Do pháiste agus trialacha caighdeánaithe

Bileog eolais do thuismitheoirí

Fad a bheidh do pháiste sa bhunscoil déanfaidh sí/sé trialacha caighdeánaithe sa léitheoireacht Bhéarla agus sa mhatamaitic. Tá na trialacha seo in úsáid ag formhór bunscoileanna in Éirinn le blianta fada ach ó 2007 amach caithfear iad a dhéanamh ag amanna áirithe agus na torthaí a roinnt leatsa. Míníonn an bhileog seo an rud is triail chaighdeánaithe ann agus an chaoi a gcabhraíonn siad le foghlaim do pháiste.

Cad is triail chaighdeánaithe ann?

Is cuimhin linn ar fad trialacha a dhéanamh ar scoil. Seans go n-insíonn do pháiste duit é nuair a dhéanann sí/sé triail litrithe nó táblaí a réitíonn an múinteoir. Cineál trialach eile is ea triail chaighdeánaithe. Baintear úsáid as chun féachaint conas mar atá ag éirí le páiste sa léitheoireacht Bhéarla agus sa mhatamaitic i gcomparáid le páistí eile sa tír atá sa leibhéal ranga céanna nó ag an aois chéanna. Léiríonn an triail chaighdeánaithe Bhéarla an tuiscint atá ag do pháiste ar an méid atá á léamh aici/aige. Ní bhailíonn an triail seo eolas mar gheall ar Bhéarla scríofa nó labhartha do pháiste. Insíonn an triail mhatamaitice cé chomh maith agus is féidir le do pháiste uimhreacha a úsáid chun rudaí difriúla a dhéanamh agus fadhbanna matamaitice a réiteach.

Is féidir le scoileanna rogha a dhéanamh as measc trialacha caighdeánaithe éagsúla a forbraíodh le húsáid i mbunscoileanna na hÉireann. Tá na trialacha bunaithe ar an gcuraclam. Tá leibhéil difriúla sna trialacha seo mar sin bainfidh an triail a dhéanfaidh do pháiste i rang a haon/dó le haois do pháiste agus leis an gcuraclam don leibhéal ranga sin.

An ionann trialacha caighdeánaithe agus trialacha éirime?

Ní hionann. Ní trialacha éirime iad trialacha caighdeánaithe. An phríomhchúis go ndéantar trialacha caighdeánaithe ná chun gur féidir leis an múinteoir foghlaim do pháiste a phleanáil, agus mar eolas duitse ar cé mar atá ag éirí leis an bpáiste sa léitheoireacht Bhéarla agus sa mhatamaitic. Nuair a léitear torthaí na dtrialacha le hais eolas eile a bhailíonn an múinteoir trí a bheith ag breathnú ar do pháiste agus í/é ag obair, trí a bheith ag caint léi/leis agus ag féachaint ar

a c(h)uid oibre, taispeánann siad cé mar atá ag éirí leis an bpáiste sa léitheoireacht Bhéarla agus sa mhatamaitic, agus cabhraíonn siad leis an múinteoir nearta agus laigí do pháiste a aithint.

Cad chuige trialacha caighdeánaithe?

Baintear úsáid as trialacha caighdeánaithe chun

• tuairisc a thabhairt duit mar thuismitheoir ar cé mar atá ag éirí le do pháiste sa léitheoireacht Bhéarla agus sa mhatamaitic
• a fháil amach an bhfuil deacrachtaí foghlama ag do pháiste sa léitheoireacht Bhéarla agus sa mhatamaitic ionas gur féidir leis an scoil tacaíochtaí oiriúnacha a fháil más gá
• a fháil amach an bhfuil ag éirí go han-mhaith ar fad le do pháiste sa léitheoireacht Bhéarla nó sa mhatamaitic ionas gur féidir eispéiris foghlama oiriúnacha a cheapadh di/dó
• cabhrú leis an múinteoir plean a cheapadh d'fhoghlaim bhreise i réimsí eile den churaclam mar tá sé tábhachtach go mbeadh do pháiste ag dul chun cinn sa léitheoireacht Bhéarla agus sa mhatamaitic chun leas a bhaint as gach cuid den

Cathain a dhéantar trialacha caighdeánaithe?

Caithfidh scoileanna úsáid a bhaint as trialacha caighdeánaithe dhá uair le linn do pháiste a bheith sa bhunscoil.

• Ag deireadh ranga a haon NÓ ag tús ranga a dó
• AGUS ag deireadh ranga a ceathair NÓ ag tús ranga a cúig.

Baineann roinnt scoileanna úsáid as na trialacha i ranganna eile chomh maith.

An mbíonn ar gach páiste na trialacha caighdeánaithe a dhéanamh?

