MEAP

Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) assesses students in grade three to nine based on the Michigan Curriculum Framework. The MEAP is mandated by the state, and is the state's primary "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB) yardstick. Therefore, schools have no choice but to follow the states' directions, take four days away from regularly scheduled classes, sharpen their No. 2 pencils, and administer the test.

Mt. Hope is no different than any other elementary school in Michigan. Over the past four weeks, my mentor teacher, Mrs. R, and I have spent hours reviewing information that will prepare our students for success. We have spent time reviewing important concepts in both Literacy and Mathematics. Literacy has taken up a large amount of our time.

Mrs. R and I have been using the resource "Jumpstart", a practice test booklet for grades 3-5. "Fast-paced, step-by-step instruction and MEAP English Language Arts practice gets students test-ready in the crucial window of time between the start of school and the October exams. The authentic Practice Tests in each back-to-school Focus on MEAP Jumpstart Test Booklet cover prior-year standards - in sync with Michigan's own exam schedule."

Through explicit, step-by-step instruction, we have been working with our class on reading comprehension, reading strategies, the writing process, and test taking strategies. We have been utilizing read alouds and independent reading time as instructional periods to guide our students through the process of identifying main ideas, story structures, sequencing, and cross-text analysis. The Jumpstart booklets have numerous sections of multiple-choice questions for students to work through and grow accustom to. And that seems to be ONE of our goals: to give our class the opportunity to familiarize themselves with this test. Therefore, minimizing the anxiety and stress that formal test-taking can have on elementary age children. Our SECOND goal: to give our students the tools necessary to be successful on the MEAP. It is very important for our students to do better this year on the MEAP than they did last year, in order to successfully meet AYP...that's reality.

MEAP SCHEDULE: 

MEAP test taking begins...Tuesday, October 12th! 

Tuesday, