Talking points and references to use while assisting clients with questions and assessment processes.
Homeschool Boss Proctor Training Table of Contents
(Click desired option to navigate to that section )
- Basic information -
- Contact information
- Client Pricing
- Customer Service Commitment
- Confidentiality
- Websites and Resources
- Homeschool Boss Website Navigation
- Testing Types and Processes -
- NWEA
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Mindprint
- Basic Information -
Affordable Homeschool Testing Services d/b/a/HomeschoolBoss.com
Section Contents:
- Contact information
- Client Pricing
- Customer Service Commitment
- Confidentiality
- Websites and Resources
- Homeschool Boss Website Navigation
Contact Information
- Owner: Ellen Crain
- Service: NWEA MAP Growth tests, Map Fluency Tests, Mindprint Assessment
- Phone: (612) 430-6652
- Email: sales@homeschoolboss.com
- Service Area: U.S. homeschool students, private schools, and groups
Client Pricing
Family Base Testing:- Math and Reading for the first student: $60
- Math and Reading for additional students on the same order: $45
- Language Usage Add-On per Student: $10
- Science Add-on Per Student: $20
Family Subscription Testing: (Not recommended for families who plan to test less than 3 times a year)
- First Student: $162 per year
- Remaining Students: $119 per year
Note: Subscriptions will renew yearly on the day the client signed up. Testing credits will not carry over from year to year.
Group Pricing:
- Micro Group (5-10 Students)
- $45 Per Student
- Includes: 1 Math Test and 1 Reading Test
- Optional Additional Tests:
- Language Usage: $5 per student
- Science: $20 per student
- $45 Per Student
- Mini Group (11-25 Students)
- $40 Per Student
- Includes: 1 Math Test and 1 Reading Test
- Optional Additional Tests:
- Language Usage: $5 per student
- Science: $20 per student
- $40 Per Student
- Small Group (26-50 Students)
- $40 Per Student
- Includes: 1 Math Test and 1 Reading Test
- Optional Additional Tests:
- Language Usage: $5 per student
- Science: $20 per student
- $40 Per Student
- Note: For additional group pricing information, how it works, and savings calculations, please refer to https://homeschoolboss.com/homeschool-group-testing/
School Pricing: Please direct to Theresa or Bek
Customer Service Commitment
Our goal is to work with our customers in a positive and supportive way. When technical issues arise, we understand that this can be both stressful and frustrating. To ensure a smooth testing experience, remember to stay calm and work together with our customers to quickly resolve any issues.
Client Confidentiality
All calls are recorded for quality assurance and training purposes. Information regarding clients, students, tests, and test scores is strictly confidential and must not be disclosed.
Note: You will receive access to all necessary websites for your work. If you experience any access issues, please notify us promptly. While on duty, please use the company-provided computer.
Websites and Resources
While working as a proctor, you will need to access the following (click images to access websites):
Testing:
Internal resources:
Functionality: Slack - Work Communications / Gusto - Time Tracking / Air Call - Incoming Calls / IVPN - Additional Security / When I Work - Scheduling Shift Avilability / HubSpot - Used to record staff to client communication
Homeschool Boss Website Navigation
Spend some time looking over the material on the Homeschool Boss Website. Pay particular attention to the information on the landing page and the group testing page.
Above left-hand column:
Proctor – This leads to the page that you will use the most.
Orders - This options will take you to the page that has all the scheduled tests. Assessments are listed by name of the purchaser/organization.
Test Results – Here you will see all testing results. You will visit this page less often, but there will be times when you need to reference it.
Rosters – Password numbers are located on that page and are updated each morning by the person setting up the testing.
Schedule – Dates that the testing service is closed (you won’t utilize this much)
Discounts – if you have questions about discounts, please ask.
