Hello Room 430 Families,
During the 2014-15 school year, Michigan rolled out a new assessment program called M-STEP (Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress) to replace the 44-year-old MEAP test. "The M-STEP is a 21st Century test given primarily online each spring and is designed to gauge how well students are mastering state standards. These standards, developed for educators and by educators, broadly outline what students should know and be able to do, by subject and grade level —and ultimately how ready they are to enter the workplace, career education training and college." (www.michigan.gov)
The M-STEP is a summative assessment and is administered to students in the following grades and subjects: English Language Arts and Mathematics will be assessed in grades 3–8; Science in grades 4, 7 and 11; and Social Studies in grades 5, 8 and 11.
I want to communicate two important points with you.
First, the M-STEP is important and we want 4th graders to do well, but it is not the most important thing they will do this year. In other words, this is simply just another assessment that provides another piece of information as to your hawk's progress at a state, district, and building level. M-STEP results, when combined with classroom work, report cards, local district assessments and other tools, can offer an additional viewpoint of student progress and achievement. Also, it is important to note that this assessment does not measure your hawk's athletic ability, their creativity, their kindness, or many other attributes that make them such incredible people.
Second, the components of the M-STEP will be delivered via an online assessment system. Students will be required to interface with a computer to complete a variety of assessment tasks. The 4th grade testing window will be open from Monday, May 1st through Friday, May 26th. Room 430's specific testing calendar can be found below. It is important to try to not schedule appointments during this time. If your hawk is not here on test days, then they will have to complete make up testing, which can easily become stressful as they will be pulled out during class time. So please, take a look at the schedule and compare it to your calendar at home.
I included more information about the M-STEP on this page, but as always, if you have any questions, concerns, critiques, or compliments please e-mail me at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Mr. C
During the 2014-15 school year, Michigan rolled out a new assessment program called M-STEP (Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress) to replace the 44-year-old MEAP test. "The M-STEP is a 21st Century test given primarily online each spring and is designed to gauge how well students are mastering state standards. These standards, developed for educators and by educators, broadly outline what students should know and be able to do, by subject and grade level —and ultimately how ready they are to enter the workplace, career education training and college." (www.michigan.gov)
The M-STEP is a summative assessment and is administered to students in the following grades and subjects: English Language Arts and Mathematics will be assessed in grades 3–8; Science in grades 4, 7 and 11; and Social Studies in grades 5, 8 and 11.
I want to communicate two important points with you.
First, the M-STEP is important and we want 4th graders to do well, but it is not the most important thing they will do this year. In other words, this is simply just another assessment that provides another piece of information as to your hawk's progress at a state, district, and building level. M-STEP results, when combined with classroom work, report cards, local district assessments and other tools, can offer an additional viewpoint of student progress and achievement. Also, it is important to note that this assessment does not measure your hawk's athletic ability, their creativity, their kindness, or many other attributes that make them such incredible people.
Second, the components of the M-STEP will be delivered via an online assessment system. Students will be required to interface with a computer to complete a variety of assessment tasks. The 4th grade testing window will be open from Monday, May 1st through Friday, May 26th. Room 430's specific testing calendar can be found below. It is important to try to not schedule appointments during this time. If your hawk is not here on test days, then they will have to complete make up testing, which can easily become stressful as they will be pulled out during class time. So please, take a look at the schedule and compare it to your calendar at home.
I included more information about the M-STEP on this page, but as always, if you have any questions, concerns, critiques, or compliments please e-mail me at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Mr. C
M-STEP TEsting Calendar
May 1
May 8
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May 2
M-STEP: ELA - Day 1 10:00 - 11:30 May 9
M-STEP: Science - Day 1 10:00 - 11:30 |
May 3
M-STEP: Math - Day 1 10:00 - 11:30 May 10
M-STEP: Science - Day 2 10:00 - 11:30 |
May 4
M-STEP: Math - Day 2 10:00 - 11:30 May 11
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May 5
May 12
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M-STEP REsources
The official Michigan.gov website with the most up to date information about the M-STEP.
