T-CAP?!?

Well it begins today!! What I have been teaching and implementing for the last 30 weeks of school is now being tested by the state of Tennessee.  “What are you talking about?” you may ask.  Well today begins Day 1 of T-CAP testing in the state of Tennessee.  What is T-CAP?!? Oh….I will tell you what T-CAP is!! *evil laugh*

T-CAP

“Students in grades 3-8 take the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) Achievement Test each spring. The Achievement Test is a timed, multiple choice assessment that measures skills in Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. Student results are reported to parents, teachers and administrators.

The T-CAP Competency Test is a multiple-choice test designed to measure student achievement in certain mathematics and language arts skills. The test consists of a mathematics sub-test and a language arts sub-test that includes sections on spelling, language and reading.

 As of the fall semester of the 2001-2002 school year, all students entering the ninth grade must pass each sub-test before they can graduate with a regular diploma. Additional testing opportunities are available in the spring and summer for those needing to retake one or both subtests.

In order to graduate with a regular diploma, students entering high school for the first time in or after the fall semester of the 2001-2002 school year will be required to pass the Gateway Tests in Mathematics, Science, and Language Arts. The last scheduled administration of the Competency Test will be in the summer of 2004. Subsequent to that date, students who have not successfully passed the TCAP/CT will be required to pass the Gateway Tests for a regular diploma.”  (via TN Department of Education)

Now with that being said…here is my issues! 

T-CAP Rules – just a few of them…

                  –This is a little hard for me seeing that I play music ALL throughout the day and my students are used to it!  But I have explained the procedure to them and of course they were a little upset but they got over it.

• Please make sure everything that could be considered testable content is covered in your room or hall.

                  – I know what this is so…so that students won’t be temped to “cheat” or have “help” when answering questions.  BUT OMG now my classroom is sooooooo bare!! I have NO posters on the walls, all of my student work has been sent home, and did I mention that my walls are BARE!

•   Please note that scratch paper for math cannot be graphing paper.

My fellow educators, here are some “Test Taking Do’s and Don’ts” to share with your students…

• DO read and pay careful attention to all directions.
• DO read each passage and accompanying questions.
• DO read every possible answer.
• DO skip difficult questions until all other questions have been answered. Return to unanswered items if time permits.
• DO check your work. After completing the test, use any remaining time to check your answers.
• DON’T expect to find a pattern in the positions of the correct answers.
• DON’T make uneducated guesses. Try to get the correct answer by reasoning and eliminating wrong answers.
• DON’T spend too much time on any one question.
• DON’T second guess yourself. Only change an answer if you are sure the first one you picked was wrong.
• DO keep a good attitude and think positively!

• Make sure your child gets a good night’s rest and eats a healthy breakfast.
• Parents should keep a positive attitude about tests. Mark down test dates on your calendar so you and your child are aware of testing dates.
• Make sure your child gets up early enough so he or she is on time.
• It is important to talk with your child about tests to help reduce stress about test-taking.
• Praise your child when he or she performs well on a test.
• Encourage him or her to try harder if he or she doesn’t do well on a test.
• Talk to your child’s teacher to find out the areas in which they need the most help.
• Designate a study time for your child without the distraction of TV, phone and other devices.

 Now with all of this being said… Go out and do GREAT things!!

“An educational system isn’t worth a great deal if it teaches young people how to make a living but doesn’t teach them how to make a life. “ ~Author Unknown

~Love, Peace, and SOOOOOOOOOUL!!!