parts we see. Then we practice the words using flashcards.

REINFORCE AUTOMATICITY

After that we play games using the words, like BINGO.

FREE RESOURCE

BINGO is a time-tested favorite! If you'd like this test-prep version BINGO game, just grab the freebie HERE.

This free resource provides a

BINGO game, test prep words version
12 versions of the BINGO card
Calling cards for each of the 30 words
LIST of the 30 basic words used
This version has only 8 words per BINGO card, so your struggling readers can locate and read the words more quickly.

JUST ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE

Alas, extra decoding test prep won't, by itself, magically bring our struggling below-level decoders up to grade level in time for the test. There will still be words on any test written above their reading level that these readers will struggle to decode and recognize.

So why do it? I'm certain that, for our strugglers, every small piece of the puzzle that I can put into place helps. I know that the more skills I can give them, the more confidence they'll have to keep trying. I know if they keep trying, together we'll get there!