The Start of Another Season
We are about to begin a new season. And I’m not talking about baseball or the Red Sox, although they are in full swing as of the Home Opener today. This season, though, is not as well-known as fall, winter, or spring, but in this new age of education it is even more important and for us it is a new one: the PARCC season is upon us. Every student at the Nichols Middle School will be starting and completing the English Language Arts (ELA) and then Math administration of the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) in the next few weeks. With our 8th Grade students also completing the Science Technology and Engineering MCAS.
We have to keep in the forefront of our minds that these tests are important. The reason for this is simple. I know it. The teachers here at NMS know it. Hopefully, the students understand it and do their best; and I am also hoping that parents are echoing these same sentiments at home.
We have to keep in the forefront of our minds that these tests are important. The reason for this is simple. I know it. The teachers here at NMS know it. Hopefully, the students understand it and do their best; and I am also hoping that parents are echoing these same sentiments at home.
So on Tuesday, April 26, our 6th Grade Students will begin their first session of the ELA sections. Here is the calendar of the testing administration:
PARCC Schedule for ELA:
- Tuesday, April 26: Grade 6 Unit 1
- Wednesday, April 27: Grade 7 Unit 1
- Thursday, April 28: Grade 8 Unit 1
- Tuesday, May 3: Grade 6 Unit 2
- Wednesday, May 4: Grade 7 Unit 2
- Friday, May 6: Grade 8 Unit 2
- Tuesday, May 10: Grade 6 Unit 3
- Wednesday, May 11: Grade 7 Unit 3
- Thursday, May 12: Grade 8 Unit 3
PARCC Schedule for Math:
- Tuesday, May 17: Grade 6 Unit 1
- Wednesday, May 18: Grade 7 Unit 1
- Thursday, May 19: Grade 6 Unit 2
- Friday, May 20: Grade 7 Unit 2
- Tuesday, May 24: Grade 8 Unit 1
- Wednesday, May 25: Grade 6 Unit 3
- Thursday, May 26: Grade 7 Unit 3
- Friday, May 27: Grade 8 Unit 2
- Wednesday, June 1: Grade 8 Unit 3
8th Grade STE MCAS:
- Thursday, May 19: Session 1
- Friday, May 20: Session 2
Testing Schedule for Each Grade:
6th Grade:
- Tuesday, April 26: Grade 6 ELA Unit 1
- Tuesday, May 3: Grade 6 ELA Unit 2
- Tuesday, May 10: Grade 6 ELA Unit 3
- Tuesday, May 17: Grade 6 Math Unit 1
- Thursday, May 19: Grade 6 Math Unit 2
- Wednesday, May 25: Grade 6 Math Unit 3
7th Grade:
- Wednesday, April 27: Grade 7 ELA Unit 1
- Wednesday, May 4: Grade 7 ELA Unit 2
- Wednesday, May 11: Grade 7 ELA Unit 3
- Wednesday, May 18: Grade 7 Math Unit 1
- Friday, May 20: Grade 7 Math Unit 2
- Thursday, May 26: Grade 7 Math Unit 3
8th Grade:
- Thursday, April 28: Grade 8 ELA PARCC Unit 1
- Friday, May 6: Grade 8 ELA PARCC Unit 2
- Thursday, May 12: Grade 8 ELA PARCC Unit 3
- Thursday, May 19: MCAS STE Session 1
- Friday, May 20: MCAS STE Session 2
- Tuesday, May 24: Grade 8 PARCC Math Unit 1
- Friday, May 27: Grade 8 PARCC Math Unit 2
- Wednesday, June 1: Grade 8 PARCC Math Unit 3
These tests sometimes bring anxiety, fear, anticipation, grief, resentment, and/or relief. With everyone’s differing feelings on standardized assessments, though, one thing is for sure, they are here and we must deal with them for the best of our students. Students at NMS have been preparing all year every day in their classes for these assessments, but we all must make sure we are doing everything we can in order to make sure each and every student is ready.
I will be having meetings with each grade level to discuss the importance of the tests, better test-taking skills, and some overall strategies to help them do better and relax. Our teachers are preparing students with skills they need to succeed each and every day either through teaching to the standards, extra test prep during DIAL periods, reading and writing throughout our curricula, or working with our online math program Digits.
So what, may you ask, can parents do? Well, I am glad you asked. The following is from the Guide to the MCAS for Parents/Guardians put out by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, but we can just take out "MCAS" and put in "PARCC" to help with the support:
What Can I Do to Help My Child?
Supporting your child is critical now and in his or her future academic career. Here are some tips for helping your child prepare for the next PARCC test administration.
· Have regular discussions with your child’s teachers to see what you can do at home to support your child’s work in school.
· Make sure your child gets enough rest, eats properly, and arrives at school on time every day. Send your child to school prepared to learn.
· Discuss with your child subjects that need improvement and whether he or she thinks there has been improvement. If the answer is no, find out why.
· Ask your child about homework that is due tomorrow and next week, and make sure this homework is completed. Check your child's agenda nightly.
· Ask your child to explain what he or she is studying. These conversations help you follow your child’s progress, and help your child to remember what he or she has learned.
· Help your child practice PARCC test questions, and review the tests together so you will all become familiar with the expectations. Have them show you what the tests look like and try to answer the questions with him or her.
Here is also a link to a Parent Resource Site from Pearson with many helpful resources.
Here is also a link to a Parent Resource Site from Pearson with many helpful resources.
Test Practice Tests are on-line at PARCC Practice Tests where our students have visited with their teachers, but you can go there with them as well.
Our teachers have been utilizing this all year, and more and more each day as we get closer to get used to the styles of questions as well as to be more familiar with the material. We are getting there; each and every day we are getting closer to doing better as a school.
The PARCC is important. Yes, it is, but we all know that we each have a part to play in the success of each child. At NMS, we all believe each and every student can be successful at the PARCC or any standardized test and, for that matter, every other subject in school as well. We are all going to work together as diligently as we can to make sure all of our students do succeed. If we all keep this in mind and work together, there is no way we won’t succeed. So, let it be the season of PARCC for it will be just another season of success for all of us at NMS.
