Sandra S.

Sullivan Learning Center

Presented by Meagen Howe of Farrell Ink
January 2010
 This training is provided FREE by Farrell Ink, LLC
thanks to the Sandra Sullivan Learning for
Life Program.
 The Sandra Sullivan Learning for Life Program
of the West Side Catholic Center in Cleveland,
Ohio supports non-profits & faith communities
to provide cost effective, volunteer-based adult
education tutoring.
 You may duplicate, present, or print this
training FREE for non-commercial purposes and
can customize it as long as you attribute the
Sandra Sullivan Learning for Life Program. (No
plagiarism, please!)
 Understand the structure of formal &
informal assessment in the adult education
classroom.
 Interpret the results of the TABE 9/10

Survey to develop an individual learning plan.

 Assign initial work from the materials

available in the Learning for Life Starter Kit.

 Document progress and adjust instruction

using assessments.
The circle of instructional life
 The Test of Adult Basic Education is an
assessment published by CTB/McGraw Hill for use
in a variety of adult education settings.
 Can be used for initial assessment, to document
progress, or to test readiness for the GED test.
 More information about administering the TABE
test is available in our trainings “Administering
TABE 9/10 Survey” and “Administering TABE
Advanced Level Tests”.
1. Official GED Science Test
2. GED Science Book Post-test
3. TABE 10 Math Computation Test
4. Math Skills for the Workforce Fractions Test
5. Challenger 4 Book Review
6. TABE 9 Reading Test
7. TABE 9A Social Studies Test
8. Pre-GED Reading Chapter 4 Review
9. Breakthroughs in Social Studies Post-test
10. Official GED Writing Practice Test
1. Formal
2. Informal
3. Formal
4. Informal
5. Informal
6. Formal
7. Formal: To test readiness for GED
8. Informal
9. Informal
10. Formal: To test readiness for GED
What do these numbers
mean?

Back to Training Objectives

Form: 9, or 10 9 usually initial assessment, 10 is post-test
Level: E, M, D or A Easy, Medium, Difficult or Advanced
NC: Number Correct Between 0-25
SS: Scale Score Can compare results across test
levels
GE: Grade Equivalent Approximate level to assign
materials
NRS: 1-6 National Reporting System, 1 level=2
Subject Form Level NC SS GE NRS
grades
Reading 9 D 19 500 9.9 5
Example:
Math Computation 9 M 8 380 4.2 3

Applied Math 9 M 15 440 6.6 4

 Form & Level tells us which test to give as
post-test (example: 9M10M & vice versa)
 NC helps us find the other numbers!
 SS gauges improvement across tests: if you

give 9M and then 9D, you can still compare

 GE is used to find appropriate study

materials (10.5 or higher=ready for GED)

 NRS level correlates to state & national

standards
 TABE Grade NRSLevel Written At This Level
Equivalent (GE)
0-1.9 1Beginning Literacy
2.0-3.9 2Beginning ABE
4.0-5.9 3Low Intermediate Romance Novels

6.0-7.9 4High Intermediate Steven King, Popular Fiction

8.0-9.9 5Low Adult Secondary Job Training, Newspapers
10.0-11.9 6High Adult Secondary GED Test, College Entrance, ASVAB

 NRS levels are used to report educational

gains to government agencies. NRS is an
national system of accountability for adult
basic education programs.
 GED Ready = GE 10+ = NRS Level 6
 CTB/McGraw Hill publishes hand scored profiles to
diagnose which assessed skills have been mastered,
currently ~$1 each (25 packs).
 To score: Circle the number of the question missed to
find out which areas need the most study.
 Profiles are most helpful with math. Math books list the
skills taught in the table of contents so you can target
instruction.
 As an instructor, you can create your own Quick Math
Diagnostic for personal use just looking at the TABE
answers (you’ll see a sample later), but it can’t be
published. Sorry!
Student Name: Sam Pull Student Phone Number:(216)555-
1234
Emergency Contact: Sam Spouse Phone Number:(216)555-
4321
Washington 13 Score: 4 Primary Goal: Pass GED Test
Secondary Goal (optional): Pass Civil Service Exam
Date Test Name Form/Level Subject Scale Score Grade Eq.

