Language Assessment Language Assessment System (LAS) LinksSystem (LAS) LinksTMTM

Census TestCensus Test

Language Assessment Language Assessment System (LAS) LinksSystem (LAS) LinksTMTM

Census TestCensus Test

About LAS LinksAbout LAS LinksTMTM

CensusTestCensusTest

Used to determine yearly progress of an English Used to determine yearly progress of an English language learner’s (ELLs) listening, speaking, language learner’s (ELLs) listening, speaking, reading and writing skills reading and writing skills

Based on a language acquisition continuum Based on a language acquisition continuum aligned with the MSDE Standards for ELLs aligned with the MSDE Standards for ELLs

Administered in the Spring to all students enrolled Administered in the Spring to all students enrolled in the ESOL programin the ESOL program

About LAS LinksAbout LAS LinksTMTM Census Census TestTest

Oral production of single words and single sentencesOral production of single words and single sentences

Listening Comprehension of short directions, Listening Comprehension of short directions, classroom situations and longer narrative passagesclassroom situations and longer narrative passages

Reading single words and comprehension of short Reading single words and comprehension of short passagespassages

Using writing conventions and writing simple and Using writing conventions and writing simple and complex sentences to describe one or a series of complex sentences to describe one or a series of pictures.pictures.

Writing in response to a promptWriting in response to a prompt

Evaluates:Evaluates:

Proficiency Levels for Proficiency Levels for Speaking, Listening, Reading and Speaking, Listening, Reading and

WritingWriting

Low Beginning

High Beginning

Low Intermediate

High Intermediate

Advanced

Test Administration SummaryTest Administration Summary

TestTestTopicTopic

SubtestSubtestAdministrationAdministration

ModeModeEst.Est.

TimeTime# Items# Items ScoringScoring

SpeakingSpeaking

Speak in WordsSpeak in Words

Speak in SentencesSpeak in Sentences

Make ConversationMake Conversation

Tell a StoryTell a Story

IndividualIndividual 15 min.15 min.Constructed Constructed

ResponsesResponses

Scored at school according to Scored at school according to rubrics rubrics while administering while administering test test

ListeningListening

Listen for InformationListen for Information

Listen in the ClassroomListen in the Classroom

Listen and ComprehendListen and Comprehend

GroupGroup 20 min.20 min.SelectedSelected

ResponseResponse

Scored by CTB-McGraw HillScored by CTB-McGraw Hill

ReadingReading

Analyze WordsAnalyze Words

Read Words Read Words

Read for UnderstandingRead for Understanding

GroupGroup40-5040-50

min.min.

SelectedSelected

ResponseResponseScored by CTB-McGraw HillScored by CTB-McGraw Hill

WritingWriting

Use ConventionsUse Conventions

Write About Write About

Write WhyWrite Why

GroupGroup

40-5040-50

min.min.

CRCR

&&

SRSR

Scored according to rubric by Scored according to rubric by CTB-McGraw HillCTB-McGraw Hill

Grade BandsGrade Bands

  K-1 Early Elementary   K-1 Early Elementary   

2-3 Elementary   2-3 Elementary   

4-5 Middle Grades   4-5 Middle Grades   

6-8 Middle/High School   6-8 Middle/High School   

9-129-12 High SchoolHigh School

ListeningListening

LAS Links Listening covers classroom spoken English and LAS Links Listening covers classroom spoken English and listening comprehension. It evaluates a student’s abilities to listening comprehension. It evaluates a student’s abilities to process language at a level that integrates skills and process language at a level that integrates skills and knowledge. knowledge.

Typical activities:Typical activities: Students listen to short passages and answer questions. Students listen to short passages and answer questions. Students hear instructions similar to those provided by a Students hear instructions similar to those provided by a

teacher in a classroom. teacher in a classroom. Students hear a passage with academic content read by Students hear a passage with academic content read by

either the test administrator or played from the audio CD. either the test administrator or played from the audio CD. Students are then asked four questions about the passage. Students are then asked four questions about the passage.

SpeakingSpeaking

LAS Links Speaking items assess the building blocks of oral LAS Links Speaking items assess the building blocks of oral language from vocabulary, to social language, to more language from vocabulary, to social language, to more sophisticated verbal expressions with appropriate sophisticated verbal expressions with appropriate grammar. grammar.

Typical activities:Typical activities: Students are presented color pictures of objects and Students are presented color pictures of objects and

respond with short answers. respond with short answers. Students respond in sentences to questions about Students respond in sentences to questions about

pictures depicting an activity or action. pictures depicting an activity or action. Students describe how to do something or explain why Students describe how to do something or explain why

something happens. something happens. Students view a series of four pictures and explain what Students view a series of four pictures and explain what

is happening. is happening.

ReadingReadingReading items assess word analysis as the basis for phonemic Reading items assess word analysis as the basis for phonemic

awareness and word recognition, fluency and vocabulary awareness and word recognition, fluency and vocabulary development. At higher levels, students use literary and development. At higher levels, students use literary and informative texts to demonstrate their level proficiency. informative texts to demonstrate their level proficiency.

Typical activities:Typical activities: Students read and answer questions in a variety of formats that Students read and answer questions in a variety of formats that

address four word analysis subskills: identifying rhyming words, address four word analysis subskills: identifying rhyming words, applying letter-sound relationships to read English words, applying letter-sound relationships to read English words, applying letter-sound relationships to read English phonemes, applying letter-sound relationships to read English phonemes, and applying knowledge of morphemes and syntax to word and applying knowledge of morphemes and syntax to word meaning. meaning.

Students also classify words and demonstrate vocabulary. Students also classify words and demonstrate vocabulary. In Grades K-1, students choose written words read by the test In Grades K-1, students choose written words read by the test

administrator and match pictured objects to their written administrator and match pictured objects to their written descriptions. descriptions.

Students are asked to demonstrate reading comprehension, Students are asked to demonstrate reading comprehension, identify literary features, and apply learning strategies to identify literary features, and apply learning strategies to interpretation.interpretation.

WritingWriting

Writing items assess receptive and productive skills. Students are Writing items assess receptive and productive skills. Students are asked to identify appropriate grammar, capitalization and asked to identify appropriate grammar, capitalization and punctuation, and standard sentence structure. Then they punctuation, and standard sentence structure. Then they produce sentences in a paragraph that is evaluated for produce sentences in a paragraph that is evaluated for content, language usage, and fluency.content, language usage, and fluency.

Typical activities:Typical activities: Students in Grades K-12 are asked to choose between two Students in Grades K-12 are asked to choose between two

alternatives and write two sentences about their choice. alternatives and write two sentences about their choice. Students in Grades 2-12 are asked to write in detail about a Students in Grades 2-12 are asked to write in detail about a

prompt. prompt.

ConclusionConclusion

This presentation is meant to increase your awareness of the LAS This presentation is meant to increase your awareness of the LAS Links Assessment and its contents. It is by no means an Links Assessment and its contents. It is by no means an exhaustive review of the assessment.exhaustive review of the assessment.

For more information, you should visit the CTB McGraw-Hill For more information, you should visit the CTB McGraw-Hill website or speak to an ESOL teacher who has administered the website or speak to an ESOL teacher who has administered the assessment.assessment.