MCAS Overview for Families

1
MCAS Overview for Families

• December 2, 2008
• Prepared by Theresa Craig
• Middleborough Public Schools

2
Testing Requirements

• Mathematics Grades 3-8 and 10
• (required score of 240-Proficiency or 220 and an
  EPP)
• English Language Arts Grades 3-8 and 10
• (required score of 240-Proficiency or 220 and an
  EPP)
• Science and Technology/Engineering Grades 5, 8
  and HS
• (required score of 220)
• History Grades 5, 7 and 11
• (required for graduation for Class of 2014)

3
Resources

• All past MCAS exams are available online
• Access test questions, sample open response
  questions, writing prompts
• Test reports you have received indicate how your
  child answered each multiple choice question
• Department of Education
• www.doe.mass.edu/mcas

4
How to read your childs report

• Student Profile
• MCAS Grade 6 2008
• Student Female student District Middleborough
• Grade 6 School John T. Nichols Middle
• ID 111111111 Class G6 John T. Nichols Middle
• DOB month/day/1995
• MATHEMATICS
• RS MaxPts PC SS PERF PERF2 INDEX PILab ALTP Exclu
  d
• 41 54 76 242 Prof. Prof. 100 Prof.
• Item Details
• MATHEMATICS DB3 1131 B4111 3BD
  BB

5
All of the test questions for grades 3 through 10
are available on the DESE website at
www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testitems.html.
6
The last page of each test will give the correct
responses for each multiple choice question.
7
Choose Scoring Guides/Student Work. Select the
score number to view the samples of each open
response question.
8
Samples of each score level are given. For most
questions there are two samples of the highest
score.
9
Answers can vary but must demonstrate the
essential understanding.
10
How can parents help?

• Read at home
• MCAS strategies
• Review material to identify where there is
  evidence to support answers on homework.
• Discuss what your child has read. Ask them to
  think about alternate story lines/endings.
• Apply math and reading in everyday activities.
• Ask children to explain how they arrived at an
  answer.
• Practice math facts through games, money
  activities, etc.

11
Mathematics

• Automaticity of facts
• Multiplication and division
• Number sense related to fractions, decimals,
  multiplication, division
• Geometry perpendicular lines, triangles,
  angles, symmetry, rotations (vocabulary)
• Data, Algebra line plots, graphs
• Open response

12
ELA will continue to be a focus area for
professional development

• Inferential thinking
• Comprehension
• Vocabulary
• Writing in response to reading
• Non-fiction

13
Grade 3 ELA
Proficiency 2007 57 2008 49
14
Grade 4 ELA
Proficiency 2007 44 2008 41
15
Grade 5 ELA
Proficiency 2007 63 2008 59
16
Grade 6 ELA
Proficiency 2007 62 2008 64
17
Grade 3 Math
Proficiency 2006 50 2007 64 2008 54
18
Grade 4 Math
Proficiency 2005 28 2006 39 2007 40 2008
44
19
Grade 5 Math
Proficiency 2006 33 2007 55 2008 48
20
Grade 6 Math
Proficiency 2007 44 2008 57
21
Grade 5 Science Technology and Engineering
Proficiency 2007 51 2008 46
22
Composite Performance Index 2003-2008
23
What would you like to know?