English Language Arts Materials Collections for Instructionally Embedded States

Fall 2025 Assessment Window: Instructionally Embedded Model

Download the English Language Arts Materials Collections List for Instructionally Embedded States (pdf)

Dynamic Learning Maps® (DLM®) testlets sometimes call for the use of specific materials. The Testlet Information Page (TIP) for each testlet identifies these materials. Sometimes materials are required and cannot be substituted, but substitutions are allowed in most cases. If a testlet requires materials, the TIP will state the specific materials mentioned in the testlet and describe their attributes so that test administrators may find appropriate substitutions. For more information about substituting materials, see the Test Administration Manual sections titled Prepare to Administer a Testlet and Teacher-Administered Testlets.

The TIP is provided in the Instruction and Assessment Planner in Kite® Educator Portal when each testlet is assigned. Since the teacher chooses which Essential Elements and linkage levels to assess during instructionally embedded assessments, the materials needed or recommended to assess each student are unknown before the testlet is assigned. However, the materials used in different testlets often have common traits, giving teachers the ability to identify commonly available objects ahead of time that are likely to be useful when administering English language arts (ELA) testlets. Teachers may collect these materials and use them during instruction. The most useful materials are familiar to the student and available before the teacher begins assigning testlets in the Instruction and Assessment Planner.

The following list contains commonly needed materials in ELA testlets and gives test administrators more opportunity to prepare for the ELA alternate assessment prior to the opening of the assessment window. The tables in this document summarize lists of materials per grade level for general testlets and, where appropriate, for students who are blind or have visual impairments.

Materials may be substituted unless the TIP specifically states, “No substitutions allowed.”

Hints for using this list

  • Look at the whole list for each grade and find materials that can meet multiple purposes. Note the types of materials mentioned more than once.
  • Find materials that already exist in the classroom or are easily found somewhere in the school building.
  • Pick materials that are familiar to the student.
  • Remember that, in most cases, materials can be substituted if they have the same attributes as those on the list. Examples of possible substitutions are found in Table 1.
  • Material substitutions are listed for individual testlets on the corresponding TIP.
  • First and foremost, your student’s safety should be the primary concern when choosing materials or substitutions.

Table 1
Example English Language Arts Substitution Materials

Example Materials Description

Possible Solution

Two books and one magazine, all of which have pages, words, and a cover.

Two objects that belong to the same subgroup (e.g., two backpacks) and a third object that belongs to a different subgroup within the broader category (e.g., one purse from the broader category of bags).

The person associated with teaching the student art.

The person associated with a different familiar routine (e.g., person that teaches reading).

Contained in this document:

  • Lists by grade of common materials used in ELA testlets.
  • Lists by grade of materials that may be used to administer testlets to students who are blind or have visual impairments. Some ELA testlets are special forms designed for these students, while others are general testlets that have been adapted to make them accessible for students who are blind or have visual impairments.

 

Grade 3

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grade 3

any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction 
examples of informational topics such as a person, place, or object that have been used during instruction 
five familiar objects that belong to the student 
five new objects 
four different objects
four photographs of unfamiliar people 
four selected objects 
one boot with laces, a tongue, a heel, an outer sole, and a toe 
one coat that has a zipper, a hood, sleeves, a pocket, snaps, and a pull-tab on the zipper 
one different familiar object that has been used in shared reading 
one highlighter with a tip and a cap 
one magazine with a cover and pages 
one milk carton with a straw 
one mitten with a thumb 
one newspaper with pages and words 
one object that relates to a dog
one pair of gloves with thumbs 
one pen that has a point 
one pen with a cap and a tip 
one purse that has a strap, zippers, and pockets 
one school bus 
one sun visor cap that has a visor and an adjustable strap 
one sweatshirt with a hood, pockets, and a zipper 
one symbol representing an action associated with cleanup time 
one symbol representing an action associated with school 
one symbol representing an action associated with shopping time
one toy truck with wheels, windows, and lights 
one visor with a bill, closure, and sweatband 
pictures that have been used in shared reading and during instruction 
resource materials that have been used in shared reading and during instruction 
ten unfamiliar objects 
three familiar objects that can be easily removed from the student’s view 
three objects that relate to the classroom 
three pairs of similar (but not identical) objects
two backpacks that have straps, zippers, and pockets
two baseball caps that have bills, adjustable straps, and sweatbands 
two books with covers, pages, and words 
two coats with a zipper, sleeves, pockets, and a hood 
two familiar objects that have been used in shared reading and during instruction 
two familiar, identical objects 
two jackets that have a zipper, hood, sleeves, pockets, snaps, and a pull-tab on the zipper 
two juice boxes with straws 
two markers with a cap and a tip
two pairs of identical objects 
two pencils that have a point 
two photographs of a familiar place 
two photographs of unfamiliar places 
two shoes that have laces, tongues, heels, outer soles, and toes 
two toy buses 
two toy cars with wheels, windows, and lights