Tá líon beag páistí ann nach mbíonn orthu na trialacha a dhéanamh. Mar shampla, más teanga eile seachas an Béarla máthairtheanga do pháiste, d’fhéadfadh an múinteoir a shocrú nach ndéanfaidh sí/sé an triail léitheoireachta sa Bhéarla. Ach d’fhéadfadh do pháiste an triail mhatamaitice a dhéanamh, áfach. Má tá do pháiste faoi mhíchumas foghlama nó fisiceach, d’fhéadfadh an múinteoir a shocrú gan an triail a thabhairt ach bealach eile a úsáid chun dul chun cinn an pháiste a sheiceáil. I ngach cás, bainfidh an múinteoir úsáid as an eolas atá aici/aige mar gheall ar do pháiste chun a shocrú cibé ar chóir di/dó an triail léitheoireachta Bhéarla agus an triail mhatamaitice a dhéanamh.

Ar chóir dom cabhrú le mo pháiste a bheith ullamh do na trialacha caighdeánaithe?

Níor cheart. Níl sna trialacha caighdeánaithe ach foinse amháin eolais mar gheall ar dhul chun cinn do pháiste sa léitheoireacht Bhéarla agus sa mhatamaitic. Bíonn an múinteoir ag bailiú eolais mar gheall ar fhoghlaim do pháiste an t-am ar fad. Déanfaidh do pháiste na trialacha caighdeánaithe ar ghnáthlá scoile mar chuid dá g(h)náthobair sa seomra ranga. Go deimhin, d’fhéadfadh sé nach dtabharfaidh do pháiste faoi deara fiú go bhfuil trialacha á dhéanamh aici/aige.

Conas a bhfaighidh mé scéala faoi ghnóthú mo pháiste sna trialacha caighdeánaithe?

Roinnfidh an múinteoir ranga torthaí na dtrialacha leat ag cruinniú múinteoirí agus tuismitheoirí, de ghnáth, nó i dtuairisc scoile. Chífidh tú torthaí na dtrialacha ar thuairisc scoile do pháiste i rang a haon nó a dó agus arís i rang a ceathair nó a cúig ag brath ar an uair a dhéanann do pháiste na trialacha.

Conas a thuigfidh mé scóir na dtrialacha?

Beidh sé cloiste agat ó do pháiste go bhfuair sí/sé 62% i scrúdú mata nó 9 as 15 i scrúdú litrithe. Baineann trialacha caighdeánaithe úsáid as cineálacha eile scóir de ghnáth. D’fhéadfadh an múinteoir torthaí do pháistí a thabhairt duit mar scór caighdeánach.

Conas scóir chaighdeánacha a thuiscint

Téann scóir chaighdeánacha de ghnáth ó 55 go 145 agus is é 100 an meánscór ar thriail chaighdeánaithe. Tugann an tábla thíos cur síos ar an rud a chiallaíonn scóir chaighdeánacha difriúla mar gheall ar dhul chun cinn do pháiste sa léitheoireacht Bhéarla agus sa mhatamaitic.

Má fhaigheann do pháiste scór caighdeánach idir 90 agus 109, beidh a fhios agat gur éirigh léi/leis an marc céanna le formhór na bpáistí a fháil. Bíonn scóir chaighdeánacha sa bhanda seo ag tuairim is leath de pháistí na hÉireann. Feicfidh tú ón tábla go mbíonn scóir chaighdeánacha eile os cionn agus faoi bhun an mheáin.

scoil-neasain-eolas-chlogchuar

Amhail trialacha eile a dhéanfaidh do pháiste ar scoil, braitheann torthaí thriail chaighdeánaithe roinnt éigin ar an gcaoi a mhothaíonn sí/sé ar lá na trialach agus cibé an bhfuil imní nó floscadh

uirthi/air mar gheall ar rud éigin sa bhaile nó ar scoil. Ciallaíonn sé sin gur léiriú é gach toradh trialach ar chaighdeán do pháiste sa léitheoireacht Bhéarla agus sa mhatamaitic. Tá cúram tábhachtach ortsa an páiste a spreagadh agus tacú léi/leis is cuma cén scór a fhaigheann sí/sé sna trialacha.

Má fhaigheann mo pháiste scór íseal, cad a chiallaíonn sé sin?

