March Madness: MCAS Style

March brings Spring, and with it all the tell-tale signs of the season:  the sight of children running free after shedding their jackets at recess;  the taste of the first sweet, ripe strawberry of the season;  the feel of the warm sun on your face in the late afternoon;  the smell of freshly sharpened lead pencils;  and the sound of rustling test booklet pages.  That’s right, folks, spring also means it’s MCAS time.

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, affectionately known as MCAS, measures the students’ achievement in relation to specific standards in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.  Students will complete a battery of multiple choice and short answer questions;  in addition, the students in the fourth grade will also complete the long composition writing session.

Parents, have no fear, your children are ready for these tests.  They have participated in various activities, learning opportunities, and practice sessions throughout the year to gain both the knowledge and the strategies they need to perform their best during the testing season.

What are the best ways for you to help?  Parents Place, a Massachusetts based parent information center, offers pointers on a variety of topics, including the following testing tips:

• Be positive when referring to upcoming tests.
• Encourage your children to do their best.
• Remind your children of their strengths.
• Let your child know that there are many measures of academic performance in addition to these tests.
• Promote good sleeping, physical fitness, and healthy eating habits during testing times.

Be sure to visit the Parents Place site for more in depth tips and information.  Also, visit the Massachusetts Department of Education to review the MCAS parent guides and information.  Looking for something more lighthearted and fun?  Read “Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!” by Dr. Seuss, which is a great book about a “different-er” school’s response to a big upcoming test.

Take a deep breath, have your children take a deep breath, and good luck!