English Language Arts Materials Collections for Year-End States

2023 Spring 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 representations needed that represent an action associated with homework time, game time, recess, lunch, art time, and cleanup time
• any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction
• five familiar objects, three of which belong to the student
• one bag with pockets, zippers, and straps
• one bus stop sign or bus stop sign represented in a tactile graphic
• one familiar object that has been used in shared reading 
• one hairbrush with a handle and bristles
• one magazine with words, pages, and a cover
• one notepad with pages
• one photograph of a familiar place
• one purse with zippers, straps, and pockets
• one toy bus or bus represented in a tactile graphic
• resource materials that have been used in shared reading
• three tactually different objects
• three unfamiliar objects
• two backpacks with pockets, zippers, and straps, or backpack represented in a tactile graphic
• two books with words, pages, and a cover
• two coats, both of which have zippers, sleeves, hoods, and pockets
• two familiar, identical objects
• two jackets, both of which have zippers, sleeves, hoods, and pockets
• two notebooks
• two pairs of identical objects
• two pairs of similar, but not identical, objects
• two pairs of tactually identical objects
• two pairs of tactually similar, but not identical, objects
• two photographs of a familiar person
• two photographs of unfamiliar people
• two photographs of unfamiliar places
• two toothbrushes
• two toy cats with tails and ears
• two toy dogs with tails and ears

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

• four tactually different objects
• four tactually identical objects
• four tactually similar, but not identical, objects
• one backpack or backpack represented in a tactile graphic
• one bus stop sign or bus stop sign represented in a tactile graphic
• one toy bus or bus represented in a tactile graphic
• three familiar objects that belong to the student
• two unfamiliar objects

Grade 4

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets

• one photograph of a familiar place
• 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 objects or pictures that are unassociated with the cup category
• three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the dishes category
• three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the hat category
• three objects or pictures that belong to the cup category
• three objects or pictures that belong to the hat category
• three pairs of tactually similar (but not identical) objects
• two unfamiliar objects
• two or more familiar objects that have been used in shared reading
• two pairs of identical objects
• two pairs of similar (but not identical) objects
• two pairs of tactually identical objects 
• two photographs of unfamiliar people
• two photographs of unfamiliar places

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

• 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 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 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
• two unfamiliar objects
• two pairs of tactually identical objects
• two pairs of tactually similar objects

Grade 5

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets

• any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction
• four selected objects
• glue
• one paintbrush
• one pencil
• one photograph of a familiar place
• one shirt or shirt represented in a tactile graphic
• one toy cat or cat represented in a tactile graphic
• one toy house or house represented in a tactile graphic
• one familiar object that belongs to the student
• three pairs of familiar, identical objects
• three pairs of similar, but not identical, objects that are the same except for one property
• two or more familiar objects that have been used in shared reading
• two photographs of a familiar person
• 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
• two unfamiliar objects

Grade 6

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets

• a letter card or notecard with a letter that does not appear in the student's name
  a letter card or notecard with the first letter of the student's name
  any objects the student uses to eat lunch
  any objects the student uses to introduce himself/herself
  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 put on a hat
  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 their hands
  any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction
  five pairs of similar, but not identical, objects that are the same except for one property
  one bag and a symbolic representation of a bag
  one ball and a symbolic representation of a ball
  one blanket and a symbolic representation of a blanket
  one book and a symbolic representation of a book
  one bowl and a symbolic representation of a bowl
  one brush and a symbolic representation of a brush
  one chalkboard eraser or dry eraser and a symbolic representation of a chalkboard eraser or dry eraser
  one flower and a symbolic representation of a flower
  one jacket with a zipper and a symbolic representation of a jacket
  one napkin or napkin represented in a tactile graphic
  one pair of identical objects
  one pair of slippers and a symbolic representation of a pair of slippers
  one pair of tennis shoes with laces and a symbolic representation of a pair of tennis shoes
  one plate or plate represented in a tactile graphic
  one shirt and a symbolic representation of a shirt
  one spoon or spoon represented in a tactile graphic
  three objects from the familiar eating routine
  three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the clothing category
  three objects or pictures that belong to the clothing category
  three tactually different objects
  two familiar objects that have been used in shared reading
  two pairs of similar, but not identical, objects
  two pairs of tactually identical objects
  two pairs of tactually identical objects
  two pairs of tactually similar, but not identical, objects

