Former California principal, Martin Griffin, explains that there are
numerous standardized tests that every high school student in the state
is required to take before they may graduate. The two most prominent of
these tests are the California Standards Tests (CSTs) through the
Standardized Testing and Reporting Program (STAR) and the California
High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). Standardized testing is an area where
many students struggle, even those who otherwise have good grades.
Schools across the nation are focused on the results of standardized
tests, as it reflects on the individual school as much as the student's
attained knowledge.
During his years as a high school principal
and education consultant in California, Griffin has learned that the
promotion of literacy is one of the most effective ways to raise test
scores. Literacy is more than the ability to read, it is also the power
to comprehend and retain what is read. The better a student is at
reading and understanding a text, the more likely they are to understand
a test question and what is expected of them. This even rings true for
the math portions of standardized tests, as the questions need to be
read and understood before the work can commence.
Better literacy also gives grammar, language, and vocabulary tools to students, each of which are important for a good test score. Martin Griffin knows that reading is the most effective way to build vocabulary, learn the meaning of new words through context, and learn the proper ways to spell those words.
Better literacy also gives grammar, language, and vocabulary tools to students, each of which are important for a good test score. Martin Griffin knows that reading is the most effective way to build vocabulary, learn the meaning of new words through context, and learn the proper ways to spell those words.
