English Language Arts Materials Collections for Instructionally Embedded States

Spring 2024 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

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 symbol representations needed that represent an action associated with cleanup time
any symbol representations needed that represent an action associated with game time
any symbol representations needed that represent an action associated with homework time
any writing tool used by the student during regular instruction
five new objects
four selected objects
one bag that has pockets, zippers, and straps
one colored pencil that has a tip
one hairbrush with a handle and bristles
one large book with pictures
one magazine
one mechanical pencil that has an eraser
one mitten with thumbs and cuffs
one notepad
one pair of eyeglasses with lenses
one pen with a cap and a tip
one photograph of a familiar place
one purse with pockets, straps, and zippers
one sun visor with closures and a sweatband
one symbolic representation of an action associated with art time
one symbolic representation of an action associated with lunch
one symbolic representation of an action associated with recess
one textbook that has words
one water bottle that has an open top
one wide paintbrush with a handle
resource materials used during instruction for the topic the student selects
three familiar objects that belong to the student
two backpacks with pockets, straps, and zippers
two baseball hats with visors, closures, and sweatbands
two coats with sleeves, hoods, pockets, collars, and a pull-tab on the zipper
two crayons that have a tip
two cups that have an open top
two familiar, identical objects
two gloves with thumbs and cuffs
two jackets with sleeves, hoods, pockets, collars, and a pull-tab on the zipper
two markers that have a tip and a cap
two notebooks
two pairs of identical objects
two pairs of similar (but not identical) objects
two pairs of sunglasses with lenses
two photographs of a familiar person
two photographs of an unfamiliar person
two photographs of an unfamiliar place
two picture books with words
two regular pencils that have an eraser
two small books with pictures
two small paintbrushes with handles
two toothbrushes with bristles and handles
two unfamiliar objects

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

five familiar objects that belong to the student
four tactually different objects
one backpack or backpack represented in a tactile graphic
one blanket
one book or book represented in a tactile graphic
one bus stop sign or bus stop sign represented in a tactile graphic
one cup or cup represented in a tactile graphic
one pair of familiar identical objects
one pillow
one sock
one symbolic representation of a blanket
one symbolic representation of a pillow
one symbolic representation of a sock
one toy bus or bus represented in a tactile graphic
three new objects
two pairs of tactually identical objects
two pairs of tactually similar 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 used during instruction
five new objects
four different objects
nine selected objects
one letter card or notecard with the first letter of the student's name written lowercase
one letter card or notecard with the first letter of the student's name written uppercase
one photograph of a familiar person
one photograph of a familiar place
three familiar objects that belong to the student
three objects or pictures that belong to the cup category
three objects or pictures that belong to the dishes category
three objects or pictures that belong to the hat category
three objects or pictures that do not belong to the hat category
three objects or pictures unassociated with the cup category
three objects or pictures unassociated with the dishes category
three objects or pictures unassociated with the money category
two familiar, identical objects
two objects or pictures that belong to the money category
two or more familiar objects used during instruction
two pairs of identical objects
two pairs of similar (but not identical) objects
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

four different objects
one bandage or bandage represented in a tactile graphic
one blanket or blanket represented in a tactile graphic
one broom or broom represented in a tactile graphic
one chair with legs
one clothespin with a metal spring
one eraser or eraser represented in a tactile graphic
one hat or hat represented in a tactile graphic
one notebook or notebook represented in a tactile graphic
one pair of pants or pants represented in a tactile graphic
one pencil or pencil represented in a tactile graphic
one ruler or ruler represented in a tactile graphic
one shoe or shoe represented in a tactile graphic
one spoon with a handle
one toothbrush or toothbrush represented in a tactile graphic
three familiar objects that belong to the student
three new objects
two familiar, identical objects
two pairs of tactually identical objects
two pairs of tactually similar objects
two unfamiliar objects

Grade 5

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grade 5

any writing tools used by the student during instruction
examples of informational topics about the student's personal experiences
nine selected objects
one ball
one book
one boot
one bottle of glue
one cup
one hat
one jacket that has a hood, sleeves, and zipper
one lump of clay
one marker
one mitten
one napkin
one paintbrush
one pencil
one photograph of a familiar place
one piece of paper
one shoe
one sweater
one toy truck that has wheels, doors, windows, roof, and headlights or tail lights 
three familiar objects that belong to the student
three objects or pictures that belong to the clothes category
three objects or pictures that belong to the food category
three objects or pictures unassociated with the clothes category
three objects or pictures unassociated with the food category
three pairs of familiar, identical objects
three preferred objects
three unfamiliar 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 coats that have a hood, sleeves, and zipper
two familiar objects used during instruction
two non-preferred objects
two photographs of a familiar person
two photographs of unfamiliar people
two photographs of unfamiliar places
two toy cars which have wheels, doors, windows, roofs, and headlights or tail lights

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

one ball or ball graphic
one book or book graphic
one boot or boot graphic
one box or box graphic
one cup or cup graphic
one hairbrush or hairbrush graphic
one hat or hat graphic
one pencil or pencil graphic
one shirt or shirt graphic
one toy car or car graphic
one toy cat or cat graphic
one toy house or house graphic
three familiar objects that belong to the student
two unfamiliar objects