D’fhéadfadh scór caighdeánach íseal (80, mar shampla) a thabhairt le fios go bhféadfadh sé go bhfuil deacrachtaí ag do pháiste leis an léitheoireacht Bhéarla nó leis an matamaitic. Ní leor scór trialach amháin chun pictiúr iomlán a fháil den fhoghlaim atá ar siúl ag do pháiste sa léitheoireacht Bhéarla nó sa mhatamaitic. D’fhéadfadh an múinteoir a shocrú breis eolais a bhailiú mar gheall ar do pháiste ó thrialacha eile, agus ón méid a thugann sí/sé féin faoi deara sa rang. Beidh tuilleadh eolais agat féin chomh maith ó a bheith ag cabhrú le do pháiste leis an obair bhaile agus ón méid a deir sí/sé faoin obair scoile. D’fhéadfadh an múinteoir a iarraidh ar chomhghleacaí ar a dtugtar an múinteoir tacaíochta foghlama féachaint ar scóir do pháiste agus ar eolas eile mar gheall ar mheasúnú do pháiste. D’fhéadfaidís a shocrú go mbainfeadh do pháiste buntáiste as tacaíocht bhreise leis an léitheoireacht nó leis an matamaitic. Is í/é an múinteoir tacaíochta foghlama a thabharfaidh an tacaíocht bhreise seo. Labhróidh an múinteoir ranga leat faoi sin.

Seans go mbeadh an DVD do thuismitheoirí Foghlaim Leanaí sa Bhunscoil: Céard, Conas agus Cén Fáth úsáideach duit agus tú ag iarraidh labhairt le do pháiste mar gheall ar dhul i mbun oibre leis an múinteoir tacaíochta foghlama. Ar an DVD cloistear Courtney, cailín i rang a dó, agus a máthair ag caint mar gheall ar an gcaoi a bhfuair siad cabhair bhreise do Courtney leis an léitheoireacht Bhéarla. Muna bhfuil cóip den DVD agat, is féidir leat físeán de a fheiceáil ar leathanach baile de láithreán gréasáin na Comhairle Curaclaim agus Measúnachta ag: www.ncca.ie. (Cliceáil an cnaipe do Churaclam na Bunscoile: Eolas do thuismitheoirí.)

Má fhaigheann mo pháiste scór ard, cad a chiallaíonn sé sin?

D’fhéadfadh scór ard a thabhairt le fios go bhfuil do pháiste ag déanamh an-dul chun cinn sa léitheoireacht Bhéarla nó sa mhatamaitic. Dála na scór íseal, ní leor scór ard amháin chun é sin a chinntiú. Bainfidh múinteoir do pháiste úsáid as eolas ó mheasúnachtaí eile a rinneadh sa seomra ranga chun tuiscint níos fearr a fháil ar dhul chun cinn do pháiste sa léitheoireacht Bhéarla agus sa mhatamaitic.

Ar chóir dom an scór a roinnt le mo pháiste?

Tá aithne níos fearr agatsa ar do pháiste ná mar atá ag duine ar bith eile. Is cuma cad é an scór, tá sé tábhachtach go spreagfá do pháiste chun a d(h)ícheall a dhéanamh, agus go gcabhrófá léi/leis tabhairt faoin léitheoireacht Bhéarla agus faoin matamaitic. Má tá an scór íseal agus má bhíonn cabhair bhreise ag teastáil ó do pháiste leis an léitheoireacht Bhéarla nó leis an matamaitic,

d’fhéadfadh sé gurbh fhiú labhairt léi/leis faoi seo agus cabhrú léi/leis féachaint ar an gcabhair mar rud dearfach.

Ag cabhrú le mo pháiste taitneamh a bhaint as an scoil agus bheith rathúil san fhoghlaim

Tá sé tábhachtach, ar mhaithe le tacú le foghlaim do pháiste, go ndéanfaí trialacha caighdeánaithe dhá uair ar a laghad le linn blianta na bunscoile chun eolas a bhailiú mar gheall ar dhul chun cinn do pháiste sa léitheoireacht Bhéarla agus sa mhatamaitic. Ar deireadh, is féidir leis an tacaíocht seo cabhrú le do pháiste taitneamh a bhaint as a scolaíocht agus leas a bhaint as an iliomad deiseanna foghlama a chruthaíonn tú féin agus múinteoirí do pháiste.

Your child and standardised testing

Information leaflet for parents

During your child’s time in primary school he/she will complete standardised tests in English reading and in maths. Most primary schools in the Republic of Ireland have been using these tests for many years. From 2007 schools must use the tests at certain times and share the results with you. This leaflet explains what standardised tests are and how they can help your child’s learning.

What is a standardised test?

We are all familiar with the idea of tests in school. Your child probably tells you how he/she did in a spelling or tables test prepared by the teacher. A standardised test is another kind of test. It is used to measure a child’s achievement in English reading and maths compared to other children throughout the country at the same class level or age level. The English reading test gives information about how well your child can understand what he/she has read. This test does not gather information on your child’s written or spoken English. The maths test finds out how well your child can use numbers for different purposes and solve maths problems.

Schools can choose from a number of standardised tests which have been developed for use in primary schools in Ireland. These tests are based on the curriculum. There are different levels of the tests so, for example, the test your child does in first/second class will relate to your child’s age and the curriculum for that class level.

