Transcript MSA 101

MSA 101
Don’t Sweat It!
What is the MSA?
• The Maryland School Assessment
• Some Facts about MSA:
• The test meets the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind
Act.
• The test assesses the Maryland content standards in mathematics,
reading, and science.
• The reading and mathematics tests are administered annually to
students in grades 3 through 8. The science test is administered
annually in grades 5 and 8.
• MSA scores will show how well Maryland children have learned the
reading, mathematics, and science skills specified in the State
Curriculum.
• The test includes both selected response (multiple-choice) and brief
constructed response items.
•
Your child will be graded as:
Basic
Performing at Below Grade level.
Proficient
Performing at an On-Grade level.
Advanced
Performing at an Above Grade
level.
•
•
The scores inform teachers about what instructional changes may
need to be made to better meet needs of students.
If your child scores at a Basic level, teachers will scaffold your
child’s instruction to help meet their individual needs.
As a Parent:
•
If your child scores at a Basic level, you can ask for strategies and
activities to use at home to help meet your child’s needs.
• Parents can visit the site at
http://mdk12.org/
Schedule
• 2 days of each, Math and ELA.
• The Assessment is administered in the
AM.
Math: March 8th and 9th
ELA : March 15th and 16th
What Can I Do?
On a Daily Basis:
• Talk with your child about sample MSA
activities.
• Ask them what they are thinking while they
are reading.
• Ask your child to explain their thinking with
reading and math problems.
•
Have your child to school on time.
On the Days of the Assessment
• Make sure your child eats a breakfast of
protein.
• A breakfast of carbohydrates will wear off
and they will be tired.
They need a good night’s rest.