Let’s make this monster a little less scary!

The state assessments are NOT… It is NOT a grade on your child’s report card. It is NOT a way to determine your child’s promotion to the next grade, or not. It is NOT used to place your child in a particular homeroom: their feet are in their seats before we even have results! It is NOT used to compare your child to any other child!

On the other hand…

Why is it important to US that your child take the state assessments? We want your child to be ready to tackle obstacles they may face in their future, learning ways to cope with fears and test anxiety they may face. Through the state tests we can monitor our curriculum and ensure we work to close gaps in learning that may arise. We monitor your child’s progress: are they maintaining their proficiency level or demonstrating growth. If adequate or equal performance is met comparatively to that of other years, how can we best continue to support your child’s learning. If decreases occur, working to understand deficits and putting interventions in place to support their progress in learning. 4. Our school remaining open relies on your child’s participation; as this is a measure by which our school is ranked in the ‘eyes of CSI’ as a successful school that is meeting the needs of the children in Buffalo and surrounding areas.

So, how is the state assessment used to HELP your child? Student performance on the state assessments we also monitor your child’s proficiency using: Classroom assessments and observations STAR Math STAR Reading Fountas and Pinnell Reading Inventory Lexia Core 5/ Power Up …and more.

In ELA (Reading and Writing): What have WE at SBCS been doing to support your child and their readiness for taking the state assessments? In ELA (Reading and Writing): increasing reading stamina repeated readings of the same text, close reading, for better understanding of the text increasing students’ independent reading levels breaking down, annotating and using column notes understand the text reading for clarity and central massages in the text reading the short response questions and extended response questions to break down the task into smaller tasks writing to respond to the questions being asked and using proper conventions In Math: practicing mathematical computation fluency, and mastery of formulas for solving equations reading word problems and deciphering the requirements to solve drawing graphs, charts, line plots, etc. to demonstrate math mastery and understanding write math explanations of solutions and reasoning demonstrate solutions and checking for reasonableness

Why should students participate in the New York State Assessments?

pilot nurse lawyer fireman police officer accountant doctor veterinarian Marketing lawyer fireman police officer garbage (wo)man Graduate from HIGH SCHOOL Insurance Broker pilot Criminal Justice accountant cannot be a part of a union doctor plumber Information Technology Services dentist go to college teacher pharmacist drivers license electrician personal trainer auto technician Hair Stylist Military

What is the format of the test?

What are students expected to do on the Grade 3 & 4 ELA assessment: April 2 - 4 Day 1: Day 2: Reading: 4 Reading Passages 24 multiple-choice questions (Students record their answer choices by darkening the circles on their Answer Sheet.) Writing: 3 Reading Passages 6 short-response questions and 1 extended-response question (Students write answers directly in their booklet.)

What are students expected to do on the Grade 5 & 6 ELA assessment: April 2 - 4 Day 1: Day 2: Reading: 5 Reading Passages 35 multiple-choice questions (Students record their answer choices by darkening the circles on their Answer Sheet.) Writing: 3 Reading Passages 6 short-response questions and 1 extended-response question (Students write answers directly in their booklet.)

What are students expected to do on the Grade 7 & 8 ELA assessment: April 2 - 4 Day 1: Day 2: Reading: 5 Reading Passages 35 multiple-choice questions (Students record their answer choices by darkening the circles on their Answer Sheet.) Writing: 3 Reading Passages 7 short-response questions and 1 extended-response question (Students write answers directly in their booklet.)

What are students expected to do on the Grade 3 Math assessment: May 1 - 3 Day 1: Day 2: 25 multiple-choice questions (Students record their answer choices by darkening the circles on their Answer Sheet 1.) 8 multiple-choice questions (Students record their answer choices by darkening the circles on their Answer Sheet 2.) 6 short-response questions and 1 extended-response question (Students write answers directly in their Session 2 booklet.)

What are students expected to do on the Grade 4 Math assessment: May 1 - 3 Day 1: Day 2: 30 multiple-choice questions (Students record their answer choices by darkening the circles on their Answer Sheet 1.) 8 multiple-choice questions (Students record their answer choices by darkening the circles on their Answer Sheet 2.) 6 short-response questions and 1 extended-response question (Students write answers directly in their Session 2 booklet.)

What are students expected to do on the Grade 5 Math assessment: May 1 - 3 Day 1: Day 2: 30 multiple-choice questions (Students record their answer choices by darkening the circles on their Answer Sheet 1.) 8 multiple-choice questions (Students record their answer choices by darkening the circles on their Answer Sheet 2.) 6 short-response questions and 1 extended-response question (Students write answers directly in their Session 2 booklet.)

What are students expected to do on the Grade 6 Math assessment: May 1 - 3 Day 1: Day 2: 31 multiple-choice questions (Students record their answer choices by darkening the circles on their Answer Sheet 1.) 7 multiple-choice questions (Students record their answer choices by darkening the circles on their Answer Sheet 2.) 7 short-response questions and 1 extended-response question (Students write answers directly in their Session 2 booklet.)

What are students expected to do on the Grade 7 Math assessment: May 1 - 3 Day 1: Day 2: 33 multiple-choice questions (Students record their answer choices by darkening the circles on their Answer Sheet 1.) 7 multiple-choice questions (Students record their answer choices by darkening the circles on their Answer Sheet 2.) 7 short-response questions and 1 extended-response question (Students write answers directly in their Session 2 booklet.)

What are students expected to do on the Grade 8 Math assessment: May 1 - 3 Day 1: Day 2: 33 multiple-choice questions (Students record their answer choices by darkening the circles on their Answer Sheet 1.) 7 multiple-choice questions (Students record their answer choices by darkening the circles on their Answer Sheet 2.) 7 short-response questions and 1 extended-response question (Students write answers directly in their Session 2 booklet.)

students get to take the test? Time is of the essence….. ….so, how much time do students get to take the test?

Time is of the essence…. … Time is of the essence….. ….so, how much time do students get to take the test? There is no limit!

In general, as long as students are working productively, they will The 2019 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests will be untimed In general, as long as students are working productively, they will have as much time as they need to complete each test session, within the confines of the regular school day. Average time it will take students to complete each session by grade: Grade Level Session 1 Session 2 Grade 3 55 – 65 minutes 60 – 70 minutes Grade 4 65 – 75 minutes Grade 5 80 – 90 minutes 70 – 80 minutes Grade 6 75 – 85 minutes Grade 7 Grade 8

Parents, how can you help? SLEEP: it’s important you get a great night sleep before the test POSITIVE: be positive, think of all the ways you have been successful EAT: eat a good breakfast before the test; especially protein SEE IT: it’s important to get a great night sleep before the test BREATHE: take deep breaths throughout the test SKIP: skip through tough questions and go back to them at the end; or even start from the back of the test DUMP! During the test jot down facts on the back PERSPECTIVE: put the test into perspective, remember that this test will not make or break your future

SLEEP: it’s important you get a great night sleep before the test POSITIVE: be positive, think of all the ways you have been successful EAT: eat a good breakfast before the test; especially protein SEE IT: close your eyes and try to visualize (picture) the question BREATHE: take deep breaths throughout the test SKIP: skip through tough questions and go back to them at the end; or even start from the back of the test DUMP! During the test jot down facts on the back PERSPECTIVE: put the test into perspective, remember that this test will not make or break your future