Grade 6

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grade 6

any objects the student uses to make a list
any objects the student uses to read a book
any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction
examples of informational topics used during instruction
five pairs of similar (but not identical) objects that are the same except for one property, such as color, size, shape, or texture
nine notecards
objects the student uses to eat lunch
objects the student uses to pack a bag
objects the student uses to turn in homework
objects the student uses to wash hands
one ball
one flower
one jacket with a zipper
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 pair of identical objects
one photograph of a familiar person
one photograph of a familiar place
one shoe
one shoe with laces
one slipper
resource materials
three familiar objects
three objects from familiar lunchtime routine that have unique properties
three objects from the familiar packing a backpack routine, all of which should be from the same routine but have unique properties (e.g., color, size, shape, texture)
three objects from the familiar packing a bag routine that have unique properties
three objects from the familiar routine about writing
three objects or pictures that belong to the clothing category
three objects or pictures unassociated with the clothing category
two photographs of unfamiliar people
two photographs of unfamiliar places
two unfamiliar objects

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

one bag
one ball
one blanket
one book
one bowl
one brush
one chalkboard eraser or dry eraser
one napkin or napkin represented in a tactile graphic
one object or object represented in a tactile graphic
one pair of tactually identical objects
one plate or plate represented in a tactile graphic
one shirt
one shoe
one spoon or spoon represented in a tactile graphic
one symbolic representation of a bag
one symbolic representation of a ball
one symbolic representation of a blanket
one symbolic representation of a book
one symbolic representation of a bowl
one symbolic representation of a brush
one symbolic representation of a chalkboard eraser or dry eraser
one symbolic representation of a shirt
one symbolic representation of a shoe
three familiar objects that belong to the student
three tactually different objects
two pairs of tactually similar (but not identical) objects
two unfamiliar objects

Grade 7

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grade 7

a person associated with giving the student lunch
a person associated with reading to the student
a person associated with teaching the student art
a person associated with teaching the student physical education
a person associated with visiting the nurse
any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction
examples of informational topics and related resource materials
five objects or pictures that are unassociated with the ball category
five objects or pictures that belong to the ball 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 backpack
one ball
one book
one coffee cup
one crayon
one cup
one familiar book used during instruction
one glove
one hat
one jar
one object that can serve as a screen (i.e., bandana, box, piece of cardboard, etc.)
one paintbrush
one pen
one pencil
three familiar objects that can be easily removed from the student’s view
three objects or pictures not of a sport
three objects or pictures of a sport
three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the art supplies category
three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the cup category
three objects or pictures that belong to the art supplies category
three objects or pictures that belong to the cup category
three pairs of similar (but not identical) objects
two familiar objects from the same category

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

one bag
one ball or ball represented in a tactile graphic
one book or book represented in a tactile graphic
one bottle of water
one bowl
one cup
one hat
one jar
one marker
one notebook
one paintbrush
one pen
one pencil
one ribbon
one spoon or spoon represented in a tactile graphic
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 water
one symbolic representation of a bowl
one symbolic representation of a cup
one symbolic representation of a hat
one symbolic representation of a jar
one symbolic representation of a marker
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 ribbon
one symbolic representation of a spoon
one symbolic representation of a vase
one symbolic representation of a whistle
one vase
one whistle

Grade 8

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grade 8

a person associated with checking out books
a person associated with teaching art class
a person associated with teaching music class
eight notecards
examples of informational topics used during instruction
five pairs of similar (but not identical) objects that are the same except for one property, such as color, size, shape, or texture
five different objects
one backpack
one book
one cup
one hat
one object needed to complete doing classwork
one object needed to complete eating
one object needed to complete packing your backpack
one object needed to complete reading
one object needed to complete washing your face
one object or picture that belongs to the hat category
one object or picture unassociated with the hat category
one object unassociated with doing classwork
one object unassociated with eating
one object unassociated with packing your backpack
one object unassociated with reading
one object unassociated with washing your face
one pair of sunglasses
one pen
one pencil
one spoon
one toothbrush
three familiar objects, two of which are from a first routine and one that is from a second routine
two shirts
two towels
writing tools used during instruction

Grades 9–10

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grades 9-10

examples of informational topics used during instruction
fifteen notecards
four objects or pictures from the shirts category
one letter card or notecard with any letter not in the student's first name
one letter card or notecard with first letter of the student's first name
resource material that includes vocabulary words used during instruction
six objects or pictures from the broad category "animals," four of which come from the "farm animals" subgroup and two of which come from the "zoo animals" subgroup
three familiar objects from a familiar routine, two of which are from one subgroup of a broad category and one that is from a second subgroup of the broad category
three objects from the familiar homework routine
three objects from the familiar math class routine, all of which should be from the same routine but have unique properties (e.g., color, size, shape, texture)
three objects or pictures from the dishes category
three objects or pictures not from the cups category
three objects or pictures not from the dishes category
three objects or pictures not of a toy
three objects or pictures of a toy
three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the clothes category
three objects or pictures that belong to the clothes category
three objects or pictures that belong to the cups category
two objects or pictures from the shoes category
writing tools used by the student during instruction

Grades 11–12

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grades 11-12

examples of informational topics used during instruction
nine notecards
one letter card or notecard with any letter not in the student's first name
one letter card or notecard with the first letter of the student's first name
one symbolic representation of an action associated with class time
one symbolic representation of an action associated with field trips
one symbolic representation of an action associated with shopping time
three familiar objects, two which are from a first familiar routine and one that is from a second familiar routine
three objects from a familiar shopping routine
three objects or pictures from the cups category
three objects or pictures that are not from the cups category
two or more resource materials that include vocabulary words used in instruction
writing tools used during instruction