Common Materials Used for Grade 3 Students Who Are Blind or Have Visual Impairments

five familiar objects that belong to the student 
five new objects 
five tactually different objects 
one backpack or backpack represented in a tactile graphic 
one box or a tactile graphic of a box 
one brush 
one chair or chair represented in a tactile graphic 
one paper bag or paper bag represented in a tactile graphic
one piece of clothing or a tactile graphic of clothing 
one shoe or shoe represented in a tactile graphic 
one stuffed animal 
one symbolic representation of a brush 
one symbolic representation of a shoe 
one symbolic representation of a stuffed animal 
one toy or toy represented in a tactile graphic 
three objects or objects represented in a tactile graphic 
three pairs of tactually similar (but not identical) objects 
two familiar, identical objects 
two pairs of tactually identical objects 
two unfamiliar objects

Grade 4

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grade 4

any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction 
examples of informational topics that have been used in shared reading and during instruction 
five new objects 
five objects or pictures that are unassociated with the bags category 
five objects or pictures that belong to the bags category 
four different objects 
nine selected objects 
one notecard or other letter card with the first letter of the student’s name written lowercase 
one notecard or other letter card with the first letter of the student’s name written uppercase 
one object or picture associated with the book category 
one photograph of a familiar place 
three objects or pictures associated with the clothes category 
three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the book category 
three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the clothes category 
three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the hat category 
three objects or pictures that belong to the hat category 
two familiar objects that belong to the student 
two familiar objects that have been used in shared reading and during instruction 
two familiar, identical objects 
two pairs of identical objects 
two pairs of similar (but not identical) objects 
two photographs of familiar people 
two photographs of unfamiliar people 
two photographs of unfamiliar places 
two unfamiliar objects

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grade 4 Students Who Are Blind or Have Visual Impairments

five different objects 
five familiar objects that belong to the student 
one backpack or backpack represented in a tactile graphic 
one bag with a handle 
one baseball or baseball represented in a tactile graphic 
one block or block represented in a tactile graphic 
one book or book represented in a tactile graphic 
one bookshelf or bookshelf represented in a tactile graphic
one chair or chair represented in a tactile graphic 
one chair with a seat 
one coin or coin represented in a tactile graphic 
one computer or computer represented in a tactile graphic 
one crayon or crayon represented in a tactile graphic 
one doll or doll represented in a tactile graphic 
one hat or hat represented in a tactile graphic 
one pair of pants with a pocket 
one pencil or pencil represented in a tactile graphic 
one pillow or pillow represented in a tactile graphic 
one shirt or shirt represented in a tactile graphic 
one shoe or shoe represented in a tactile graphic 
one shoe with a shoelace 
one small tree with leaves 
one sock or sock represented in a tactile graphic 
one spoon with a handle 
one table with legs 
one toothbrush or toothbrush represented in a tactile graphic 
one towel or towel represented in a tactile graphic 
one toy truck with wheels 
three pairs of tactually similar (but not identical) objects 
three unfamiliar objects 
two familiar, identical objects
two pairs of tactually identical objects

Grade 5

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grade 5

any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction 
examples of informational topics about the student's personal experiences 
four photographs of unfamiliar people 
four unfamiliar objects 
nine selected objects 
one crayon 
one cup 
one hairbrush that has bristles and a handle 
one hat 
one jacket which has a hood, sleeves, and a zipper 
one marker 
one mitten 
one pen 
one photograph of a familiar place 
one piece of clay 
one piece of paper 
one scarf 
one shoebox that has a lid, insides, and sides 
one sweater 
tape 
three different familiar objects that belong to the student 
three objects or pictures that are associated with the clothes category
three objects or pictures that are not associated with the clothes category 
three objects or pictures that are not associated with the cups category 
three objects or pictures that belong to the cups category 
three pairs of familiar, identical objects 
three pairs of similar (but not identical) objects that are the same except for one property, such as color, size, shape, or texture 
two non-preferred objects 
two packing boxes that have lids, insides, and sides 
two photographs of familiar people 
two photographs of unfamiliar places 
two preferred objects 
two toothbrushes that have bristles and handles 
two coats that have a hood, sleeves, and a zipper 
two familiar objects that have been used in shared reading and during instruction

