English Language Arts Materials Collections for Instructionally Embedded States

Spring 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

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 representation needed that represents an action associated with getting in line 
any symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with getting ready to go home 
any symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with going to the library 
any symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with greeting someone 
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 tools used by the student during instruction 
examples of informational topics 
four different objects 
four photographs of unfamiliar places 
four selected objects 
four unfamiliar objects 
one bag that has pockets, zippers, and straps 
one boot with a heel, sole, and toe 
one colored pencil that has a tip 
one hairbrush with bristles and handles 
one large book with pictures 
one magazine 
one mechanical pencil that has an eraser 
one notepad 
one pair of eyeglasses with lenses 
one pair of familiar identical objects 
one pen that has a tip and a cap 
one purse with straps, zippers, and pockets 
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 toy cat that has a tail and ears 
one water bottle that has an open top 
one wide paintbrush with handles 
resource materials for the topic the student selects 
six familiar objects 
three new objects 
three objects that relate to clothing (shoe, jacket, shirt) 
two backpacks with straps, pockets, and zippers 
two coats that have zippers, sleeves, pockets, and hoods 
two crayons that have a tip 
two cups that have an open top 
two jackets with zippers, sleeves, pockets, and hoods 
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 familiar people 
two photographs of familiar places 
two photographs of unfamiliar people 
two picture books that have words 
two regular pencils that have erasers 
two shoes with heels, soles, and toes 
two small books with pictures 
two small paintbrushes with handles 
two toothbrushes with bristles and handles 
two toy dogs that have a tail and ears

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 
three objects or objects represented in a tactile graphic 
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 during instruction
examples of informational topics used during instruction
five new objects
five objects or pictures that belong to the clothes category
five objects or pictures unassociated with the clothes category
four different objects
four photographs of unfamiliar people
four unfamiliar objects
nine selected objects
one familiar, identical object
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 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 unassociated with the cup category
three objects or pictures unassociated with the dishes category
three objects or pictures unassociated with the hat category
three pairs of similar (but not 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

three familiar objects that belong to the student 
three new objects 
three pairs of similar (but not identical) objects
two familiar, identical objects
two pairs of tactually identical 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
four photographs of unfamiliar people
four unfamiliar objects
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 with wheels, doors, windows, a roof, and headlights or tail lights
three different objects
three familiar objects used during instruction 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 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 non-preferred objects
two photographs of familiar people
two photographs of unfamiliar places
two toy cars with 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 eat lunch 
any objects the student uses to make a list 
any objects the student uses to meet someone new 
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 turn in homework
any objects the student uses to wash hands 
any symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with arrival at school 
any symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with going home 
any symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with hand washing 
any symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with lesson time 
any symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with lunch time 
any symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with outside time 
any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction 
examples of informational topics used during instruction 
five different objects 
five objects or pictures that are unassociated with the sports ball category 
five objects or pictures that belong to the sports 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 
four photographs of unfamiliar people 
four unfamiliar objects 
nine notecards 
one ball 
one flower 
one jacket with a zipper 
one notecard with any letter not in student's first name 
one notecard with first letter of student's first name 
one pair of identical objects 
one shoe with laces 
one slipper 
resource materials 
six objects from the same familiar routine, all of which should have unique properties (e.g., color, size, shape, texture) 
three objects from the familiar going outside 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 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 familiar objects that belong to the student 
two familiar objects used during instruction 
two photographs of a familiar place 
two photographs of familiar people 
two photographs of unfamiliar places

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

one bag 
one ball 
one blanket 
one brush 
one chalkboard eraser or dry eraser 
one flower 
one jacket 
one napkin or napkin represented in a tactile graphic 
one pair of slippers 
one pair of tactually identical objects 
one pair of tennis shoes 
one plate or plate represented in a tactile graphic 
one shirt 
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 brush 
one symbolic representation of a chalkboard eraser or dry eraser 
one symbolic representation of a flower 
one symbolic representation of a jacket 
one symbolic representation of a shirt 
one symbolic representation of slippers 
one symbolic representation of tennis shoes 
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

any writing tools used by the student during instruction 
examples of informational topics and related resource materials 
five different objects 
five objects or pictures that belong to the ball category 
five objects or pictures unassociated with 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 baseball 
one colored pencil 
one crayon 
one cup 
one familiar book used during instruction 
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 stocking cap
the person associated with going to the library 
the person associated with greeting the student in the morning 
the person associated with helping in the library 
the person associated with music class 
the person associated with reading to the student 
the person associated with riding the bus 
the person associated with serving lunch 
the person associated with teaching art 
the person associated with teaching gym class 
the person associated with teaching the student physical education 
the person associated with visiting the nurse 
three familiar objects, one that is from a first category and two that are from a second category 
three objects or pictures not of a sport 
three objects or pictures of a sport 
three objects or pictures that belong to the art supplies category 
three objects or pictures that belong to the cup category 
three objects or pictures unassociated with the art supplies category 
three objects or pictures unassociated with the cup category

