1. Challengers Testing Countdown
Physical Fitness Test (PFT) ~ Feb. - May
California Science Test (CAST) ~ April
California Assessment of Student Performance & Progress (CAASPP) ~ 3 Week span (April 16- May 4)
All testing will be administered in specific subject areas. (ie ~ PE, Science, Math, & Language Arts)
Challengers Testing Countdown
Spring testing breakdown

2. Accountability Breeds Response-Ability. ~Steven Covey

3. Physical Fitness Test
(PFT)

4. The PFT provides information that can be used by:
students to assess levels of health-related fitness and to plan personal fitness programs
teachers to design the curriculum for physical fitness programs
parents and guardians to understand their child’s fitness levels
by teachers, parents, and guardians to monitor changes in the student’s fitness levels

5. How PFT results are reported:
Performance on aerobic capacity (Mile run or Pacer) and body composition (Body Mass Index) fitness-area tests is classified into three general areas:
Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ)
Needs Improvement (not in HFZ)
Needs Improvement - Health Risks
Performance on other fitness-area tests (Curl-up, Push-up, & Flexibility) is classified into two general areas:
Needs Improvement (not in HFZ)
Tests recorded in grades 5, 7, & 9

6. California Science Test
(CAST)

7. NGSS Is Improving Science Education Through 3-Dimensional Learning

8. Understanding CAST
Aligned to the California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Students are taught to:
Think and work like scientists and engineers
Ask questions and will participate in hands-on investigation and discovery
Embrace scientific thinking and reasoning
CAST is stated as being the test for future scientists (helps students to see what’s happening around them.)

9. Science and Engineering Practices
Science and Engineering Practices describe what scientists do to investigate the natural world and what engineers do to design and build systems. The practices better explain and extend what is meant by “inquiry” in science and the range of cognitive, social, and physical practices that it requires. Students engage in practices to build, deepen, and apply their knowledge of core ideas and crosscutting concepts.

10. Disciplinary Core Ideas
Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) are the key ideas in science that have broad importance within or across multiple science or engineering disciplines. These core ideas build on each other as students progress through grade levels and are grouped into the following four domains: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Engineering.

11. Crosscutting Concepts
Crosscutting Concepts help students explore connections across the four domains of science, including Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Engineering Design.
When these concepts, such as “cause and effect”, are made explicit for students, they can help students develop a coherent and scientifically-based view of the world around them.

12. CAASPP ~ California Assessment and Accountability System Performance and Progress

13. Purpose of the CAASPP ~
The primary purpose of the CAASPP system is to assist teachers, administrators, and pupils and their parents by promoting high-quality teaching and learning through the use of a variety of assessment approaches and item types. CAASPP gives information to all stakeholders about what students know and are able to do and whether they are on track to be ready for success in college or a career when they graduate from high school.
The signing of Assembly Bill (AB) 484, on October 2, 2013, established the CAASPP assessment system, which replaces the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program.
The provisions of AB 484 took effect on January 1, However, the transition to this new system of assessments and assessment tools will take several years to complete.

14. CAASPP / Smarter Balance

15. Top ten tips for success~
Have a Positive Attitude
Approach the big test as you'd approach a giant jigsaw puzzle. It might be tough, but you can do it! A positive attitude goes a long way toward success.
Make a Plan
The week before the test, ask your teacher what the test is going to cover. Is it from the textbook only? Class notes? Can you use your calculator? If you've been absent, talk to friends about material you may have missed. Make a list of the most important topics to be covered and use that as a guide when you study. Circle items that you know will require extra time. Be sure to plan extra time to study the most challenging topics.
The Night Before
Cramming doesn't work. If you've followed a study plan, the night before the test you should do a quick review and get to bed early. Remember, your brain and body need sleep to function well, so don't stay up late!
The Morning of the Test
Did you know that you think better when you have a full stomach? So don't skip breakfast the morning of the test. Get to school early and do a ten-minute power study right before the test, so your brain is turned on and tuned up.

16. Test Time
Before the test begins, make sure you have everything you'll need - scratch paper, extra pencils, your calculator (if you're allowed to use it). Understand how the test is scored: Do you lose points for incorrect answers? Or is it better to make guesses when you're not sure of the answer? Read the instructions! You want to make sure you are marking answers correctly.
Manage Your Time
Scan through the test quickly before starting. Answering the easy questions first can be a time saver and a confidence builder. Plus, it saves more time in the end for you to focus on the hard stuff.
I'm Stuck!
Those tricky problems can knock you off balance. Don't get worried or frustrated. Reread the question to make sure you understand it, and then try to solve it the best way you know how. If you're still stuck, circle it and move on. You can come back to it later. What if you have no idea about the answer? Review your options and make the best guess you can, but only if you don't lose points for wrong answers.
Multiple-Choice Questions
The process of elimination can help you choose the correct answer in a multiple-choice question. Start by crossing off the answers that couldn't be right. Then spend your time focusing on the possible correct choices before selecting your answer.
Neatness Counts
If your 4s look like 9s, it could be a problem. Be sure that your writing is legible and that you erase your mistakes. For machine-scored tests, fill in the spaces carefully.
I'm Done!
Not so fast - when you complete the last item on the test, remember that you're not done yet. First, check the clock and go back to review your answers, making sure that you didn't make any careless mistakes (such as putting the right answer in the wrong place or skipping a question). Spend the last remaining minutes going over the hardest problems before you turn in your test.

17. Tips for continuous growth in Language Arts~
Provide time and space for your child to read independently - (time free of all distractions)
Ask your child about what topics, events, or activities he or she likes - (communication is key...then find materials they can read which enhances that passion)
Discuss current events, shared interests, and future aspirations for education and careers
Visit educational places to increase child’s exposure to new knowledge and vocabulary
Use technology to help build child’s interest in reading

18. Helping through math
Ask your child to do an internet search to determine how math is used in specific areas
Have child use visual pictures to find and describe examples of similar and congruent figures
Use different objects or containers to have your child estimate surface area and volume - (have them explain to you how they solved the problem)
Encourage your child to stick with it whenever a problem seems difficult - (shows them that everyone can learn math)
Participate in fun math challenges at home - htm:// , and
Praise your child when he or she makes an effort to solve problems

19. “If parents want to give their children a gift, the best thing they can do is to teach their children to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort, and keep on learning.”
~Carol Dweck

20. Additional Resources:
Science assistance
CAASPP website
Understanding CAASPP Score Reports
Overview of the California School Dashboard
Practice tests
Sample problems with answers