Mapping out MAP success
May 5, 2009
|
Mapping out MAP success
By Rani Khakh
2008-09 BSSD
Teacher of the Year
As an educator, the vision of spring brings excitement and more than a little anxiety. When we finally begin to see the weather improving, we know that it is also the season of MAP testing. Across the district, students and teachers are preparing for and taking the Missouri Assessments. At the elementary and middle level, students in grades 3-8 take communication arts and math, and students in grades 5 and 8 are assessed in science. At the high school level, students take the communication arts and science in grade 11 and math at grade 10. As a teacher, I see the value and understand the importance of the MAP, but I thought it might be a benefit to explain some of the common questions that we answer regarding our assessments.
What is the MAP test?
MAP stands for the Missouri Assessment Program. It is a tool to measure mastery of skills and concepts based on Grade Level Expectations. Grade Level Expectations (GLE) are skills and concepts students are expected to master at a certain grade level.
Why is the MAP test important?
The MAP test is one way to hold teachers accountable for their teaching and students for their learning. Students’ scores are compared to their grade level peers in the state of Missouri. Teachers want students to show what they know on this very important test! The Blue Springs School District expects students to perform very well on this test, as they do every year.
When will I know how my child did on the MAP test?
Students’ test scores are usually mailed out in August or September. As a parent, remind yourself that the MAP test is one indication of your child’s progress. In the classroom, a teacher uses many different kinds of assessments and observations to determine your child’s success and any areas in which progress needs to be monitored. Talk to your child’s teacher if you have any questions about your child’s progress in school. Remember, you are working as a team to help your child succeed!
How are the scores reported?
Results are reported for each child based on the level of proficiency. Students’ scores can be determined to be "below basic," "basic," "proficient" or "advanced." These scores are a means of comparing test results with standards of academic performance. Each achievement level represents standards of performance for each assessed content area (Communication Arts, Mathematics, and Science). Our goal as educators is to help students reach their potential and we work hard to take our students to the highest level of achievement.
How do I best prepare my child for the MAP test?
There are many things that parents can do to make sure their child is prepared to take this very important test. First, it is important to be a source of encouragement for your child. Remind them that they are ready for this test and it’s a chance to show what they have learned all year. Next, make sure your child gets adequate rest and eats a healthy breakfast! Finally, tell them to RELAX!! They have prepared for this test and all they can do is their BEST!
My personal story
I am sure that we have our own experiences and memories of state testing during our own educational careers. My early testing memories are not fond ones. As an English Language Learner, I remember barely being able to read the test and understand what I read. Once I became a fluent speaker and had a good grasp of the English language, I still struggled. As I reflect on that now, it is quite shocking that I still did not test well. Being in the field of education has shed light on WHY this was my story. While I was fluent in the English language and was doing very well academically in all subjects, it was about the wording of the tests, not my grasp of the skill or concept being tested. This is true for ALL students not just for ELL students like me. As a teacher in the Blue Springs School District, I know that we are working hard every day to prepare our students to excel and have our test scores be at the top of the state. One way we have been doing this is to teach students to be good test takers not just for the MAP test, but for every test they may have to take throughout their educational career, such as tests and exams in all subject areas, college entrance exams, driver’s license test and many others. In today’s world, being a good test taker goes beyond the classroom walls.
|
|