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

• one bag and a symbolic representation of a bag
• one book and a symbolic representation of a book
• one bowl and a symbolic representation of a bowl
• one brush and a symbolic representation of a brush
• one napkin or napkin represented in a tactile graphic
• one pair of tactually identical objects
• one plate or plate represented in a tactile graphic
• one shirt and a symbolic representation of a shirt
• one shoe and a symbolic representation of a shoe
• one spoon or spoon 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

• an object that can serve as a screen
• any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction
• one bag
• one baseball or baseball represented in a tactile graphic
• one book or book represented in a tactile graphic
• one bottle of water 
• one colored pencil
• one crayon
• one dollar bill
• one glove
• one hat
• one notebook
• one paintbrush
• one pen
• one pencil
• one ribbon
• one spoon
• one stocking cap
• one whistle and a symbolic representation of a whistle
• 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 are unassociated with the sports category
• 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 that belong to the sports category
• two familiar objects, from a familiar routine, from a specific category, and one familiar object, from another familiar routine, from a different specific category

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

• one cup and a symbolic representation of a cup
• one ribbon and a symbolic representation of a ribbon
• one bag and a symbolic representation of a bag
• one paintbrush and a symbolic representation of a paintbrush
• one whistle and a symbolic representation of a whistle
• one jar and a symbolic representation of a jar
• one dollar bill and a symbolic representation of a dollar bill
• one pencil and a symbolic representation of a pencil

Grade 8

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets

• a bowl
• any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction 
• five pairs of similar, but not identical, objects
• one backpack
• one cup
• one fork
• one napkin
• one object that is needed to complete cleaning 
• one object that is needed to complete cooking 
• one object that is needed to complete homework 
• one object that is needed to complete leaving school 
• one object that is needed to complete packing your backpack
• one object that is needed to complete reading
• one object that is needed to complete washing your face 
• one object that is unassociated with cleaning
• one object that is unassociated with cooking
• one object that is unassociated with homework
• one object that is unassociated with leaving school
• one object that is unassociated with packing your backpack
• one object that is unassociated with reading
• one object that is unassociated with washing your face
• one pen
• one straw
• one toothbrush
• the person associated with checking out books 
• the person associated with taking the student to recess
• the person associated with taking the student to the bus
• the person associated with teaching art class
• the person associated with teaching music class
• two familiar objects, from a familiar routine, from a specific category, and one familiar object, from another familiar routine, from a different specific category

Grades 9–10

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets

• a letter card or notecard with any letter not found in the student's first name, one object or picture that belongs to the toy category, one object or picture that is unassociated with the toy category which were not used in the previous items
• a letter card or notecard with the first letter of the student's first name
• any symbol representations needed that represent an action associated with class time, library time, and recess
• any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction
• four objects or pictures from the “calendars” subgroup
• four objects or pictures from the “writing utensils” subgroup
• six objects or pictures from the broad category "clothing," four of which come from the "shirts" subgroup, and two of which come from the "shoes" subgroup
• three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the cups category
• three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the toy category
• three objects or pictures that belong to the cups category
• three objects or pictures that belong to the toy category
• three optional notecards displaying answer options
• three or more familiar objects, from a familiar routine, two of which are from one subgroup of a broad category, and one of which is from a second subgroup of the broad category
• two objects or pictures from the “notebook" subgroup

Grades 11–12

Common Materials Used to Administer Testlets

• a notecard with any letter not in the student's first name
• a notecard with the first letter of the student's first name
• any symbol representations needed that represent an action associated with making a phone call, greeting a friend, and washing your hands
• any writing tools used by the student in regular instruction
• five objects or pictures that are unassociated with the plant category
• five objects or pictures that belong to the plant category
• nine optional note cards displaying answer options
• one object or picture that is unassociated with the cups category which were not used in the previous item
• one object or pictures from the "shirts" subgroup
• three objects or pictures that are unassociated with the cups category
• three objects or pictures that belong to the cups category
• two familiar objects from a familiar routine from a specific category and one familiar object from another familiar routine from a different specific category
• two objects or pictures from the "shoes" subgroup
• two resource materials