M-STEP Preparation
Lapeer Community Schools 2017
M-STEP online training tools/practice test questions have been updated to support student readiness
Michigan sample M-Step questions have been updated to include foils (up to 6-7 choices) and questions can have two best answers. Students will also need to know how to navigate the test passages before answering a question, as they are on multiple pages. Even lower elementary passages require multiple page readings.
K-2 Early Literacy Benchmark Assessments Sample Items
Online Testing Preparation for M-Step
- Teach students about the tools (cross off button, highlighter, sticky note, eraser) Note: Different questions have different tools.
- Look for letters/numbers on the left side of the problem of where to click the answer. If there is a box, click in the box or highlight.
- Touch screen/I-pad – use your finger as the cursor
- Read the directions and any hints!– EVERY PART OF THE DIRECTIONS!
- To undo – click again (your answer can be changed)
- There may be more than one right answer.
- I-pads à there may be parts you can’t see (the formatting doesn’t always fit to the screen)
- Check your answer before you hit “next”
- Flag à you can go back. Test won’t submit until all problems are answered.
- Drag feature/Reset all feature
- 2 part questions – some say Part A and Part B. Some have something you must click on and a box you must type in.
- Legend – go back to flagged questions to see how many questions you have left
- Constructed Response – Teach students to not only type one word answers. There is a limit to the maximum amount of characters.
- Terms – teach “most likely”, “passage” (the word passage doesn’t always refer to the text read), “paragraph”
- Magnifier – magnifies to 1.5 or 2.0. At 2.0, you must scroll back and forth and up and down. Advise against 2.0.
- Titles – italics can be used in digital print
- Split screen – scroll bar (questions change, but the story stays)
- Story writing – continue in the mode the story was written in (ex: narrative, opinion… however it was started)
- Have students practice on the device they will be using!
Resources to Prepare for M-Step
ELA:
Newsela -Current Events, Lexile Leveled, Quizzes Included. RL: 4-12
Tween Tribune – Wide Variety of Content, Lexile Leveled, Quizzes Included. RL: K-12
Britannica – Non-fiction, Research Skills, Audio Support. Grades 3-12
http://www.remc13.org/resources/
MobyMax - Unlock the power of personalized learning to find and fix missing skills and learn twice as fast in math, reading, language, writing, and science.
Math:
Front Row – Common Core Aligned, Audio/Video Support, Instant Feedback. Grades K-8
Curriculum-Based Online Manipulatives – Free. Grades K-8
http://www.mckinleytiger.com/math/manipulatives
Interactive Math Resources – Free. Activity Based. Grades 1-12
http://illuminations.nctm.org/Search.aspx?view=search&type=ac
Online Virtual Manipulatives – Free. Quizzes Included. Grades 1-8
http://www.mathplayground.com/math_manipulatives.html
Desmos – Graphing Calculator, Tables, Regressions, Statistics.
https://www.desmos.com/calculator
Geogebra – Multiple Devices, Ready-to-use Resources, Reinforces Procedures and Definitions.
Typing Resources:
Typing Web – Module Based, Track Progress, Visual Support. Free. Grades 2-12
Nitro Type – Interactive, Competitive, Motivating. Grades 3-12
Dance Mat Typing – Engaging, Audio/Visual Support. Free. Grades 1-4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3c6tfr#zgkpn39
ABCYA Typing Games – Engaging. Free. Grades K-5
http://www.abcya.com/kids_typing_games.htm
Authentic Writing Experience:
Kidblog – Motivating, Teacher Moderated. Grades 1-12