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Introducing SSSMART

A totally unique content area reading assessment program for grades 4 – 8 that can prepare your students for life-long learning

Reading stories and reading textbooks are very different. To perform well in the content areas, students need to have mastered the ability to read, understand, and learn from their textbooks. With time limits for each class period and so much material to cover, many students perform poorly in the content areas because they haven’t learned the specific skills and strategies needed to access information from their textbooks quickly.

Here’s the breakthrough program middle grade educators have been waiting for.

The SSSMART program, designed by co-authors Dr. Roger Farr, former International Reading Association President, and Kimberly Munroe, is a unique way to address the knowledge, skills, and strategies students need to succeed in Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics in Grades 4 – 8. Based upon national and state content area curriculum standards, as well as extensive research of the textbooks commonly used at each grade level, SSSMART assesses students’ abilities to read and understand content area materials, and provides teachers with specific strategies and instructional plans to help improve their students’ performance.

SSSMART is a total assessment and instructional intervention program for students in grades 4 – 8. Components of the SSSMART program include SSSMART Diagnostic Tests, SSSMART Survey Tests, SSSMART Scoring Services, SSSMART Professional Development Strategies, and SSSMART Instructional Activities.

SSSMART Diagnostic Tests

These are grade-level, multiple-choice reading tests in Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics. All three content area subtests – Academic Vocabulary, CUES, and Comprehension – are included in one test booklet, along with a Skimming and Scanning subtest that contains content applicable to all three subjects. Students mark their answers to all questions on a separate machine-scorable answer document. These tests may be administered by homeroom teachers, content area teachers, reading specialists, or literacy coaches. There are two forms per grade for pre- and posttesting.

SSSMART Survey Tests

Survey Tests are abbreviated versions of the Diagnostic Tests and can be used to quickly evaluate students’ abilities. Like the Diagnostic Test, each multiple-choice Survey Test includes sections on Academic Vocabulary, CUES, and Comprehension.

SSSMART Scoring Services

Questar Assessment provides complete scoring and reporting services for SSSMART Diagnostic Tests and SSSMART Survey Tests. Individual, class, grade, school, and district reports are included in the basic report package. Numerous optional reports are also available. Click here to see sample reports.

Diagnostic Test score reports display separate scores for each content area and each skill area, as well as composite scores; Survey Test score reports show Academic Vocabulary, CUES, and Comprehension scores across the three subjects.

A special feature of the Individual Student Diagnostic Report is a customized Action Plan with specific recommendations for the student’s instruction and growth.

Scoring keys are available for those who prefer to do their own scoring.

SSSMART Professional Development Strategies

These online SSSMART support materials answer the teacher’s question, “So now what do I do?” after score reports are received in the schools. The Professional Development Strategies, which are accessible on our Web site with an annual subscription code, offer content area teachers, reading specialists, and literacy coaches innovative techniques to help teach students the skills they need to improve their proficiency in content area reading.

SSSMART Instructional Activities

Instructional Activities, which are also accessible on our Web site with an annual subscription code, provide teachers with a set of easy-to-use, grade-appropriate, content-specific instructional activities that can be used in daily classroom instruction, as well as in intervention programs for struggling readers.

Ordering Materials
Click here for complete pricing information and order form or call one of our Customer Service Representatives at 1-800-800-2598.