Small figures of the Blessed Mother stood on the desks of Kristina Juliano’s fourth-grade students as they completed New York State assessments at St. Lawrence School in Greece last spring. Juliano gave the figurines to her students not as good-luck charms but as reminders of Mary’s love and intercession.
“My hope was that seeing Mary each day would help ease their worries and remind them that they are supported by their faith and that their worth is never defined by a test score,” Juliano said.
The Marian figurines were just one of the many ways Catholic educators throughout the Diocese of Rochester support their students as they prepare for and take state assessments, according to Margaret Wilsey, coordinator of assessment and professional growth for the diocesan Department of Catholic Schools.
“Our schools share a common approach focused on helping students feel comfortable, confident and supported,” Wilsey said.
What are New York state assessments?
New York state assessments are tests in three subject areas that are taken on specific days by students all across the state. Students in third through eighth grades take math and English language arts tests that each span two days, while students in the fifth and eighth grades take science tests that are completed in a single session. Students use computers to take these tests, which are administered in April and early May.
According to the New York State Department of Education, the federal Every Student Succeeds Act requires states to administer high-quality academic assessments that measure statewide student progress in achieving the state’s learning standards. Families may choose to opt their students out of these tests, but approximately 95 percent of students in the Diocese of Rochester’s Catholic schools participate in these assessments, Wilsey said.
State assessments highlight areas of strength, learning gaps
State assessments provide valuable data to teachers, who analyze their students’ performances in relation to established standards, Wilsey said.
“Teachers then use this information to refine instruction and address learning gaps in order to better meet the needs of their students,” she explained.
Assessment data can help teachers identify individual students’ strengths or areas in which they may need additional support, added Cristina Falbo, principal at St. Mary School in Canandaigua. Schools typically receive the results of state assessments in August, making it possible for teachers to gain an initial understanding of each student’s strengths and needs as they begin planning lessons for the coming year, she said.
While data gleaned from assessments may be used by teachers to tailor instruction or interventions to the needs of individual students, they also may highlight broader trends — such as concepts that need to be retaught or reinforced — across specific classes or grade levels, Wilsey said.
“If we noticed that a group of students struggled with a particular skill or standard, we could look at how we could provide additional support in that area,” added Heather Bill, principal at St. Mary Our Mother School in Horseheads. “This might mean spending more instructional time on a specific concept, reteaching a skill in a different way, providing small-group instruction or adjusting lessons moving forward to better meet the needs of our students.”
Prayer is key part of Catholic schools’ approach to assessments
While assessments provide valuable data, students oftentimes feel anxious about taking them, Bill acknowledged. She and her staff strive to relieve this anxiety by encouraging students to do their best but reminding them that tests do not define them and are nothing to be feared. Younger students make signs with messages of encouragement to let those taking tests know the school community is rooting for them, she added.
“It’s a small gesture, but it helps build a sense of community and lets the students know we’re proud of the hard work they’ve put in leading up to the tests,” she said.
St. Mary’s teachers take a similar approach, striving to create a positive and encouraging atmosphere by reminding students that they are capable, prepared and ready to show what they have learned, Falbo said.
“We pray together for our students, asking God to grant them peace, confidence and clarity of mind,” she added.
Prayer is a key part of teachers’ approaches to preparing for assessments at St. Lawrence as well. Younger students line the hallways to give high fives to the older students as they walk to their classrooms to begin their tests, and once inside their classroom, Juliano’s third-graders spend a few minutes in prayer.
In the days leading up to the assessments, Juliano reminds her students that prayer isn’t about asking for perfect scores, but for calm minds, confidence in their abilities and the strength to persevere, she said.
“Ultimately, we want our students to know that while we encourage them to work hard and do their best, their value comes from being children of God, not from a test score,” Juliano said. “If we can help students approach challenges with trust in God, confidence in themselves and the support of their school community, then we are helping them grow not only academically but spiritually as well.”
Tags: Catholic Schools
