English Language Arts Materials Collections for Year-End States

Spring 2025 Assessment Window: Year-End Model

Download the English Language Arts Materials Collections List for Year-End 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 substitutes 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 can find appropriate substitutions. For more information about substituting materials, see the TEST ADMINISTRATION MANUAL sections titled Teacher-Administered Testlets and Retrieve the Testlet Information Page and Gather Materials.

Since the DLM system uses adaptive delivery to assign a linkage level for each testlet, the system provides the TIP when each testlet is assigned. Therefore, the exact materials needed to assess each student are unknown prior to the opening of the spring assessment window.

The following list contains materials commonly needed in English language arts (ELA) testlets and gives test administrators more opportunity to prepare for the ELA alternate assessment prior to the opening of the assessment window. The lists in this document indicate 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 the table below.
• Materials substitutions are listed for individual testlets on the corresponding TIP.
• The student’s safety should be the primary concern when choosing materials or substitutions.

The following information is contained in the accordions below:

• Lists by grade of common materials used in ELA testlets.
• Lists by grade of common 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

any symbol representation needed that represents an action associated with art class 
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 representation needed that represents an action associated with recess 
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 symbolic representation of an action associated with lunch 
any writing tools used by the student during instruction 
examples of informational topics 
five familiar objects that can be easily removed from the student’s view 
four different objects 
four selected objects 
one bag that has pockets, zippers, and straps 
one boot with a heel, sole, and toe 
one hairbrush with bristles and handles 
one magazine 
one notepad 
one pair of familiar identical objects 
one photograph of a familiar place 
one purse with straps, zippers, and pockets
one toy cat that has a tail and ears 
resource materials used during instruction for the topic the student selects 
three familiar objects that belong to the student 
three new objects 
two backpacks with straps, zippers, and pockets 
two books 
two coats with pockets, zippers, hoods, and sleeves 
two jackets with zippers, hoods, pockets, and sleeves 
two notebooks 
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 shoes with heels, soles, and toes 
two toothbrushes with bristles and handles 
two toy dogs that have a tail and ears 
two unfamiliar objects

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets for 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 bus stop sign or bus stop sign represented in a tactile graphic 
one pair of familiar identical objects 
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

any writing tools used by the student during instruction 
examples of informational topics used during instruction 
four different objects 
four photographs of unfamiliar people 
four unfamiliar 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 place 
three familiar objects that belong to the student used during instruction 
three objects or pictures that belong to the cup 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 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 Students Who Are Blind or Have Visual Impairments

five tactually 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 a seat 
one hat or hat represented in a tactile graphic 
one jacket with sleeves 
one notebook or notebook represented in a tactile graphic 
one pair of pants or pants represented in a tactile graphic 
one pencil with an eraser 
one shoe or shoe represented in a tactile graphic 
one spoon with a handle 
one table with legs 
one toothbrush or toothbrush represented in a tactile graphic 
three familiar objects that belong to the student 
three pairs of tactually similar (but not identical) objects 
two pairs of tactually identical objects 
two unfamiliar objects

Grade 5

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets

any writing tools used by the student during instruction 
examples of informational topics about the student's personal experiences 
nine selected objects 
one bottle of glue 
one familiar object used during instruction 
one lump of clay 
one marker 
one paintbrush 
one pencil 
one photograph of a familiar place 
one piece of paper 
three different objects 
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 familiar objects that belong to the student 
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 Students Who Are Blind or Have Visual Impairments

one boot or boot graphic 
one cup or cup graphic 
one hat or hat graphic 
three familiar objects that belong to the student 
three objects or object graphics 
two unfamiliar objects

Grade 6

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets

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 writing tools used by the student during 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 
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 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 or pictures that belong to the clothing category 
three objects or pictures unassociated with the clothing category 
two familiar objects used during instruction

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

one bag 
one ball 
one brush 
one flower 
one jacket 
one napkin or napkin represented in a tactile graphic 
one object or object 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 brush 
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 objects or objects represented in a tactile graphic 
three tactually different objects 
two pairs of tactually similar (but not identical) objects

Grade 7

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets

any writing tools used by the student during 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 
one baseball 
one colored pencil
one crayon 
one cup 
one familiar book used during instruction 
one glove 
one hat 
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
three familiar objects that can be easily removed from the student’s view 
three familiar objects, two that are from the same category and one that is from a different category 
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

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

one bag 
one book 
one bowl 
one cup 
one jar 
one marker 
one notebook 
one pencil 
one ribbon 
one symbolic representation of a bag 
one symbolic representation of a book 
one symbolic representation of a bowl 
one symbolic representation of a cup 
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

any writing tools used by the student during 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 
five different objects 
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 washing your face 
one object needed to go outside 
one object needed to read 
one object needed to wash hands 
one object needed to write or draw 
one object unassociated with cleaning 
one object unassociated with cooking 
one object unassociated with doing classwork 
one object unassociated with going outside 
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 hands 
one object unassociated with washing your face 
one object unassociated with writing or drawing 
one pair of sunglasses 
one pair of swim goggles 
one pen 
one pencil 
one person associated with checking out books 
one person associated with greeting the student 
one person associated with helping the student fill out a planner 
one person associated with helping the student pack a bag 
one person associated with taking the student to the bus 
one person associated with teaching art class 
one person associated with teaching music class 
one person associated with teaching the student to read 
one pool toy 
one spoon 
one swimsuit 
one toothbrush 
one towel 
three familiar objects, two which are used as part of a first familiar routine from a specific category and one that is used as part of second familiar routine from a different category

Grades 9–10

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets

any writing tools used by the student during instruction 
fifteen notecards 
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 library time 
one symbol representation associated with lunch time 
one symbol representation associated with outside time 
one symbol representation associated with the end of the day 
one symbol representation associated with work time 
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 which are from a first subgroup and one that is from a second subgroup 
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 objects or pictures from the shoes category

Grades 11–12

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets

any symbol representations needed that represent an action associated with greeting a friend 
any symbol representations needed that represent an action associated with making a phone call 
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 library time 
three familiar objects, two which are from a first familiar routine and one that is from a second familiar 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 some vocabulary words used in instruction