Are You Smarter Than The MSA?

Kristin Addleman and Kim Bibeault

Anne Arundel County Public Schools

Maryland Assessment Group Conference

November 19 – 21, 2008

Purpose

• Build a strong connection between the school and our families.

• We realized that parents did not know what the MSA was all about

• Parents began to see how important MSA was when they understood it.

• We gave parents a list of expectations for their children which in turn helped us.

Rules• Speak in parent language• Create easy activities that are child driven• All activities should be hands on• Collaborative work between parents,

children and teachers• MSA like activities and questions• Reading and math• Food• Translators

• Fun!

Funding• MAESP Family Involvement Grant

• Students and their families were seated by student group (ESOL, Special Ed, Mentor Group, Title I, and Non Title I).

• Teachers of these student groups were asked to sit with the families and work with them on the activities.

• We were able to buy food, student rewards and pay teachers for helping with the event.

Quest For Success

• Activities for reading and math that went with each letter of MSA.

• Alternated between reading and math.

• Completed each activity and then spoke to parents about MSA while students colored in the dragon.

• The completed dragon was their ticket to get a reward at the end of the night.

Quest For SuccessMarley Elementary School

MSA Family NightFebruary 22, 2007

Make A Family TreeRead to Perform a TaskWhich step from “How to Make a Family Tree” will tell you who the Family Tree belongs to?

A. Step 2B. Step 3

C. Step 4D. Step 5

Make A Family TreeRead to Perform a TaskExplain how you know that Making a Family Tree is a set of directions. Use examples from the text to support your answer.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Shape up a Symmetrical Castle Using Noble Shapes

GeometryThomas cut out these pieces of cardboard and

taped them together to make a solid figure.

Part A Name the solid figure Thomas made.______________________________________

Shape up a Symmetrical Castle Using Noble ShapesPart BExplain why your solid figure is correct.Use what you know about solid figures in

your explanation.Use words, numbers and/or symbols in your

explanation._____________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Are You Smarter Than The MSA?

• Activities for reading and math.

• Alternated between reading and math.

• Completed activity and then spoke to parents about MSA while students colored in the money.

• The completed money paper was their ticket to get a reward at the end of the night.

Marley Elementary School

MSA Family Night

March 12, 2008

$1,000,000

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3rd Grade General Reading

4th Grade General Reading

5th Grade General Reading

5th Grade ReadingComprehension

4th Grade ReadingComprehension

3rd Grade Reading Comprehension

Chinese Almond CookiesBy David C. King

INGREDIENTS1/4 pound butter, softened3/4 cup sugar1 egg1/2 teaspoon vanilla11/4 cups all-purpose flour1/4 teaspoon baking powder3/4 teaspoon almond extract 36 blanched almond halves

EQUIPMENTmeasuring spoons2 medium-size mixing bowlswooden mixing spooneggbeater2 cookie sheetsteaspoon

STEPS 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 2. Place the softened butter in a mixing bowl and stir it well with a mixing spoon to make it creamy. If you use vegetable shortening, you won't need to stir it much. 3. Add the sugar to the butter or shortening, a little at a time. As you add the sugar, stir constantly. Keep stirring until the mixture lightens in color.

Read “Chinese Almond Cookies” and answer the following question.

The information in italics mainly tells

A. How to measure the ingredients for the cookies

B. What you’ll need to make the cookies

C. What you’ll do to make the cookies

D. How to store the cookies after they are done

The answer is:

B. What you’ll need to make the cookies.

Dynamite!!!

$1,000,000

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3rd Grade Selected Response

4th Grade Selected Response

5th Grade Selected Response

5th Grade Brief Constructed Response

4th Grade BriefConstructed Response

3rd Grade Brief Constructed Response

The number of cars sold over many weeks are shown below.

24928

421714

323617

411931

281811

Which stem and leaf plot correctly shows the number of cars sold? B.

D.

A. B.

C. D.

The answer is:

C.

Superb Answer!!!

Parent Comment Sheets

• This helped give me tips on how to prepare my child for the test.

• It helped me better understand what my children are learning everyday.

• I liked the hands-on activities and how the parents and students worked together.

• While school notices explained MSA, seeing the practical exercises as my daughter walked through the activities was helpful.

• This provided a clear understanding from teachers and faculty.

• Very informal and comfortable setting.

Any Questions?

If you would like a copy of either or both of these presentations, please email Kim at kbibeault@aacps.org