8/4/09 TABE 9M Reading 520 5.6

9D Math Comp 514 5.2

App Math 580 7

Total Math 554 6.2

 Student writes during
orientation:
◦ Contact Info
◦ Primary & secondary goals
 Orientation Leader writes:
◦ Washington 13 Score
◦ TABE 9/10 results
 Write additional progress,
activities, and goals with
student during class.
Short Term Goals & Activities

Date Set: 8/4/09 Goal: Prep Civil Service Exam Date Met:

Activity Date Complete Assessment

Score
NY State Online Test Guide
NY State Test Guide Practice Test

Civil Service Test Guide from Public Library

Apply to take Civil Service Exam
 The Short Term Goals section of the ILP
is your off-road map.
 Document any planned activities that deviate
from regular course of instruction.
 Example:
◦ Goal: Pass written driver’s test.
◦ Activities: Study driver’s manual. Take online
practice driver’s tests.
 All activities must have a way to measure
when the skill is mastered or goal met. Then
mark the goal met as progress!
The “regular” course of
instruction

Back to Training Objectives

 YOU receive it today for participating!
 Download FREE from Scribd.com/farrellink
 The materials listed here are part of the
Learning for Life Starter Kit provided to
our sites. The series are easy to follow for
students & tutors, and help many adults
preparing for job training or the GED test:
◦ Laubach Way to Reading
◦ Challenger Reading Series & Writing for
Challenger
◦ Math Skills for the Workforce
◦ Breakthroughs
◦ Contemporary’s Pre-GED & GED Satellite
 Add to our list! Put some room in your
budget, both time & money, to request book
samples, browse websites, check out
materials from the library, and talk to other
instructors about what works for them.
 Listen to your students. Every class and

student is different. With experience, Site

Managers and tutors develop their own
methods & materials to teach. This is just the
Starter Kit!
 This is a suggested list but many books
overlap; adjust to your preferences:
Grade Equivalent Book 1st Assignment
0-0.9 Laubach 1 Lesson 1 with tutor
1-1.9 Laubach 2 Lesson 1 with tutor
2-2.9 Challenger 2 Lesson 1
3-3.9 Challenger 3 Lesson 1
4-4.9 Challenger 4 Lesson 1
5-6.5 Challenger 5 Lesson 1
6.5-7.5 Challenger 6 Lesson 1
6.5-8.9 Pre-GED Reading Pre-test
9.0-10.9 GED Reading Pre-test
10-12.9 TABE Level A Reading Test
Back to Your Turn: Sam’s 1st Assignment
  Math also interacts with reading level. Use
the TABE Profile or Quick Math Diagnostic:
Reading GE Math Subject Book Section
0-3.9 Add, Sub, Mult Math Skills for the 1st ½ section (no
or Div Workforce: Whole #s word prob)

4+ Add, Sub, Mult Math Skills for the Whole section

or Div Workforce: Whole #s

4+ Fractions MSFTW: Fractions

4-6.9 Decimals & % MSFTW: Dec & %
4-6.9 Integers, Alg WSFTW: Alg & Geom

7-8.9 Dec, %, Alg + Pre-GED Math Pre-test

9-10.9 Dec, %, Alg + GED Math
Back Pre-test
to Your Turn: Sam’s 1st Assignment
 The 3 other subjects on the GED test:
Science (Sci), Social Studies (SS) & Writing
(LAW):GE Subjects
Reading Book 1 Assignment
st

2-4.9 LAW Writing for Lesson 1

Challenger
5-6.9 Sci, SS, LAW Breakthroughs Pre-test
7-8.9 Sci, SS, LAW Pre-GED Pre-test
9-10.9 Sci, SS, LAW GED Pre-test
11-12.9 LAW College Learnatest.com Writing Practice
Prep
 In addition to the books we’ve chosen,
your classroom can offer supports to
creative instruction (each could be its
own training!):
◦ Materials from real life: newspapers, job
applications, measuring cups, playing cards
◦ Relevant information: job openings, other
available services, current events
◦ Promote interaction: problem of the day,
motivational sayings, student newsletter
◦ Incorporate technology: webquests,
online educational games, practice tests

Back to What if student doesn’t pass?

 Reference.com:
◦ Dictionary, Thesaurus & Encyclopedia online
 LearningExpress Library:
◦ Online courses & eBooks for residents of
Cuyahoga County with a library card (and 4000
other libraries)
 39 Online GED Videos:
◦ Ohio residents: Get headphones!
◦ Other states: Follow directions for CET Connect
 See more at our training “Introduction to
Online Instructional Materials”

Back to What if student doesn’t pass?