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

one bag 
one ball 
one ball or ball represented in a tactile graphic
one book 
one book or book represented in a tactile graphic 
one bottle of water 
one bowl 
one crayon 
one cup 
one hat 
one jar 
one marker 
one notebook 
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 crayon 
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 pencil 
one symbolic representation of a ribbon 
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

any writing tools used by the student during instruction 
examples of informational topics used during instruction 
five different objects 
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 book 
one cup 
one hat 
one object needed to complete cleaning 
one object needed to complete cooking 
one object needed to complete doing classwork 
one object needed to complete homework 
one object needed to complete leaving school 
one object needed to complete packing your backpack
one object needed to complete reading 
one object needed to complete the arriving at school routine 
one object needed to complete the brushing teeth routine 
one object needed to complete the checking out a book routine
one object needed to complete the gym class routine 
one object needed to complete the lunch routine 
one object needed to complete washing your face 
one object needed to go outside 
one object needed to wash hands 
one object needed to write or draw 
one object or picture that belongs to the hat category 
one object or picture unassociated with the hat category 
one object unassociated with cleaning 
one object unassociated with cooking 
one object unassociated with doing classwork 
one object unassociated with homework 
one object unassociated with leaving school 
one object unassociated with packing your backpack 
one object unassociated with reading 
one object unassociated with washing your face 
one object unrelated to going outside 
one object unrelated to packing a bag 
one object unrelated to the arriving at school routine 
one object unrelated to the brushing teeth routine 
one object unrelated to the checking out a book routine
one object unrelated to the gym class routine 
one object unrelated to the lunch routine 
one object unrelated to washing hands 
one object unrelated to writing or drawing 
one pair of sunglasses 
one pair of swim goggles 
one pen 
one pencil 
one pool toy 
one spoon 
one swimsuit 
one toothbrush 
ten notecards 
the person associated with checking out books 
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 art class 
the person associated with teaching music class 
the person associated with teaching the student to read 
three familiar objects, two which are from a first familiar routine from a specific category and one that is from a second familiar routine that belong to a different category 
two shirts 
two towels

Grades 9–10

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grades 9-10

any writing tools used by the student during instruction 
examples of informational topics used during instruction 
fifteen notecards 
five objects or pictures that belong to the clothing category 
five objects or pictures unassociated with the clothing category 
four objects or pictures from the shirts category 
one notecard with any letter not in student's first name
one notecard with first letter of student's first name 
one symbol representation associated with arriving at school 
one symbol representation associated with break time 
one symbol representation associated with classroom group time 
one symbol representation associated with classroom jobs 
one symbol representation associated with cleaning up 
one symbol representation associated with free time 
one symbol representation associated with going outside 
one symbol representation associated with library time 
one symbol representation associated with lunch time 
one symbol representation associated with the end of the day
one symbol representation associated with work time 
resource materials that include 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 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 not from the cups category 
three objects or pictures not of a toy 
three objects or pictures of a toy 
three objects or pictures that belong to the cups category 
two familiar objects from a familiar routine, one that is from a first subgroup and one that is from a second subgroup 
two objects or pictures from the shoes category

Grades 11–12

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for Grades 11-12

any symbol representations needed that represent an action associated with getting the mail 
any symbol representations needed that represent an action associated with greeting a friend 
any symbol representations needed that represent an action associated with library time 
any symbol representations needed that represent an action associated with making a phone call 
any symbol representations needed that represent an action associated with PE class
any symbol representations needed that represent an action associated with washing your hands 
any writing tools used by the student during instruction
examples of informational topics used during instruction 
fifteen notecards 
five objects or pictures that belong to the plant category 
five objects or pictures that belong to the vegetable category 
five objects or pictures unassociated with the plant category 
five objects or pictures unassociated with the vegetable category 
one notecard with any letter not in student's first name 
one notecard with first letter of student's first name 
one symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with arriving at school 
one symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with art class 
one symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with free time 
one symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with going home
one symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with going outside 
one symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with greeting a friend 
one symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with gym class 
one symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with leaving school 
one symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with library time 
one symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with lunch 
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 with a unique property 
three objects from the familiar homework 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 cups category 
three objects or pictures that are not from the cups category 
two or more resource materials that include some vocabulary words used in instruction