Yikes! Vocabulary and the Iowa test!

[tdbates78]

So, per my state requirement I rented the untimed Iowa test which came in the mail yesterday. This morning I read through the directions and browsed through the questions. I'm freaked out about the vocabulary portion! We do not do a formal vocabulary program at this point. They learn new vocabulary words in AAR and AAS, through our daily reading, various other subjects (science etc) and my girls are quick to ask questions when they don't know a word. I thought that was enough but the vocab section is throwing me. It's words we don't typically use. EDITED OUT SAMPLES

 

Anyone else worry about this section? Should I really be concerned? I don't have to submit the results to the state so mostly its for personal use, but still. Am I not doing enough? I'm going to add a vocabulary program in the fall!

Edited May 27, 2017 by tdbates78

[RootAnn]

Nope. Never worried. We read a lot (or listen to audio books). I doubt those words would be in a vocab program anyway.

 

Keep reading to your kids, encouraging them to ask questions about unknown words, and discussing ways to figure out meaning (or look up meanings). Another thing we do (upper grades like 4th & up) is discuss word choice and synonyms. It can be a game - other words for bad if it is a food you are talking about, what if it is a person? Etc

[fralala]

The first time I administered the vocab portion of the Iowa test was when I finally really got what people meant when they talked about standardized tests being biased and not necessarily the best measure of student ability.

 

If it's any comfort, these tests are designed so that the majority of kids at grade level will not get every word. In a few years, your kids will know what [those things***] are, even if they only eat bibimbop and practice aikido and don't live in 1950. Just tell them they're not expected to recognize every picture or know every word, but that they may still be able to get the answers correct because this is multiple choice. This is a good opportunity to remind them to rule out the answers they know cannot be true (do they know what the other words mean?) and then to make an educated guess based upon that.

 

***I think maybe you should edit your post to remove the specific examples, as it may constitute potential cheating to offer the exact words, but I forget the exact rules of this. Anyway, anybody who has administered this test probably has an idea of what you're talking about! These kinds of issues are at every level.

[mamaraby]

Anyone else worry about this section? Should I really be concerned? I don't have to submit the results to the state so mostly its for personal use, but still. Am I not doing enough? I'm going to add a vocabulary program in the fall!

I have never done a vocabulary program with my kids. Instead, we have read, read, and read some more. We have a read aloud that I read, an audiobook we listen to the car, books we read just for fun that we check out from the library, books we read for school, books the kids pick out and read on their own, etc.

 

When I did the DORA reading assessment with dd2 (end of first grade), her verbal vocabularly tested out at a fourth grade level. I have done even less "school" reading with her since we've only just begun, but she's been listening right along with her older siblings since she was a little tike. Ds (6th grade) may have had areas on the ITBS this year that he struggled with (capitalization, kid? really?), but vocabulary wasn't one of them.

 

So, I'm a firm believer in utilizing read alouds for building vocabulary. Pick a wide range of books, especially books far above a child's reading level, and read. I would read more books before I'd pick up a vocabulary program personally. The books would be way more fun for all involved.

[tdbates78]

The first time I administered the vocab portion of the Iowa test was when I finally really got what people meant when they talked about standardized tests being biased and not necessarily the best measure of student ability.

 

If it's any comfort, these tests are designed so that the majority of kids at grade level will not get every word. In a few years, your kids will know what [those things***] are, even if they only eat bibimbop and practice aikido and don't live in 1950. Just tell them they're not expected to recognize every picture or know every word, but that they may still be able to get the answers correct because this is multiple choice. This is a good opportunity to remind them to rule out the answers they

 

***I think maybe you should edit your post to remove the specific examples, as it may constitute potential cheating to offer the exact words, but I forget the exact rules of this. Anyway, anybody who has administered this test probably has an idea of what you're talking about! These kinds of issues are at every level.

Good point!! Thank you for calling that out. Just removed!

[73349]

Remember that on a standardized test, there is not an expectation that kids will get all the questions right. If the test is designed correctly, it has enough hard questions that nearly everyone will get some wrong.

 

Have I seen some ITBS questions I think are BS? Yup. We just did it for the fourth year in a row, and it's particularly in the vocab and social studies sections that an adult can spot them. But DS's scores are really about what I'd expect from seeing his everyday performance, give or take a few percentage points here and there.

[tdbates78]

Thank you all for making me feel better. Some of the words are very old-fashioned. We will discuss process of elimination first. At least I wont be too surprised by the results if they arent favorable.

[lovinmyboys]

A little off topic- I recently took my ds4 for a speech evaluation. I actually think he has a pretty good vocabulary. His only issue is articulation. I was shocked at the test they used. Pictures of a computer from the 90's, a calculator, calendar, a stamp, a phone from the 90's. I thought how can anyone think this is an accurate test. Most people use their phones for calendars and calculaters. I probably use 5 stamps a year. And the phone and computer don't look like our phones and computers. I think some of these tests need updating.

[MerryAtHope]

I wouldn't worry about it. The best thing you can do for vocabulary building is to focus on reading aloud to your kids. If you notice significant struggles, then consider adding more vocabulary--but since you are covering it through AAR and probably also reading aloud to your kids, I wouldn't worry about it. Here's an article with more information on How to Build Your Child's Vocabulary.