The test measures reading comprehension of books the students have read. The first graders respond to a series of multiple choice questions, submit their answers and instantly see how they did. It helps the kids work on their independence and fluency with their reading. In terms of it being on the computer, the students are learning to take the tests to measure their own progress, and it's also a management tool for teachers so we can see if they are weak in comprehension. If they aren't scoring a high percentage, we can work more in small groups on targeting those skills.
Students earn points for their correct answers.
The school has established a goal and all students are encouraged to read to contribute towards reaching the goal. Carroll also uses technology in her writing instruction. A lot of times, it is the final published piece where the students are essentially re-writing their sentences onto the computer, so they have experience with word processing skills and illustrating on the computer. I use Kidpix in that way, as well as PowerPoint and Hyperstudio. The kids get exposure to different software programs.