Tools – I didn’t get this heading in the screen shot, but you can impersonate a client to assist with scheduling and other client related issues. You must first find the user number under orders to do this)
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- Testing Types and Processes -
Test Section Contents:
- NWEA -
Section Contents:
- Quick Reference Info
- Testing Process Overview
- Test Types Offered
- NWEA Login Process (Associate)
- Practice Test
- Client Login for Real Test
- Client Login Assistance and Troubleshooting
Quick Reference Info:
- Address for Testing: test.mapnwea.org
- Phone Number: 844-746-2677
- Testing Times: Monday-Friday 8:00 am CST to our last appointment at 4:45 pm CST. Someone is available until 7 pm CST to assist students who are logging in at the later time.
- Students must be physically located in the United States to test with us.
- We cannot test students enrolled in full-scale schools, but we do offer tests to micro-schools.
- Additional Status Options Include - Paused, To be Confirmed, and Suspended. Statuses can be ordered in reverse to quickly see who is testing and which status they are under.
Testing Process Overview
- Switching Between Sites: You’ll frequently toggle between the Homeschool Boss and NWEA sites. Use the information on the Homeschool Boss site to verify student names and test details on the NWEA platform.
- Appointment Scheduling: Appointments are arranged in 15-minute intervals.
- Student Name Verification: Check the NWEA site to see if multiple students have the same first name (or first initial of the last name). This way, you can guide parents to select the correct child.
- Multiple Children Testing: Parents with more than one child scheduled can choose to test them one at a time or simultaneously if they have enough devices. Both options are acceptable.
- Flexible Sign-In Times: It’s okay if a client calls in a bit early or late for their appointment; just sign them in whenever they call. Remember that clients may be from various time zones, including the East and West coasts, Alaska, and Hawaii.
- Testing Locations: We only serve clients physically located in the United States during testing. Clients outside the U.S., even U.S. citizens living abroad, are not eligible for testing.
- Adding a Test to an Order: If a client wants to add a test to an existing order and still has untaken tests registered, they can add it directly through their account on the Homeschool Boss website. Assessments can be added by hovering the mouse pointer over the Upcoming Tests section and selecting "Manage" to add or change the order. If clients encounter any issues, let Theresa or Bek know.
- Test Version: This test is identical to those used in schools, although our format for results may differ.
- Accessing Test Results: Test results are uploaded to client accounts the next business day after testing, barring technical issues. Clients will receive an email directing them to the client portal for access.
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- Note: Results are never emailed to protect student privacy, and we do not provide results via email, even as raw scores.
Test Types Offered
Sub-Section Contents:
General Information
Overview: Growth tests provide a comprehensive view of a student’s knowledge level and are adaptive to the student’s performance, adjusting the difficulty based on their responses. Tests are available in different packages:
- Reading and Math
- Reading, Math, and Language Usage and Science
- Additional Add-On Tests (e.g., Students taking Algebra 1 or 2 or taking Geometry are able to take that topic specific assessment instead of Math 6+))
Testing Schedule: Typically, tests are spread over a week (e.g., Math on Monday, Reading on Tuesday, Language on Wednesday). However, students and parents may choose to:
- Take multiple tests in one day (though they will need to schedule each individual test on a separate day)
- Spread a single test over several days
Adaptive Testing: The system adjusts the question difficulty up or down based on the student’s answers. Students should not spend more than five to six minutes on a single question to ensure that the assessment can adapt to their level. If parents express concerns about challenging questions, advise them to encourage the student to answer as best they can, as the system will adapt accordingly. It should be noted that students are expected to get approximately 50% of the questions right, on average.
Timeouts: If a student takes longer than 15 minutes to answer a question, the test may time out. Encourage parents to have students make their best guess before moving on, as the system will continue adjusting to the student’s level.
Testing Levels
K-2:
- Designed for non-reading students. Questions and answer choices are read aloud.
- ::Important Note:: During the K-2 Reading Test there will be a few questions that must not be read to the student in order to allow the system to access the upper limits of the child’s abilities. Alert parents that they should not read any questions to the students when this happens, otherwise the assessment will calibrate to the person reading the question and not the student. In these cases, the parent should have the child take their best guess and move on.
2-5:
- Created for independent readers.
- Students are expected to read and respond independently.