Student Name: Sam Pull Student Phone Number:(216)555-
1234
Emergency Contact: Sam Spouse Phone Number:(216)555-
4321
Washington 13 Score: 4 Primary Goal: Pass GED Test
Date Test
Secondary Name
Goal Form/Level
(optional): Pass Subject Scale Score Grade Eq.
Civil Service Exam
8/4/09 TABE 9M Reading 520 5.6

9D Math Comp 514 5.2

App Math 580 7

Total Math 554 6.2

Note: These scores are fictional.

 Addition Subtractio MultiplicationDivision
n
Whole #s 1 4 2, 5, 6, 17 3, 11, 15
Fractions 21 7 13 10
Decimals 8 18 9, 20 22
Percents 12 19
Integers 14, 23 24 16 25

For a more in depth diagnostic including Reading and Applied Math skills,
use the TABE Profile.
Missed questions are underlined and in italics.
Note: These question #s & distribution are fictional.
Back to Assigning Math
 Reading: Challenger 5 Lesson 1
 Math: Math Skills for the Workforce Whole

Numbers, Division Section

Going off the beaten track

Back to Training Objectives

 Progress: mastering one skill (dividing fractions) or
progressing on a standardized scale (from reading
grade level 3 to 4).
 Baby steps count! For instructional clarity, ALL
progress should be documented.
 Reality Check: Even if student passes every chapter
review, they may not be ready for higher level work.
Periodically post test using standardized tests like TABE
(at the end of a book works well).
 TABE isn’t everything! It is used as a baseline to
compare across classes, but use other formal tests
depending on a student’s goals & skills.
 Use the form Student Progress (available at
Scribd.com/farrellink) to track formal &
informal progress. Some examples:
Date Student Name Book/Test Progress
1/11/10 Gerald Ford Challenger 4 L 4-8 Review
1/12/10 Joan of Arc Pre-GED Sci Chap 5 Review
1/12/10 Queen Latifah TABE 9M Math 15/555/5.6
1/13/10 Mahatmas Gandhi Online Driver’s 24/25-Passed!
Test

 Write on everything on Progress Sheet.

 Write formal assessments on ILP!
 If chapter or lesson review: find missed
questions or skills & review individually. Find
extra practice, then move on.
 If book review or TABE test: try a different
approach.
◦ A new book: The books in our materials list overlap so you
can try something else at the same level.
◦ A new tutor: Some tutors specialize in subjects.
◦ Use the same book with different examples. Use the
book’s outline for teaching skills, but add our tips for
instructional creativity & free cool online tools.
 Pick a GED subject: Reading, Math, Writing,
Science, or Social Studies.
 Situation: Your student could answer the
homework questions right independently, but
got a 40% on the chapter review.
 Create a Short Term Goal & Activities!
1. Write the student’s goal (learn x skill)
2. Brainstorm 3 activities to learn/practice the skill
3. Think of an informal assessment to test if student
has mastered the skill
Short Term Goals & Activities

Date Set: Goal: Date Met:

Activity Date Complete Assessment
Score
 What type of assessment is the Breakthroughs in Science
Post-test:
◦ Formal or Informal?
 A student’s initial TABE reading score is grade equivalent
9.2. Is this student ready for the GED test today:
◦ Yes or No? Bonus: What would you assign?
 A student’s TABE Profile assigns Fractions division, but
the student finished the work in one class & passed the
post test. What next?
◦ Give more Fractions work
◦ Move on to Decimals Give the TABE 10
 Informal
 No, but close! GED Reading pre-test
 This is a tough one! Personally, I would

move to decimals and take the TABE again

at the end of that book.
 Take home point: ultimately, as the

instructor, the tough choices are yours.

Good luck!
 Check out our other FREE trainings &
publications at Scribd.com/farrellink,
including:
◦ Pocket Guide to Materials
◦ Sandra Sullivan Learning for Life Program:
Program Management Procedures (Information
from trainings in an FAQ format)
 Sign up for Farrell Ink’s
FREE monthly eNewsletter or email with any
questions.
God, thank you for the mustard seed although it is so small.
God, thank you for the plant that grows up largest of them
all.
God, thank you for the birds that sing in branches that reach
wide.
God, thank you for the words you teach while walking by my
side.
God, give us love and strength to meet each other’s human
need.
God, bury me to rise again just like the mustard seed.
AMEN
 We hope this is enough to get you started
assigning materials from the Starter Kit
based on TABE 9/10 Survey!

 This training is FREE! If you would like to

support our ongoing work, please donate to
the West Side Catholic Center with the
memo: “Sullivan Learning for Life Program.”
◦ 3135 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113
◦ (216) 631-4741, ask for Susan Ertle at x132