MAP Assessment, Standards Based Report Card, and PSSA Parent Presentation MAP Assessment, Standards Based Report Card, and PSSA Presented by: Carole Kirkpatrick (Literacy Coach) Tara Castellar (Math Coach) Scotland Elementary School 11/25/14

MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) What is this test? “These computerized tests are adaptive and offered in Reading, Language Usage, Mathematics, and Science (4th grade only). When taking a MAP test, the difficulty of each question is based on how well a student answers all the previous questions. As the student answers correctly, the questions become more difficult. If the student answers incorrectly, the questions become easier. In an optimal test, the student answers approximately half the items correctly and half incorrectly. The final score is an estimate of the student’s achievement level. “ -Parent Toolkit nwea.org

MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) MAP assessments are used to measure your student’s progress or growth in school across an academic year. The scale used to measure progress is called a RIT. MAP test are used by teachers to keep track of progress and growth in basic skills. They let teachers know where a student’s strengths are and if help is needed in any specific areas in the classroom. MAP assessments are conducted three times per year. Some students receiving interventions may receive ongoing assessment to more closely monitor their progress.

MAP (Measures of Academic Progress)

Turn and Talk Turn and talk to a table partner about the MAP reports you have received both last year and this year. Has this information been helpful? Has this information helped you support your student? How can we make this information even more helpful?

Report Cards: Old to New One letter grade per subject. All skills were averaged together. Teachers had choice in which skills counted towards the grade. New: One numeric rating for each standard(s). No averaging of ratings. All students are evaluated on the same grade level standards. For example, a student could be proficient in Geometry, but only approaching proficiency in Numbers and Operations. This student might receive a B-, instead of a 3 in Geometry and a 2 in Numbers and Operations.

Standards Based Report Card A standards based report card lists the most important skills students should learn in each subject at a particular grade level. Less “graded” worksheets will come home; more work stays at school in order to continue to work towards mastery. Students are building a body of work. Shows student progression towards mastery – How close is the student to mastering the identified goal? Grading Scale of 1-4 does not correlate to letter grades A-F or O-U.

Standards Based Report Card Grading Scale GRADES K-5 Standards-Based Report Card: (From the Elementary Handbook)   4: Exceeds standards; student makes connections beyond what is taught. 3: Meets standards; student consistently and accurately completes tasks without help. 2: Approaching standards; student requires some help or prompting. 1: Not meeting standards; student requires significant support. N/A: Not assessed at this time.

Standards Based Report Card (SBRC) Grade Specific Handouts Move to form Grade Specific Groups. Examine the SBRC at the table. Discuss using the 3 As: Ah ha Moment – What is something on the SBRC that surprised you and made you say “Ah ha!”? Agree – What is something on the SBRC you agree with? Ask – What is something you would like to ask about?

PSSA (Pennsylvania State School Assessment) What’s new? The entire test is aligned to the PA Core Standards. There is an assigned week for ELA (April 13-17) and an assigned week for Math (April 20-24). ELA Writing is embedded into the reading assessment for grades 3-5. It is no longer a separate assessment. The same rubric is used to score the writing in Grades 3-5.

PSSA (Pennsylvania State School Assessment) Why is it important that your student does well? Scores play a factor in their future middle school placements. Future exams, such as state Keystones, require students to pass in order to graduate. This is preparing them for that high stakes test. Their performance impacts our overall building and district performance. Scores impact district funding.

PSSA (Pennsylvania State School Assessment) Released Items on the Table Grades K-3 are looking at a Grade 3 Item Sampler. Grade 4 is looking at Grade 4 Item Sampler. Grade 5 is looking at Grade 5 Item Sampler.

PSSA (Pennsylvania State School Assessment) How can I help? Make sure your student is at school on time during the testing weeks. Good night’s sleep, healthy breakfast, and a positive pep talk! Complete whatever review and follow whatever guidelines your student’s teacher may provide.

ELA How can I help? READ, READ, READ! Talk about what they are reading. Ask them to cite evidence from the text to support their reasoning. Talk about what you are reading. Let your child see that you value reading. Talk about how you use reading and writing in your everyday life including your job. Reinforce that conventions matter in everything you write. Remind them to use their editing and revising strategies in everything they write. Encourage them to reread their writing to make sure it makes sense. If a word doesn’t “look right”, try another spelling. Encourage them to continue to try and read more challenging texts. Have plenty of books available at home and encourage them to read! Remind them to create an outline or organizer for every essay they write in order to organize their ideas and plan for writing. Have them cite page numbers and paragraphs to support their thinking in their responses.

MATH How can I help? Talk about math. Let your child see that you value math. Talk about how you use math in your everyday life including your job. Check that your child is doing his/her homework every night. Encourage them to explain a problem off of their homework. Do the steps as your student explains to prove the importance of being precise. Ask them to explain their work when completing word problems using mathematical vocabulary. What key words in the problem helped them identify the operation? Did they clearly and concisely show their work so that you could follow the steps they completed to solve the problem? If not, have them redo this. Did they include a label? Require your student to do fact fluency practice at least five minutes each night. Flashcards, rolling dice, games, and websites (Mr. Hull uses Reflex Math) are helpful.

PSSA 3-2-1 Reflection 3 things I learned… 2 things I am still have more questions about… 1 thing I can put into action tomorrow…