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grade 5 Students Who Are Blind or Have Visual Impairments

five familiar objects that belong to the student 
one blanket or blanket represented in a tactile graphic 
one bowl or bowl represented in a tactile graphic 
one clock or a picture of a clock 
one coat or a tactile graphic of a coat
one girl or girl represented in a tactile graphic 
one glove or a tactile graphic of a glove 
one hat or hat represented in a tactile graphic
one pencil or pencil represented in a tactile graphic
one piece of thread or thread represented in a tactile graphic
one piece of wood or wood represented in a tactile graphic 
one plant or plant represented in a tactile graphic 
one seed or seed represented in a tactile graphic 
one shirt or a tactile graphic of a shirt 
one shoe or a picture of a shoe 
one sock or sock represented in a tactile graphic 
one table or a picture of a table 
one toy baby or baby represented in a tactile graphic 
one toy car or car represented in a tactile graphic 
one toy cat or cat represented in a tactile graphic 
one toy chair or chair represented in a tactile graphic 
one toy dog or dog represented in a tactile graphic 
one toy duck or duck represented in a tactile graphic 
one toy house or house represented in a tactile graphic 
one wheelchair or wheelchair represented in a tactile graphic 
two unfamiliar objects

Grade 6

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grade 6

any objects the student uses to ask questions 
any objects the student uses to introduce himself/herself 
any objects the student uses to make a list 
any objects the student uses to pack a bag 
any objects the student uses to read a book 
any objects the student uses to say goodbye 
any objects the student uses to wash his/her hands
any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction
examples of informational topics that have been used during instruction 
five different objects 
five objects or pictures associated with the animal category 
five objects or pictures that are not associated with the animal category 
five pairs of similar (but not identical) objects that are the same except for one property, such as color, size, shape, or texture 
one ball 
one drum 
one flower 
one hat 
one jacket with a zipper 
one letter card or notecard with a letter that does not appear in the student's name 
one paintbrush 
one pencil 
one photograph of a familiar person 
one photograph of a familiar place 
one shoe with shoestrings 
one slipper 
one letter card or notecard with the first letter of the student's name 
paint 
resource material (e.g., an informational text, an informational poster, digital sources) 
six objects from the familiar writing routine, all of which should have unique properties (e.g., color, size, shape, texture) that distinguish them from each other 
symbolic representations of actions associated with familiar routines 
three notecards 
three objects from the familiar arrival to school routine 
three objects from the familiar getting ready for school routine
three objects from the familiar packing a backpack routine 
three objects from the familiar packing a bag routine 
three objects or pictures not of a shoe 
three objects or pictures of a shoe 
two familiar objects that have been used in shared reading and during instruction 
two pairs of identical objects 
two photographs of unfamiliar people
two photographs of unfamiliar places 
two pieces of paper 
two unfamiliar objects

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grade 6 Students Who Are Blind or Have Visual Impairments

five familiar objects that belong to the student 
five tactually different objects 
one bag or bag represented in a tactile graphic 
one ball 
one bar of soap or soap represented in a tactile graphic 
one bell 
one blanket 
one block 
one book 
one doll 
one eraser 
one hat or hat represented in a tactile graphic 
one piece of chalk or a dry eraser 
one pillow 
one shirt or shirt represented in a tactile graphic 
one shoe or shoe represented in a tactile graphic 
one sock or sock represented in a tactile graphic 
one symbolic representation of a ball 
one symbolic representation of a bell 
one symbolic representation of a blanket 
one symbolic representation of a block 
one symbolic representation of a book 
one symbolic representation of a doll 
one symbolic representation of a piece of chalk or a dry eraser 
one symbolic representation of a pillow 
one symbolic representation of a sock 
one symbolic representation of a wooden block 
one towel or towel represented in a tactile graphic 
one toy house or house represented in a tactile graphic 
one wooden block 
three objects or objects represented in a tactile graphic 
three pairs of tactually similar (but not identical) objects 
two pairs of tactually identical objects 
two unfamiliar objects

Grade 7

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grade 7

any writing tools used by the student during regular instruction
examples of informational topics and related resource materials 
five different objects 
one ball 
one bottle 
one colored pencil 
one crayon 
one cup 
one familiar book 
one familiar object from a different category 
one glove 
one hat 
one jar 
one notebook
one object that can serve as a screen (i.e., bandana, box, piece of cardboard, etc.) 
one paintbrush 
one pen 
one pencil 
one piece of paper
one spoon 
six familiar objects that can be easily removed from the student's view 
the person associated with checking out a book 
the person associated with greeting in the morning 
the person associated with teaching art 
the person associated with teaching technology
three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the animal category 
three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the ball category 
three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the dishes category 
three objects or pictures that belong to the ball category 
three objects or pictures that belong to the dishes category 
three pairs of similar (but not identical) objects 
two familiar objects related to the same category as a familiar book 
two objects or pictures that belong to the animal category

