What is TCAP?

TCAP stands for Tennessee Comprehensive

Assessment Program

What is TCAP?

The 2014 assessment that measures student progress on specific skills compared to peers across the state

Used as 20% of final average for report card

Who takes TCAP?

All students in grades 3-8 will take TCAP

Across Tennessee in all public schools

When is TCAP?

TCAP will take place the week of April 28.

Students will complete 2 tests per day for 4 consecutive days

It is critical students are present and on time

Why do we give TCAP?

To measure students' skills and progress in Reading/Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science

Helps teachers know students’ strengths and weaknesses for the following school year

Things we need from your child!Be on time each dayGet plenty of sleep each nightEat a healthy breakfastHave confidenceTry their best

What we need from parents!Proctors (volunteers to help with test administration)

Healthy snacks and drinksEncouragement letters to your child

or the classSupport with homework, test

practice, and strategies

Proctors and Snacks

Please consider volunteering to help in a classroom

We would like to provide a snack and drink during the test break each day

A letter will come home soon

Encouragement Letters

Students need to hear from you that they can do succeed!

Please be on the look out for a letter about this secret surprise for the students

Homework after Spring BreakTCAP style practice homework

will be assigned each nightPlease REVIEW and discuss the

homework each eveningSign record sheet

Strategies for Homework HelpReading/Language Arts

Use a highlighter to prove evidence from the text

Ask students throughout reading about the characters, setting, plot, etc.

UNREAL strategies

Strategies for Homework HelpMathematics

Students will be allowed to use a calculator, half inch ruler, multiplication table

Show their thinking/work Discuss why it makes sense (Is my

answer reasonable?)

Strategies for Homework HelpScience/Social Studies

Read carefully Eliminate obvious wrong choices Look for clue words (not, all except,

would be, etc.) Understand key vocabulary words (i.e.

consumers/producers, government services, etc.)

Sample Reading Question

Which sentence from the passage best states the main idea?

F Despite their similarities, horns and antlers are quite different.

G Horns are permanent parts of an animal’s head.

H Some animals may use their horns to dig holes and to scratch their skin.

J Unlike horns, antlers are often branched.

Sample Writing Question

Sample Language Question

Sample Math Question

Sample Science Question

Sample Social Studies Question

Links for More InformationPractice Questions

http://www.tn.gov/education/assessment/ach_samplers.shtml

Proficiency Scores http://www.tn.gov/education/assessm

ent/doc/Spring2013CutsforTCAPAch-ELSA.pdf

During the test Students must stay seated Only EMERGENCY trips to the restroom Cannot work on other activities while

waiting on others to finish A break will be taken between the tests

each day May not ask the teacher or proctor any

questions

What happens after TCAP?

Math Constructed Response Assessment in May Covers Common Core State Standards

for Mathematics

“Moving Up” to 4th grade mid May