Are standardised tests the same as intelligence tests?

No. Standardised tests are not intelligence tests. The main purposes of using standardised tests are to help the teacher plan your child’s learning, and to inform you about how well your child is doing in English reading and maths. When the test scores are used alongside other information gathered by the teacher through observing your child at work, talking with him/her and looking at his/her work, they show how your child is getting on in English reading and maths, and help the teacher to identify your child’s strengths and needs.

What are standardised tests used for?

Standardised tests are used to

• report to you as a parent on your child’s achievement in English reading and maths
• help to find out if your child has learning difficulties in English reading and maths so that the school can put appropriate supports in place
• help to find out if your child is a high achiever in English reading and maths so that appropriate learning experiences can be provided for him/her
• help your child’s teacher plan for further learning across the curriculum because your child’s achievement in English reading and maths is important for all his/her

When are standardised tests carried out?

Schools are required to use standardised tests twice during your child’s time at primary school:

• At the end of first class OR at the beginning of second class
• AND at the end of fourth class OR at the beginning of fifth class.

Some schools use the tests in other classes too.

Do all children take standardised tests?

A small number of children might not take the tests. For example, if your child’s first language is not English, the teacher may decide that he/she should not take the English reading test. Your child may, however, take the maths test. If your child has a learning or physical disability, the teacher may decide not to give the test but to use a different way to check on your child’s progress. In all cases, the teacher will use the information he/she has about your child to decide whether or not your child should take the English reading test and the maths test.

Should I help my child prepare for standardised tests?

No. Standardised tests are one source of information about your child’s achievement in English reading and maths. The teacher gathers information about your child’s learning all the time. Your child will take the standardised tests on a regular school day as part of his/her daily work in the classroom. Indeed, your child may not even realise he/she has taken the tests!

How will I know how my child has done on the standardised tests?

Your child’s class teacher will share the test results with you, typically at a parent/teacher meeting or in a school report. You will see the results of the tests on your child’s school report in first or second class and again in fourth or fifth class depending on when your child takes the tests.

How will I know what the test scores mean?

You will be familiar with hearing your child say he/she got 62% in a maths test or 9 out of 15 in a spelling test. Standardised tests generally use other types of scores. Your child’s teacher may tell you how your child did in the test using a standard score.

Understanding standard scores

Standard scores usually go from 55 to 145 with 100 being an average score on a standardised test. The table below describes what the different standard scores tell you about your child’s achievement in English reading and maths.

If your child’s standard score is between 90 and 109, you will know that his/her performance on the test is average. About half of children in Ireland have standard scores in this range. You can see from the table that there are also standard scores above and below the average.

scoil-neasain-info-bell-curve-english

As with other tests your child does in school, his/her result on a standardised test can be affected by how he/she feels on the test day or by worry or excitement about a home or school event. This means that each test result is an indication of your child’s achievement in English reading and maths. You play an important role in encouraging and supporting your chiId no matter what he/she scores on the test.

If my child’s score is low, what does this tell me?

A low standard score (for example, 80) suggests that your child may have difficulties in English reading or maths. One test score by itself does not give a complete picture of your child’s learning in English reading or maths. The teacher might decide to gather more information about your child from other tests, as well as his/her observations in class. You too will have additional information from helping your child with homework, and hearing him/her talking about school work. The teacher may ask a colleague called the learning support teacher to look at your child’s test scores and other assessment information. They may decide that your child would benefit from extra support with reading or maths. This extra support may be given by the learning support teacher. Your child’s teacher will talk to you about this.

You may find the DVD for parents, The What, Why and How of children’s learning in primary school helpful in talking to your child about working with the learning support teacher. Courtney, a girl in second class, and her mum talk on the DVD about their experience in getting extra help with Courtney’s English reading. If you don’t have a copy of the DVD, you can view an internet video of it from the NCCA website homepage at: www.ncca.ie. (Click on the button for Primary School Curriculum: Information for parents.)

If my child’s score is high, what does this tell me?

A high score on the test may suggest that your child is a high achiever in English reading or maths. As with low scores, one high score is not enough to confirm this. Your child’s teacher will use information from other classroom assessments to understand more clearly how well your child is doing in English reading and maths.

Should I share the score with my child?

You know your child best. No matter what the score is, you play an important role in encouraging your child to do his/her best, and in helping your child with English reading and maths. If the score is low and your child needs extra help with English reading or maths, it may be helpful to talk to him/her about this and to see the help in a positive way.

Helping my child to enjoy school and to succeed in learning

Using standardised tests at least twice during primary school to gather information on your child’s achievement in English reading and maths can play a vital part in supporting your child’s learning. Ultimately, this support can help your child enjoy school and make the most of the many opportunities to learn created by you and by your child’s teachers.