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grade 7 Students Who Are Blind or Have Visual Impairments

money or money represented in a tactile graphic 
one backpack or backpack represented in a tactile graphic that goes with the familiar text 
one bag 
one ball 
one blanket or blanket represented in a tactile graphic that goes with the familiar text 
one book 
one bottle of shampoo 
one bottle of water 
one brush 
one cup or cup represented in a tactile graphic 
one different object or object represented in a tactile graphic 
one doll 
one furry animal or furry animal represented in a tactile graphic 
one game or game represented in a tactile graphic 
one garden hose 
one hat or hat represented in a tactile graphic 
one jacket 
one jar 
one notebook
one paintbrush 
one pen 
one pencil 
one plate 
one sock or sock represented in a tactile graphic that goes with the familiar text 
one spoon 
one symbolic representation of a backpack 
one symbolic representation of a bag 
one symbolic representation of a ball 
one symbolic representation of a book 
one symbolic representation of a bottle of shampoo 
one symbolic representation of a bottle of water 
one symbolic representation of a brush 
one symbolic representation of a cup 
one symbolic representation of a dog 
one symbolic representation of a doll 
one symbolic representation of a garden hose
one symbolic representation of a house 
one symbolic representation of a jacket 
one symbolic representation of a jar 
one symbolic representation of a notebook
one symbolic representation of a paintbrush 
one symbolic representation of a pen 
one symbolic representation of a pencil 
one symbolic representation of a plate 
one symbolic representation of a sock 
one symbolic representation of a spoon 
one symbolic representation of a stuffed animal 
one toy dog 
one toy house 
three objects or objects represented in a tactile graphic

Grade 8

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grade 8

any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction 
examples of informational topics used during instruction 
one backpack 
one book 
one cup 
one flashlight 
one object for going outside 
one object for waking up 
one object for washing your hands 
one object needed for cooking 
one object needed to complete a writing activity 
one object needed to complete brushing your teeth 
one object needed to complete checking out a library book
one object needed to complete eating 
one object needed to complete getting ready for school 
one object needed to complete getting ready to go home 
one object needed to complete homework 
one object needed to complete reading a book 
one object needed to complete the daily calendar 
one object needed to complete unpacking a bag 
one object needed to make music 
one object needed to wash cups 
one object not for going outside 
one object not for waking up 
one object not for washing your hands
one object or picture from the clothes category
one object or picture from the dish category 
one object or picture not in the clothes category 
one object or picture not in the dish category 
one object that is unassociated with brushing your teeth 
one object that is unassociated with checking out a library book
one object that is unassociated with eating 
one object that is unassociated with getting ready for school 
one object that is unassociated with the daily calendar 
one pair of sunglasses 
one pen 
one pencil 
one ruler 
one spoon 
ten notecards 
the person associated with greeting the student 
the person associated with helping the student fill out a planner 
the person associated with helping the student pack a bag 
the person associated with taking the student to the bus 
the person associated with teaching the student to read 
three different objects 
three familiar objects used as part of familiar routines, two of which come from a first routine and one that is from a second routine 
three pairs of similar (but not identical) objects 
two dishes 
two hats 
two pieces of clothing

Grades 9–10

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grades 9-10

any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction 
examples of informational topics used during instruction 
fifteen notecards 
five objects or pictures that are unassociated with the work category 
five objects or pictures that belong to the work category 
four objects or pictures from the calendars subgroup 
four objects or pictures from the writing utensils subgroup
one notecard with any letter not in the student's first name 
one notecard with the first letter of the student's first name 
one symbolic representation of an action associated with art class
one symbolic representation of an action associated with the classroom 
one symbolic representation of an action associated with the library 
resource materials used during instruction 
six objects from the familiar lunch routine, all of which should be from the same routine but have unique properties (e.g., color, size, shape, texture) 
ten objects or pictures from the writing category, four of which come from the paper subgroup, four of which come from the pencil subgroup, and two of which come from the eraser subgroup 
three objects from the familiar studying routine 
three objects or pictures from the dishes category 
three objects or pictures not from the dishes category 
three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the art supplies category 
three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the clothes category 
three objects or pictures that belong to the art supplies category 
three objects or pictures that belong to the clothes category 
two objects or pictures from the notebook subgroup

Grades 11–12

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grades 11-12

any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction 
examples of informational topics used during instruction 
nine notecards 
one notecard with any letter not in the student's first name 
one symbolic representation of an action associated with being in the snow 
one symbolic representation of an action associated with going outside 
one symbolic representation of an action associated with going to the park 
one symbolic representation of an action associated with library time 
one symbolic representation of an action associated with movie time 
one symbolic representation of an action associated with reading a book 
one symbolic representation of an action associated with talking on the phone
one symbolic representation of an action associated with washing hands 
resource materials that include some vocabulary words used in instruction 
six objects from the same familiar routine, all of which should have unique properties (e.g., color, size, shape, texture) 
three familiar objects from familiar routines, two which come from a first familiar routine that belong to a specific category and one that is from a second familiar routine from a different category 
three objects from the hand washing routine 
three objects or pictures from the money category
three objects or pictures from the plant category 
three objects or pictures not from the money category 
three objects or pictures not from the plant category