Are You Smarter Than The MSA? Kristin Addleman and Kim Bibeault Anne Arundel County Public Schools Maryland Assessment Group Conference November 19 – 21, 2008

Purpose Build a strong connection between the school and our families. We realized that parents did not know what the MSA was all about Parents began to see how important MSA was when they understood it. We gave parents a list of expectations for their children which in turn helped us.

Rules Speak in parent language Create easy activities that are child driven All activities should be hands on Collaborative work between parents, children and teachers MSA like activities and questions Reading and math Food Translators Fun!

Funding MAESP Family Involvement Grant Students and their families were seated by student group (ESOL, Special Ed, Mentor Group, Title I, and Non Title I). Teachers of these student groups were asked to sit with the families and work with them on the activities. We were able to buy food, student rewards and pay teachers for helping with the event.

Quest For Success Activities for reading and math that went with each letter of MSA. Alternated between reading and math. Completed each activity and then spoke to parents about MSA while students colored in the dragon. The completed dragon was their ticket to get a reward at the end of the night.

Quest For Success Marley Elementary School MSA Family Night February 22, 2007

Make A Family Tree Read to Perform a Task Which step from How to Make a Family Tree will tell you who the Family Tree belongs to? A. Step 2 B. Step 3 C. Step 4 D. Step 5

Make A Family Tree Read to Perform a Task Explain how you know that Making a Family Tree is a set of directions. Use examples from the text to support your answer. _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________

Shape up a Symmetrical Castle Using Noble Shapes Geometry Thomas cut out these pieces of cardboard and taped them together to make a solid figure. Part A Name the solid figure Thomas made. ______________________________________

Shape up a Symmetrical Castle Using Noble Shapes Part B Explain why your solid figure is correct. Use what you know about solid figures in your explanation. Use words, numbers and/or symbols in your explanation. __________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ___

Are You Smarter Than The MSA? Activities for reading and math. Alternated between reading and math. Completed activity and then spoke to parents about MSA while students colored in the money. The completed money paper was their ticket to get a reward at the end of the night.

Marley Elementary School MSA Family Night March 12, 2008

$1,000,000 $500,000 $300,000 $175,000 $100,000 $50,000 $25,000 $10,000 $5,000 $2,000 $1,000 $500 3 rd Grade General Reading 4 th Grade General Reading 5 th Grade General Reading 5 th Grade Reading Comprehension 4 th Grade Reading Comprehension 3 rd Grade Reading Comprehension

Chinese Almond Cookies By David C. King INGREDIENTS 1/4 pound butter, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 11/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon almond extract 36 blanched almond halves EQUIPMENT measuring spoons 2 medium-size mixing bowls wooden mixing spoon eggbeater 2 cookie sheets teaspoon STEPS 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 2. Place the softened butter in a mixing bowl and stir it well with a mixing spoon to make it creamy. If you use vegetable shortening, you won't need to stir it much. 3. Add the sugar to the butter or shortening, a little at a time. As you add the sugar, stir constantly. Keep stirring until the mixture lightens in color.

Read Chinese Almond Cookies and answer the following question. The information in italics mainly tells A. How to measure the ingredients for the cookies B. What youll need to make the cookies C. What youll do to make the cookies D. How to store the cookies after they are done

The answer is: B. What youll need to make the cookies. Dynamite!!!

$1,000,000 $500,000 $300,000 $175,000 $100,000 $50,000 $25,000 $10,000 $5,000 $2,000 $1,000 $500 3 rd Grade Selected Response 4 th Grade Selected Response 5 th Grade Selected Response 5 th Grade Brief Constructed Response 4 th Grade Brief Constructed Response 3 rd Grade Brief Constructed Response

The number of cars sold over many weeks are shown below Which stem and leaf plot correctly shows the number of cars sold? B. D. A.B. C.D.

The answer is: C. Superb Answer!!!

Parent Comment Sheets This helped give me tips on how to prepare my child for the test. It helped me better understand what my children are learning everyday. I liked the hands-on activities and how the parents and students worked together. While school notices explained MSA, seeing the practical exercises as my daughter walked through the activities was helpful. This provided a clear understanding from teachers and faculty. Very informal and comfortable setting.

Any Questions? If you would like a copy of either or both of these presentations, please Kim at