6-12:
- Created for older independent readers
- Suited for middle and high school students, with age-appropriate question levels.
Test Categories
Reading Growth (K-12):
- Available across all grade levels with reading adaptations for K-2 as noted above
Math Growth (K-12):
- Adaptive math test available for all grade levels
Language Growth (2-12):
- There is only one version of this test, applicable from grade 2 onward
Science Growth (2-12):
- Tailored to the science curriculum appropriate for each level
- Testing Levels:
- 2-5
- 6-8
- 9-12
Algebra:
- Specific for students who have recently completed or are currently taking an Algebra course.
Geometry:
- Specific for students who have recently completed or are currently taking a Geometry course.
NWEA Login Process (Associate)
Make sure that the VPN on your computer is turned on. This insures an extra level of security and client confidentiality.
https://sso.mapnwea.org/auth/login
You will see a login screen like the one below.
After login, you will see a page similar to this.
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Practice Test
Practice Test web address: test.mapnwea.org
The practice test screen may also indicate a login problem (see below)
Client Login for Real Test
When the client is ready to take the test, they should navigate to: test.mapnewa.org
Session name: Apple (or another session name, listed next to their name on our proctor page)
Password: Updates daily
Client Login Assistance and Troubleshooting
Section Contents:
- Login Assistance Script (Associates)
- Common Client Login Issues
- Browser Cheat Sheets
- System Requirements
- Screen Resolution Issues
- Mystery Issues
- Test Availability Troubleshooting
- Basic Test Process Information for Clients
- MAP Fluency Test
- Client Test Access Issues
- Student Log Off
- Test Question Hung Up
- Test Terminated
- Test needs to be Changed
- Accommodations
- Pause – Rapid Testing
- System Adjustments
Login Assistance Script
::Answering the Incoming Call::
Proctor: “Good morning/afternoon! This is [Your Name]. How can I assist you?”
Proctor (in response to the client’s login question): “I am happy to help you with that. Are you on the login page? It should say [Session Name]. The session name today is ‘[Session Name],’ and the password is [Password].”
::Guiding the Parent Through Login::
Proctor: “Once you’re in, you’ll see a dropdown menu. Find and select your child’s name—it’s listed alphabetically by first (Note: If the list is too long, you can start typing in the child's first name to narrow it down). This step will need to be repeated for each child on each device if you’re testing multiple children.”
- Example for Clarification: “For example, if your child is MaryJo Smith, they’ll be listed as:
S6389 MaryJo [Name of Test].”
Proctor: “After selecting their name, you’ll be prompted to confirm their birth year, grade, and the test, which we’ve pre-selected. Let me know once you’re on the page that says ‘waiting for proctor,’ and I’ll confirm your student on my end.”
::Additional Processes and Reassurance Talking Points::
- Answer any questions the parent may have and assist with any technical issues that arise.
- Reassure the Parent: “Our goal is for this to be as stress-free as possible for your student. They can take as many breaks as they need during the test.”
- Provide any additional information about the test as listed in the following sections.
- Encourage the clients to reach out: “If you have any questions later or need further assistance, feel free to call back or you can email us anytime.”
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Common Client Login Issues
Popup Blockers and Parental Controls:
- You may need to work with the client to help them disable popup blockers or update parental controls based on their system or browser.
- Make sure the client has a stable internet connection
- If they are using Wi-Fi, make sure they have a consistently good signal. They may need to move the laptop closer to the router.
Browser Cheat Sheets
Please refer to the following site: https://homeschoolboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Pop-up-Blocker-Instructions.pdf
Safari:
https://www.lifewire.com/manage-pop-up-blocker-in-safari-4136249
Chrome:
https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95472?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
Edge:
System Requirement Issues
For system requirements, refer to the following:
- NWEA Growth tests: nwea.org and/or https://homeschoolboss.com/tech-requirements
- MAP Fluency Tests: https://teach.mapnwea.org/impl/maphelp/Content/MAPSetup/Technology/SystemRequirements.htm
Screen Resolution Issues
Hardware that exceeds the minimum requirements is recommended for an optimal experience. For computer display, follow these specifications:
- Screen Resolution Minimum: 1024 x 768 for students, and 1280 x 1024 for staff
- Scaling or Zoom: 100% (will fix approximately 90% of the issues)
- Color Depth: 32-bit recommended (minimum 16-bit)
- Screen resolution issues can be adjusted by going into the display settings of the computer.
