English Language Arts Materials Collections for Instructionally Embedded States

Fall 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 writing tools used by the student in regular instruction
associated pictures that have been used in shared reading and during instruction
examples of informational topics that have been used during instruction
five different objects
five new objects
four photographs of unfamiliar people
four selected objects
four unfamiliar objects
one boot with laces, a tongue, a heel, an outer sole, and a toe
one coat that has a zipper, sleeves, a hood, snaps, and pockets
one highlighter with a tip and a cap
one long-sleeved shirt with buttons
one magazine that has a cover, pages, and text
one milk carton with a straw
one mitten with a thumb
one object that relates to a dog
one pair of gloves with thumbs
one pen that has a point
one photograph of a familiar person
one purse that has straps, zippers, and pockets
one toy school bus
one sun visor cap that has a visor and adjustable straps
one sweatshirt with a hood, pockets, and 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 that has wheels, windows, and lights
one wooden pencil that has an eraser
resource materials that have been used in shared reading and during instruction
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 hats that have visors and adjustable straps
two books that have covers, pages, and text
two familiar objects that belong to the student
two jackets that have a zipper, sleeves, a hood, snaps, and pockets
two juice boxes with straws
two markers with tips and caps
two mechanical pencils that have erasers
two newspapers with pages, pictures, words, and a front
two notepads that have pages and ringed bindings
two pairs of familiar, identical objects
two pencils that have a point
two photographs of familiar places
two photographs of unfamiliar places
two shoes that have laces, tongues, heels, outer soles, and toes
two short-sleeved shirts with buttons
two toy buses
two toy cars that have wheels, windows, and lights

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

four tactually different objects
one backpack or a backpack represented in a tactile graphic
one bag or a tactile graphic of a bag
one box or a tactile graphic of a box
one brush
one chair or a chair represented in a tactile graphic
one piece of clothing or a tactile graphic of clothing
one shoe or a 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
three familiar objects that belong to the student
three new objects
three other objects or other objects represented in a tactile graphic
two familiar, identical 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 that have been used in shared reading and during instruction
five different objects
five objects or pictures not in the bags category
five objects or pictures that belong to the bags category
five unfamiliar objects
four photographs of unfamiliar people
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 that belongs to the books category
three different new objects
three objects or pictures not in the books category
three objects or pictures not in the clothes category
three objects or pictures not in the money category 
three objects or pictures that belong to the clothes category
three pairs of similar (but not identical) objects
three objects or pictures that belong to the money 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 photographs of familiar people
two photographs of unfamiliar places

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

five different objects
one backpack or a backpack represented in a tactile graphic
one bag with a handle
one block or a block represented in a tactile graphic
one book or a book represented in a tactile graphic
one chair or a chair represented in a tactile graphic
one hat or a hat represented in a tactile graphic
one pair of pants with a pocket
one pillow or a pillow represented in a tactile graphic
one shirt or a shirt represented in a tactile graphic
one shoe or a shoe represented in a tactile graphic
one shoe with a shoelace
one sock or a sock represented in a tactile graphic
one toothbrush or a toothbrush represented in a tactile graphic
one towel or a towel represented in a tactile graphic
three familiar objects that belong to the student
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
five different objects
five pairs of similar (but not identical) objects that are the same except for one property
four photographs of unfamiliar people
four unfamiliar objects
nine selected objects
one crayon
one cup
one hairbrush that has bristles and handles
one hat
one jacket that has a hood, sleeves, and 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
six familiar objects associated with one familiar routine
tape
three different familiar objects that belong to the student
three objects or pictures 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
two coats that have a hood, sleeves, and zipper
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 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

one blanket or a blanket represented in a tactile graphic
one bowl or a bowl represented in a tactile graphic
one box or a picture of a box
one chair or a picture of a chair
one clock or a picture of a clock
one coat or a tactile graphic of a coat
one glove or a tactile graphic of a glove
one piece of thread or thread represented in a tactile graphic
one piece of wood or wood 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 a sock represented in a tactile graphic
one table or a picture of a table
three familiar objects
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 make a list
any objects the student uses to put on a hat
any objects the student uses to read a book
any objects the student uses to wash their hands
any symbolic representation of an action associated with arriving at school
any symbolic representation of an action associated with art class
any symbolic representation of an action associated with hand washing
any symbolic representation of an action associated with library time
any symbolic representation of an action associated with lunch
any symbolic representation of an action associated with packing a bag
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 that are unassociated with the book category
five objects or pictures that belong to the book category
five pairs of similar (but not identical) objects that are the same except for one property
one ball
one drum
one familiar object that belongs to the student
one flower
one jacket
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
one slipper
one toy animal
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
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
three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the clothes category
three objects or pictures that belong to the clothes category
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

