Standardized Testing Preparation

Parents,

I wanted to reach out and give you some resources for our upcoming standardized tests.  We have been working on SBAC like questions in class, but you can help, too.  I’ve included links for students and parents to familiarize themselves with the MAPs and SBAC questions below.  Moreover, please note that these reading passages are long.  We are working on taking notes for each paragraph so that students are prepared to work through these with confidence in the prescribed time frame.  Please walk through the process with your students.  Having your support as they prepare for these tests is very helpful.

MAPs

MAPs tests are computer adaptive.  This means they adjust based on your student’s performance.  Let your students know that they should always try hard, but sometimes they will face material that they’ve never seen before.  Make sure students get a good night’s sleep the night before and come into school ready to give their best effort.

MAPs practice tests:  https://studentresources.nwea.org/

SBAC tests are computer adaptive and include performance tasks.  Students have been working on performance tasks all year, but we will work on SBAC like assessments in the coming weeks as we prepare for these tests.  Performance tasks must be completed in one school day.  Students will be in the lab for a specific period of time.  We are working on answering completely within a time frame in class right now.

SBAC (note this website functions best in Chrome) practice tests can be found here:

https://wbte.drcedirect.com/NV/portals/nv/

It is important that students understand that these tests are important, but that they are so much more than one number on one test.  I read them a letter before we take the test that reminds them of all the things they do with ease and confidence that cannot be memorialized on a test before each testing session.

Complete testing schedule:

4/02: MAPs Math Test
4/04: MAPs ELA
4/29: SBAC ELA CAT
5/02: SBAC ELA Part 1
5/07: SBAC ELA Part 2
5/10: SBAC Math CAT
5/15: SBAC Math Performance Task