The Medford Elementary Tiger Times!
Where Every Student Counts, and Every Moment Matters
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE (3/13/23)
MCA Testing for grades 3-6 will begin the end of April. (See specific dates below)
Please fill out the environmental placement form below if you feel your child has an educational need which should be considered when we place students,
MCA TESTING IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN APRIL (Grades 3-6 only)
The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) and Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) are reading, mathematics, and science standards-based assessments used to meet federal and state legislative requirements. Most students take the MCA, but students who receive special education services and meet the MTAS eligibility requirements may take the MTAS instead. For the MTAS, teachers work with each student individually using paper test materials. MCAs/MTAS are administered for reading to students in grade 3-8 and grade 10; MCAs/MTAS for mathematics in grades 3-8 and grade 11; and MCAs/MTAS for science in grades 5, 8, and grade 10.
IMPORTANT MCA TESTING DATES:
April 25th & 26th: MCA Testing Reading - Grade 3 - 6
April 27th: Reading MCA Make-Up Date
May 2nd & 3rd: MCA Testing Math - Grade 3 - 6
May 4th: Math MCA Make-Up Date
May 11th: MCA Science Test (Grade 5 only)
HOW CAN YOU PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR THE MCA (MINNESOTA COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT) TEST?
- Note test dates (see below)
- Schedule any appointments on non-testing days.
- Encourage your child to take responsibility for homework and class study.
- Gather available test preparation materials and information.
- Assure your child knows that you value a good education.
- Recognize hard work and persistence, particularly when facing difficult tasks.
During Test Days:
- Ensure your child is rested and eats a healthy breakfast.
- Make sure your child arrives at school on time.
- Encourage your child to do their best work and to be persistent.
- Ask your child how they are feeling about the upcoming test.
- Do your best to calm any anxieties they might be having.
*Reminder - Encourage your child to work hard and do their best, but know this is only one way to show what they know. Make sure they have a good breakfast and drink lots of water so their body, as well as their mind, is up for the task.”
HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD WITH TEST ANXIETY?
How Students Can Alleviate Test Anxiety:
- Share your feelings of anxiety with parents and teachers.
- Think of the test as an opportunity to show what you know.
- Review homework and materials that pertain to test topics.
- Relax, breathe deeply and stay focused on the test.
How Parents Can Alleviate Test Anxiety:
- Discuss the test openly and in a positive way.
- Have realistic expectations of your child’s performance while encouraging his or her best efforts.
- Emphasize that the test is only one measure of academic performance.
- Help your child identify times he or she was/were anxious or faced challenges that had positive results.
How Teachers Can Alleviate Test Anxiety:
- Discuss the purpose of the test and how it can help students’ academic progress.
- Have realistic expectations of students’ performance while encouraging students to do their best.
- Allow students to express their anxiety verbally or in writing.
Finally, the MCA-III is an assessment of the learning that has taken place over the course of the school year. Students have been preparing for the assessment since the school year began. The test presents an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they have learned throughout the year. The most important thing students and families can do is to maintain a routine throughout the testing window, such as eating and sleeping regularly.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND SOME HELPFUL MCA STUDY RESOURCES?
Reading - http://minnesota.pearsonaccessnext.com/item-samplers/reading/
Math - http://minnesota.pearsonaccessnext.com/item-samplers/math/
Science - http://minnesota.pearsonaccessnext.com/item-samplers/science/
Request for a Specific Learning Environment
Parents may wonder how students are placed in classrooms or teams. As a staff we fully understand the importance of assigning students to homeroom teachers and that endeavor is taken very seriously. Grade level teachers, special education staff, counselors and specialists work diligently to develop the schedule. The goal of the placement process is to create heterogeneous class units. This requires balancing the unique needs of each child with the overall school need for cohesive homeroom and classroom sections. There are several items taken into account when creating class lists, such as ratio of boys to girls, students’ educational and socio-emotional needs to name only a few. We believe that if we are successful in creating balanced homeroom situations, all students in each class will have the best chance for learning and success. In early spring, staff begins to develop the school’s schedule for the 2023-24 school year.
If you feel your child has an educational need which should be considered when we place students, Click here to complete the learning environment form. It will need to be completed/submitted by April 6, 2023. Due to various reasons including retirements and change in staff assignments, completing this form does not guarantee a specific placement. Only requests focused on educational need will be considered. Only complete this form if you have information to share regarding next year's student placement.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Carlson, Elementary Principal at 214.6312 or joshcarlson@medfordtigers.org. Thank you.
Important Dates on the Horizon!
March 31: No School for Students
April 7: Easter Break (No School)
May 29: Memorial Day (No School)
June 8: End of Qtr. #4 (Last Day of Classes)