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This is the official M-STEP preview created and maintained by the Michigan Department of Education. Use the following link https://wbte.drcedirect.com/MI/portals/mi/ott1 to navigate to the page. (If you receive the error message "To Access Online Tools Training Please Upgrade Your Browser" you will need to open the link in a different browser. Google Chrome seems to work best.) Use the Sample Item Sets - Grade 4 to practice and prepare.
Sample Item Sets > Grade 4 > ELA / MATH / Science - 3 different 4th Grade practice tests
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As a way to prepare for the Mathematical portion of the M-STEP we are going to continue using the exciting online math computer program called Front Row! The program is really smart and is able to understand what math skills you're awesome at, and where you still need some work. In order for the program to work though, it is very important for you to try your hardest on all of the questions. If you miss questions because you were just guessing, the program may think that you don't understand the topic and give you questions that are too easy. When you answer questions correctly, however, you earn coins and move up levels!
Before you start working on any domain, you have to complete a pre-test and it is VERY important that you try your hardest on the pre-test so that it places you at the appropriate level. Once you're done with the pre-test, you get to work on problems at your own level and all the help you'll need is built into the program. If you don't know how to solve the problem you're working on, you can drag manipulatives on the screen to help solve, watch a video explaining how to answer a similar problem, or have the problem read out loud to you. While there are so many other awesome features you will find as we continue our work with Front Row, just remember to always try your hardest and have fun becoming a great mathematician! |
M-STEP TIPS
1. |
Have a PositivE ATTITUDE |
Approach the M-STEP as you'd approach a giant jigsaw puzzle. It might be tough, but you can do it! A positive attitude goes a long way toward success. |
2. |
MAKE A PLAN |
As the M-STEP gets closer, listen to your teacher when he explains what will be on it, how it will work, and what it will look like. You might even want to go on to the M-STEP practice page and get a feel for the types of questions you will be asked. |
3. |
THE NIGHT BEFORE |
Get to bed on time! Most people will say you should go to bed early, but your body isn’t used to that and then you just end up lying in bed awake and stressing that you can’t fall asleep. Try to develop a healthy sleep pattern where you are able to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Usually this tends to mean that you should be in bed by 9:00. Remember, your brain and body need sleep to function well, so don't stay up late! |
4. |
THE MORNING OF |
Did you know that you think better when you have a full stomach? So don't skip breakfast the morning of the M-STEP. Get to school early and do a ten-minute silent reading or a page of math boxes to get your brain turned on and tuned up. |
5. |
M-STEP TIME |
Before the M-STEP begins, make sure you have everything you'll need - scratch paper, extra pencils, snack, water bottle, etc. Also, when the M-STEP begins listen to oral directions and read the written instructions! You want to make sure you are marking answers correctly. |
6. |
MANAGE YOUR TIME |
You will have as much time as you need to finish the M-STEP, so make sure you are staying focused and motivated and working at the speed that is just right for you. If you move too slow or too fast, your brain might get exhausted from having to think so hard. So, do your best and move at your pace! |
7. |
I'M STUCK |
Those tricky problems can knock you off balance. Don't get worried or frustrated. Reread the question to make sure you understand it, and then try to solve it the best way you know how. If you're still stuck, flag it and move on. You can come back to it later. What if you have no idea about the answer? Review your options and make the best guess you can. |
8. |
Multiple choice |
The process of elimination can help you choose the correct answer in a multiple-choice question. Start by crossing off the answers that couldn't be right. Then spend your time focusing on the possible correct choices before selecting your answer. |
9. |
CLICKING COUNTS |
Be sure that you are clicking on the answer you want to click on. Double check and see that you have marked the answer you actually want to choose. |
10. |
I'm DONE! |
Not so fast - when you complete the last item on the test, remember that you're not done yet. First, check the clock and go back to review your answers, making sure that you didn't make any careless mistakes (such as putting the right answer in the wrong place or skipping a question). Spend the last remaining minutes going over the hardest problems before you submit it. |