As Alpha Plus Online users move into the second nine weeks of 2018-19, we are sharing some tips and tricks for successfully using the Alpha Plus Model of School Improvement.
PACE YOURSELF!
From Nov. 1, there are about 80 instructional days until March 15, 2019, when most schools let out for Spring Break.
About one-third of each subject’s objectives required in the Oklahoma Academic Standards (OAS) should be taught each of the first three nine weeks.
Plenty of time remains to cover all state-required subject matter and use the data to help prepare students for state tests in April.
Administer formative quizzes on each objective in any order that works for you, or in the suggested order of the Alpha Plus Pacing Calendars. NOTE: Formative book PDFs and assessments online are listed in numerical order by OAS objective code, not in a suggested order of presentation.
USE THE DATA! 
Grade 3-8 educators using Alpha Plus tools generally teach lessons for all OAS objectives early enough to use ongoing assessment data to plan intervention.
Throughout the year, the most effective teachers work with a team or provide their own remediation by re-teaching the class, or tutoring small groups and individual students on key objectives.
Aim for completing formative quizzes by the 100th Day of School (about Feb. 20, 2019), and celebrate with students your successes! Then:
- Re-teach OAS objectives on which less than 70% of students scored proficient.
OSSBA's Oklahoma Library of Digital Resources is a free, high-quality source of additional teaching resources, and the OSDE Curriculum Frameworks (especially Math “Learning Progressions” and ELA “Supporting Resources”) provide links to online units.
- Plan a review of all content before the spring benchmark so you will get a valid measure of growth for each student.
PLAN NOW FOR Midyear Benchmark: Nov. 13, 2018 - Jan. 11, 2019
- Summative B provides an opportunity for students with disabilities to practice using IEP/504 accommodations, and for all students to learn test-taking procedures.
Assessments are available to download as needed to print for students needing such accommodation using district password at https://alphaplustests.com/custsupport/.- Grade 3 students should take these assessments on paper and 4th through 8th graders online as they will on the state tests.
- Many teachers give a grade for using proper test-taking procedures. See packet in each Teacher PD Resource Binder, or click here to download it.
- Some also give a benchmarked content grade on questions aligned to objectives taught before B or A2 is taken.
- Benchmarked scores highlight OAS objectives assessed by a formative quiz in the Classroom List Report.
WHY BENCHMARK? Alpha Plus summative assessments simulate state tests at the beginning, middle and end of instruction to yield a valid and comparable measure of growth and proficiency. Such benchmarks provide evidence of effectiveness.
- Proficiency goal for Summative B is 50% - 56%. After giving B, teachers can use the Review Test function for classroom discussion of questions missed before the spring benchmark in March.
- Proficiency goal for Summative A2 is 75%, which equates to the state cut score of a 300 on the OPI scale for all tests.
FYI: OKLAHOMA SCHOOL TESTING PROGRAM (OSTP)
- Only Grade 3 ELA must be completed by April 19; all other grades take state tests online this year during the OSTP state-test window of April 1 - May 3.
- On Sept. 24, the OSDE issued the 2018-19 Test Blueprint and Item Specifications. The blueprints did not substantively change, but the item specs now include more sample questions with rationales for each distractor, and possible responses to open-ended (“constructed response”) questions at each grade level.
Click here to download by grade/subject.
Thank you for all you do for children! - Your Alpha Plus Team
Let us know how we can help more by calling (405) 842-8408, sending an online support ticket, or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Alpha Plus offices in Oklahoma City are open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Thanks, Alpha Plus
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