The M-STEP is coming! Testing for the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) will begin the week of April 11 and continue through the week of May 23. Students in grades three through five will be tested during 2 week periods of this window. Please see the schedule below for each grades dates and test schedule
5th grade
Tuesday, April 12 – ELA CAT* session(s)
Wednesday, April 13 – ELA PT** session(s)
Tuesday, April 19 – Math CAT* session(s)
Wednesday, April 20 – Math PT** session(s)
Tuesday, April 21 – Social Studies Part I & II
3rd Grade
Tuesday, April 26th – ELA CAT* session(s)
Tuesday, May 3 – Math CAT* session(s)
Wednesday, May 4 – Math PT** session(s)
4th grade
Tuesday, May 10 – ELA CAT* session(s)
Thursday, May 12 – ELA PT** session(s)
Tuesday, May 17 – Math CAT* session(s)
Wednesday, May 18 – Math PT** session(s)
Thursday, May 19 – Science Part I & II
*CAT – Computer Adaptive Test
**PT – Performance Task
It is very important that your child is at school on the above dates to take the M-STEP test. However, if your child misses any of the following dates due to illness or an emergency, the test will be administered on another day before the last day of their assessment window.
Listed below are some helpful ideas for parents to use during this year’s testing window or for any testing situation in the future.
Please contact the school or your child’s teacher with any questions regarding M-STEP testing. Thank you so much for your assistance in making M-STEP testing a success for our students!
PARENT TEST-SUPPORT STRATEGIES
Preparing for Testing
• Note test dates on your home calendar; schedule appointments on non-testing days.
• Encourage your child to take responsibility for doing their best on the test..
• Praise your child for work done well.
• Encourage your child to ask questions at home and in class.
• Gather available test preparation materials.
• Assure your child knows that you value a good education.
Testing Day
• See that your child is rested and eats breakfast.
• See that your child arrives at school on time and is relaxed.
• Encourage your child to do the best work possible.
• Do not remove your child from school on test days for appointments.
• See that your child eats healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables (the brain needs natural sugar to function i.e. berries, apples, pears, grapes, raisins, etc.)
• See that your child drinks 6-8 oz. of water (water helps move the natural sugar and oxygen to the brain faster)
TEST ANXIETY
Students may experience anxiety about tests and may experience heightened anxiety before a testing situation. A certain degree of test anxiety is normal and may help students prepare more effectively, work more efficiently, and remain focused during testing. Too much anxiety, however, can negatively affect performance. The following strategies may assist students and parents in reducing test anxiety.
Parent Strategies for Reducing Test Anxiety
• Discuss the test openly and in a positive way.
• Have realistic expectations of your child’s performance while encouraging his/her best efforts.
• Emphasize that the test is only one measure of academic performance.
• Emphasize that test scores do not determine a person’s worth.
The MDE has also released a new letter to parents last week concerning M-STEP testing. Please click on the following link M-STEP_Parent_Letter_032416_518651_7 to read the letter from State Superintendent, Brian Whiston.
Thank you all for your continued support!