- Additional Info: https://homeschoolboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Resolution-Fixes.pdf
Note: TV’s do not meet hardware requirements. The test will not work if a TV is used for the display.
If a parent is using an iPad with the NWEA app, make sure that they say “yes” to the final question of whether they want to lock down the iPad for the test. This will ensure that the student cannot go out of the test and play games or surf the web.
Mystery Problems
If there seems to be no solution to a computer problem, give have the client navigate to: check.nwea.org
Test Availability Troubleshooting
- Use Ctl Alt F to find the student’s name on the NWEA site as well as the Homeschool Boss site.
- If the client is unable to find their child’s name, check whether they are signing in for the first time that day.
- If the child was timed out of their test and attempts to log back in, their name will not appear until the test is suspended and resumed. Follow steps here to suspend and resume a test.
- Check that the client is searching for the same first name that they signed up with.
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- Sometimes parents will look for a last name (which will not appear on the site, we use last initial and student ID number), or they will sign their child up under a nickname/middle name and then look for their first name.
- If needed, you can check the Proctor Page (app.homeschool.org) to find the person you are speaking to in the schedule.
- If the client accidentally signed their child up under their own name take the following steps:
- Record the child’s correct name
- Notify Theresa
- Reassure the parent that the child’s name will be listed correctly on their report
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Basic Test Process Information for Clients
Sub-Section Contents:
Reading Test:
- Number of Questions: 40-45 questions.
- Time Limit: The test itself is untimed, but each question must be answered within 15 minutes of starting it. This is a security feature that cannot be changed.
- Breaks: Students can take breaks anytime. If the break is longer than 15 minutes, the test will time out.
- ::Important:: Don’t worry, all progress is saved! However, you will need to call us to re-enter the test if it times out.
- Test Supervision: Students must be supervised during all sections of the test.
- Do Not Help With Reading: Since this is an assessment, you should not assist the student with reading the questions or answers as it may impact test accuracy.
- Copyright: This test is copyrighted. Do not copy any questions.
Math Test:
- Number of Questions: 40-45 questions.
- Time Limit: The test itself is untimed, but each question must be answered within 15 minutes of starting it. This is a security feature that cannot be changed.
- Tools Available: Students can use scratch paper. If calculator use is permitted, the calculator will be built into the tool bar. Any other tools required will also be built into the tool bar.
- Help With Reading: If a word is difficult, you can pronounce the word or read the question, but do not explain or reword anything as comprehension assistance may impact test accuracy.
Language Use Test:
- Number of Questions: 40-45 questions.
- Time Limit: The test itself is untimed, but each question must be answered within 15 minutes of starting it. This is a security feature that cannot be changed.
- Help With Reading: You can pronounce the word or read the question, but do not explain or reword anything as comprehension assistance may impact test accuracy.
Science Test:
- Number of Questions: 40-45 questions.
- Time Limit: The test itself is untimed, but each question must be answered within 15 minutes of starting it. This is a security feature that cannot be changed.
- Help With Reading: You can pronounce the word or read the question, but do not explain or reword anything as comprehension assistance may impact test accuracy.
Map Fluency Test
Pre-Assessment Information
- MAP Fluency tests are for students from Pre-K to 5th grade and take approximately 20 minutes to complete. If students want to take a break, they will need to pause the test.
- Each student will require a unique email address that cannot be the parents’ email address. Note: Email addresses do not have to be real, they must simply be in the format of an email address for login purposes.
- Once students are set up in the system, they can log in and complete the assessment at any time.
