Transcript MSA - Baltimore City Public Schools

ASSESSMENT NIGHT
Maryland State Assessment
(Reading, Math & Science)
North Bend Elementary Middle
Thursday, February 10, 2010
Grades: 3 - 8
By the end of tonight’s session,
you will be more familiar with:

MSA Assessments (Reading, Math & Science)

Ways to support your child/children before,
during and after testing
How Are We Preparing
Students for Testing?
Test Preparation Instructional Block
 Use of Test Preparation Materials
 Curriculum that Covers the Targeted
Skills and Objectives
 Using our Benchmark Data to Guide our
Instruction through Re-teaching
 Mock Testing Sessions

When Will MSA Testing
Take Place?
The Week of MARCH 9th – 13th
 16 SCHOOL DAYS AWAY!!!
 Testing will begin at 9:00 a.m.


Boys and Girls MUST arrive on time
otherwise they will not be tested with
their class.
WHAT CAN YOU
DO TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD
DURING TESTING?
At least 8 hours of sleep each night
 A well balanced breakfast each
morning.
 Encouragement to do their best!!

MSA
(Maryland School Assessment)
WHAT IS IT??

The MSA is a Reading, Mathematics and
Science test given to Elementary &
Middle school students.

Students in each grade take each test
over two days – that is two days for
Reading, two for Math and two for
Science (Grades 5 & 8).
WHY IS THE MSA GIVEN?

It measures how well children are learning so
that all stakeholders (parents, students,
teachers, school administrators) can be sure
that every child has the opportunity to
succeed.

Under No Child Left Behind (NCLB) every
state must measure READING, MATH and
SCIENCE achievement at the Elementary,
Middle, and High school levels.
What Does The MSA
Test?

Content your child should have learned
in reading, math and science classes.

The content is from the Maryland State
Curriculum (MSC).
(Visit MdKL12.org to see the MSC)
READING
The READING tests three topic areas:

General Reading Processes

Informational Text Comprehension

Literary Text Comprehension
MATHEMATICS
The MATH MSA tests :


Geometry/Measurement


Algebra/Patterns
Statistics/Probability
Number Concepts/Computation

Processes of Mathematics
What Does the Test Look
Like?
The tests include multiple-choice and
written-response questions.
 Elementary Reading
MSA Reading Release - Grade 3.pdf

http://mdk12.org/assessments/k_8/index_c.html
Middle School Reading
MSA Reading Release - Grade 7.pdf

What Does the Test Look
Like?
Elementary Mathematics
MSA Math Release - Grade 4.pdf
 Middle School Mathematics
MSA Reading Release - Grade 7.pdf

How is the MSA Scored?

Multiple-choice questions are scored by
machine

Short answer questions are scored by at least
two trained scorers.
Scores are reported in terms of:
 BASIC –
a student is not meeting
the standards
 PROFICIENT –
a student is meeting the
standards
 ADVANCED –
a student is performing
above standards
Are Students With
Special Needs Tested?

Yes. They will be tested and given the
necessary accommodations based on their
IEPs.

MOD MSA

ALT-MSA
How Can I Help Prepare My Child
For The MSA?








Talk with your child’s teachers regularly about your
child’s progress & what you can do to help him or her
improve.
Set HIGH expectations. Let them know that school is
priority #1!
Dedicate time daily to talk with your child and read
with him or her.
Provide a quiet place for your child to study.
Help your child with homework.
Show interest in what your child is doing at school.
Limit TV watching and Video-Game playing.
Encourage your child to eat a balanced breakfast.
When Will MSA Testing
Take Place?
MARCH 8th – 23rd (Reading & Math)
 MARCH 28th – 31st (Science)
 17 SCHOOL DAYS AWAY!!!
 Testing will begin at 8:45 a.m.

Boys and Girls MUST arrive ON TIME
otherwise they will not be tested with their
class.
(Mathematics takes place one week and Reading the following week)

Questions
&
Answers