four tactually different objects
one bag or a bag represented in a tactile graphic
one ball
one block
one book or a book represented in a tactile graphic
one jacket or a jacket represented in a tactile graphic
one pen or a pen represented in a tactile graphic
one piece of chalk or a dry eraser
one pillow
one shirt or a shirt represented in a tactile graphic
one shoe or a shoe represented in a tactile graphic
one sock or a sock represented in a tactile graphic
one symbolic representation of a ball
one symbolic representation of a block
one symbolic representation of a book
one symbolic representation of a piece of chalk or a dry eraser
one symbolic representation of a pillow
one symbolic representation of a sock
three different objects or objects represented in a tactile graphic
three familiar objects that belong to the student
two pairs of tactually similar objects
two unfamiliar objects

Grade 7

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grade 7

any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction
examples of informational topics and related resource materials
five different objects
one ball
one book
one bottle
one colored pencil
one crayon
one cup
one familiar book
one hat
one jar
one notebook
one object that can serve as a screen (bandana, box, piece of cardboard, etc.)
one paintbrush
one pen
one pencil
one piece of paper
one spoon
six familiar objects
the person associated with answering questions
the person associated with checking out a book
the person associated with greeting in the morning
the person associated with lunch
the person associated with teaching art
the person associated with teaching geography
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 animal 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 book category

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

one backpack or a backpack represented in a tactile graphic
one bag
one ball
one blanket or a blanket represented in a tactile graphic
one book
one bottle
one brush
one crayon
one hat
one jar
one marker
one notebook
one pencil
one plate
one sock or a sock 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
one symbolic representation of a brush
one symbolic representation of a crayon
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 pencil
one symbolic representation of a plate
one symbolic representation of a sock
three different objects or different 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 cooking
one object for doing homework
one object for eating
one object for going outside
one object for packing a backpack
one object for waking up
one object for washing your hands
one object not for doing homework
one object not for eating
one object not for going outside
one object not for packing a backpack
one object not for waking up
one object not for washing your hands
one object or picture in the clothes category
one object or picture not in the clothes category
one object or picture not in the dishes category
one object that is unrelated to a writing activity
one object that is unrelated to cooking
one object that is unrelated to getting ready for school
one object that is unrelated to getting ready to go home
one object that is unrelated to making music
one object that is unrelated to unpacking a bag
one object that is unrelated to washing cups
one object to complete getting ready for school
one object to complete getting ready to go home
one object to complete unpacking a bag
one object to make music
one object to wash cups
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, two of which come from a first familiar routine and one that is from a second familiar 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
four objects or pictures from the calendars group
four objects or pictures from the writing utensils group
one notecard with any letter not in student's first name
one notecard with first letter of student's first name
one symbolic representation of an action associated with art class
one symbolic representation of an action associated with cleaning up
one symbolic representation of an action associated with computer time
one symbolic representation of an action associated with doing schoolwork
one symbolic representation of an action associated with free time
one symbolic representation of an action associated with going outside
one symbolic representation of an action associated with reading time
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 that have unique properties (e.g., color, size, shape, texture) that distinguish them from each other
three objects from the familiar studying routine
three objects or picture from the worker category
three objects or pictures from the art supplies category
three objects or pictures from the clothes category
three objects or pictures from the dishes category
three objects or pictures not from the art supplies category
three objects or pictures not from the clothes category
three objects or pictures not from the dishes category
three objects or pictures not from the worker category
two objects or pictures from the notebooks group

Grades 11–12

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grades 11-12

any symbolic representation of an action associated with cleaning up
any symbolic representation of an action associated with going outside
any symbolic representation of an action associated with going to music class
any symbolic representation of an action associated with going to the park
any symbolic representation of an action associated with greeting a friend
any symbolic representation of an action associated with library time
any symbolic representation of an action associated with meeting new people
any symbolic representation of an action associated with movie time
any symbolic representation of an action associated with reading a book
any symbolic representation of an action associated with using the phone
any symbolic representation of an action associated with leaving school
any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction
nine notecards
one notecard with any letter not in student's first name
one notecard with first letter of student's first name
resource materials that include some vocabulary words used in instruction
six objects from a familiar routine that have unique properties (e.g., color, size, shape, texture) that distinguish them from each other
three familiar objects from a familiar routine, two of which belong to a first category and one that is from a second 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