What is TCAP?

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What is TCAP?

• TCAP stands for
• Tennessee
• Comprehensive Assessment
• Program

2
What is TCAP?

• The 2014 assessment that measures student
  progress on specific skills compared to peers
  across the state
• Used as 20 of final average for report card

3
Who takes TCAP?

• All students in grades 3-8 will take TCAP
• Across Tennessee in all public schools

4
When is TCAP?

• TCAP will take place the week of April 28.
• Students will complete 2 tests per day for 4
  consecutive days
• It is critical students are present and on time

5
Why do we give TCAP?

• To measure students' skills and progress in
  Reading/Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and
  Science
• Helps teachers know students strengths and
  weaknesses for the following school year

6
Things we need from your child!

• Be on time each day
• Get plenty of sleep each night
• Eat a healthy breakfast
• Have confidence
• Try their best

7
What we need from parents!

• Proctors (volunteers to help with test
  administration)
• Healthy snacks and drinks
• Encouragement letters to your child or the class
• Support with homework, test practice, and
  strategies

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Proctors and Snacks

• Please consider volunteering to help in a
  classroom
• We would like to provide a snack and drink during
  the test break each day
• A letter will come home soon

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Encouragement Letters

• Students need to hear from you that they can do
  succeed!
• Please be on the look out for a letter about this
  secret surprise for the students

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Homework after Spring Break

• TCAP style practice homework will be assigned
  each night
• Please REVIEW and discuss the homework each
  evening
• Sign record sheet

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Strategies for Homework Help

• Reading/Language Arts
• Use a highlighter to prove evidence from the text
• Ask students throughout reading about the
  characters, setting, plot, etc.
• UNREAL strategies

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Strategies for Homework Help

• Mathematics
• Students will be allowed to use a calculator,
  half inch ruler, multiplication table
• Show their thinking/work
• Discuss why it makes sense (Is my answer
  reasonable?)

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Strategies for Homework Help

• Science/Social Studies
• Read carefully
• Eliminate obvious wrong choices
• Look for clue words (not, all except, would be,
  etc.)
• Understand key vocabulary words (i.e.
  consumers/producers, government services, etc.)

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Sample Reading Question

• Which sentence from the passage best states the
  main idea?
• F Despite their similarities, horns and antlers
  are quite different.
• G Horns are permanent parts of an animals head.
• H Some animals may use their horns to dig holes
  and to scratch their skin.
• J Unlike horns, antlers are often branched.

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Sample Writing Question
16
Sample Language Question
17
Sample Math Question
18
Sample Science Question
19
Sample Social Studies Question
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Links for More Information

• Practice Questions
• http//www.tn.gov/education/assessment/ach_sampler
  s.shtml
• Proficiency Scores
• http//www.tn.gov/education/assessment/doc/Spring2
  013CutsforTCAPAch-ELSA.pdf

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During the test

• Students must stay seated
• Only EMERGENCY trips to the restroom
• Cannot work on other activities while waiting on
  others to finish
• A break will be taken between the tests each day
• May not ask the teacher or proctor any questions

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What happens after TCAP?

• Math Constructed Response Assessment in May
• Covers Common Core State Standards for
  Mathematics
• Moving Up to 4th grade mid May