Teller Elementary Fall of 2011

Parents will:  understand what TCAP stands for and the new Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) it will assess.  begin to understand how TCAP is formatted and the types of questions asked – “Testing as a Genre.”  learn ways to support students in the preparation of TCAP.  understand that students need to display learning and testing endurance!

Colorado is transitioning from the current standards to the Colorado Academic Standards (CAS). TCAP stands for Transitional Colorado Assessment Program. Four Phases of Transition

 are designed with the end in mind, postsecondary and workforce readiness, articulated through prepared graduates competencies.  include 21st century skills: critical thinking, invention, information literacy, collaboration, and self direction.  are based on powerful connections within and across content areas.  define mastery by grade level, requiring application and transfer of concepts and skills.  focus on students acquiring concepts and skills through content for higher order thinking.  are presented within the innovative CAS template, deceptively simple and requiring new ways of thinking.

 TCAP is a series of summative assessments in reading, writing, math and science. The assessments are based on Colorado’s Model Content Standards.  Reading, writing and math assessments are administered in grades 3-10, and science to students in grades 5 and 8.  The TCAP results categorize students into one of 4 performance levels: unsatisfactory, partially proficient, proficient, or advanced, based on a scale score for each proficiency.

 3 rd graders take 2 reading, 2writing, and 2math assessments.(6 Hours)  4 th and 5 th take 3 reading, 3writing and 3 math assessments. (9 Hours)  5 th graders take 3 science assessments. (3 Hours)  CSAP questions consist of multiple choice, short and extend constructed responses. Learning and Testing Endurance will help students better demonstrate their knowledge!

Growing up involves taking on added responsibilities. Write about one responsibility you have in your life. Step 1 – Create a plan and write your rough draft. Step 2 – Edit and Rewrite your rough draft on the lines provided. You do not need to use all the lines provided. Just use as many as you need.

 they do not read the full directions or questions.  they do not answer all parts of the problem.  they do not show their work in math.  their work is not neat and readable.  they do not write to the prompt.  they do not go back and check their work.  they do not transfer what they have learned in class to the test. They do not demonstrate learning and testing endurance!

 Help your student get into the habit of checking their homework.(Neat, Complete, Effort)  Encourage your students to complete the Weekly TCAP Reading and Math questions.  Read multi-step directions with your student.(Check off parts of the question complete, underline key words, when finished go back and reread the question)  Read with your student and talk about it. Model how to summarize, identify the main idea and infer.

 Provide your student with opportunities to transfer what they are learning in the classroom to life outside of Teller and home. (Discussions, parks, museums, library, BE CREATIVE!)  Work with students on math facts and explaining their thinking in words.  Know when TCAP occurs and have your student at school. (Student absences impacts everyone!)

 Enter – CSAP Sample Questions – in the search box. Click on Unit Assessments.  Enter Colorado Academic Standards – in the search box – Click on Unit of Academic Standards.