2. Welcome Parents to the MSA Parent Informational Night Welcome Parents to the MSA Parent Informational Night Linda M. Jones Coxson C. Charmayne Brown March 2, 2010

3. MSA Calendar 2010 MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday 12345 8 3 rd and 4 th Grade Reading 9 105th Grade Reading 115th 12 3 rd and 4 th Grade Math 15 3 rd and 4 th Grade Math 165th Grade Math 175th 18 MSA Make Ups 19 22 23 242526 293031

4. MSA Reading and Mathematics Testing Minutes MSA MSA Content Grade Reading Grade 3 Reading Grade 4 Reading Grade 5 Math Grade 3 Math Grade 4 Math Grade 5 Time Time Day1 Day 2 73 72 72 72 81 72 86 50 84 51 101 45

5. MSA Reading Test The MSA Reading test has five sessions given over two days Three sessions will be administered on Day 1 Two sessions will be administered on Day 2

6. MSA Math Test The MSA Mathematics test has five sessions given over two days Three sessions will be administered on Day 1 Two sessions will be administered on Day 2

7. MSA 2010 Test Content Reading Items Selected Response (Multiple Choice) Brief Constructed Response (Short Answers) Mathematics Items Selected Response (Multiple Choice) Brief Constructed Response (Short Answers)

8. What is a Brief Constructed Response (BCR)? BCR’s demonstrate student’s thinking process Students provide short written answers Answers are written within a box Reading responses are scored for reading comprehension, not for writing or language usage Math responses are scored for problem solving and being able to explain their answers Responses should be brief and to the point

9. Possible Proficiency Levels Advanced Proficient Basic

10. Parents Remind your children not to do this: Students Don’t Make dark or stray marks near or around their selected response Choose more than one answer per each question Write outside the square box when answering the short answer response

11. Parents Remind your children to do this: Students Do This Make your answers dark and completely fill in the bubble Do your very best Go back and check your answers and reread

12. Parents How can you help prepare your children? Encourage your child to read every day. Talk to your child about what he/she reads Relate math to your every day life Make school a priority

13. Parents How can you help prepare your children for the test? Help your child remain calm Ensure your child goes to bed early the night before the test Ensure that your child eats breakfast in the morning Review test strategies Ensure that your child arrives to school on time. The school bell rings at 9:00 am Do not schedule doctor’s appointments during the testing window

14. Parents Reinforce strategies your child is learning in school Help your child: Pay attention to key words Reread the questions Refer to pictures, charts and graphs Use process of elimination Use mathematical terms Use numbers, words, and pictures to describe mathematical problem solving Copy numbers correctly and line up numbers carefully when solving math problems Copy numbers correctly and line up numbers carefully when solving math problems Restate the question when answering the BCR questions Use information from the text to support your answer

15. On line Resources www.mdk12.org Click MSA Click What does MSA Look Like Click Reading/Math Public Release Items You can browse around!!!!!!!!!!!!

16. Work Hard and Dream Big!