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- For Best Results: The student should have a headset that fits properly and a working microphone that is either part of the headset or a separate device that has been calibrated prior to taking the assessment. It is recommended that the child be in a very quiet room, or at least speaking loudly enough for the device to record the student’s voice while reading.
Assessment Specifics
The test consists of three sections – Sentence Comprehension, Oral Reading, and Fundamental Skills:
- Sentence Comprehension: All students begin here, reading simple sentences and selecting the picture that matches each sentence.
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- Students who perform well move on to the Oral Reading Passages section, where they read passages aloud into a microphone and answer comprehension questions.
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- Students who find Sentence Comprehension challenging are directed to the Fundamental Skills section, which assesses phonics, phonemic awareness, and vocabulary.
For students signed up for the Dyslexia Screener test, they will automatically be routed to the Fundamental Skills section, regardless of their Sentence Comprehension performance.
Please refer to the following reference: https://homeschoolboss.com/2023/10/map-reading-fluency-makes-screening-for-dyslexia-fast-and-easy/
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Client Test Access Issues
Sub-Section Contents:
- Student Log Off
- Test Question Hung Up
- Test Terminated
- Test Needs to be Changed
- Accommodation
- Pause – Rapid Guessing
- System Adjustments
Student Log Off
If a student is logged off (due to time limits, connection issues, accidental closure, etc.), their name will no longer appear in the drop-down list. To log them back into the test session:
- Find the student’s name and select it
- From the actions menu, select “Suspend” and confirm
- Find the student’s name again and select it
- From the actions menu, select “Test Again” and confirm
- Ask the parent to return to the login screen and refresh the page
- Instruct the parent to follow the original login steps:
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- Enter the sessions name and password
- Select the child’s name
- Continue until the page says “Waiting for Proctor”
- The Test will resume from the question number where the student left off, but will not be the exact same question.
Test Question Hung Up (Pause/Resume)
If a test question fails to load, try these steps:
- Select the child’s name
- From the actions menu, select “Pause” and confirm.
- Note: It is important to confirm with the parent that the test has been paused on their side as it may take a few minutes to register.
- Select the child’s name again
- From the actions menu, select “Resume” and confirm
- Note: Establish that they see an arrow and can continue.
Note: This will only work if the student is still logged in to the test. If they have returned to the login page, pausing and resuming the test will not solve the issue.
Test Terminated
Do not select this action unless you’re sure the test should be completely erased (e.g., if the student accidentally logged into another child’s test).
Test Needs to be Changed
If there’s a mistake in the selected test or if the parent wants to change the test level:
- Select the student
- Go to “Test Assigned” and change the test
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- The test list is long; be sure to select the correct test for the child’s level
Accommodations
If a parent requests an accommodation (e.g., Text-to-Speech), it must be added before the student logs in. If the student is already logged in:
- Reset the student
- Add the accommodation
- Ask the parent to log the student back in and have them confirm that the accommodation is active
Pause – Rapid Guessing
If a student is guessing too quickly, the system may pause the test and show a “Slow Down Sloth” alert. To restart the test, the parent/teacher must use the proctor pin.
- Tip: Have the parent encourage the student to take their time. The system adjusts the difficulty based on the student’s responses.
- If the student gets the "slow down" message three times, the test should be discarded. Let Theresa, Bek, or Ellen know if this happens.
System Adjustments
The system also adjusts difficulty based on the student’s performance:
- If the student answers many questions correctly, the system will increase the difficulty level accordingly.
Need help? Don’t hesitate to ask for assistance if you encounter any issues or need further guidance!
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- Mindprint -
Site Reference: https://homeschoolboss.com/mindprint/
Setting up a client’s Mindprint account takes two business days. Once ready, we’ll email the login details so they can access the assessment whenever they choose.
Mindprint tests are not proctored by Homeschool Boss; clients can complete them at their own convenience. Each assessment includes instructions for every section, but if parents have any questions about the process, they’re welcome to email us.
Each client receives both a “Student Login” and a “Parent Login”:
- The Student Login provides access to the assessment.
- About 24 hours after testing is complete, results will be available through the Parent Login.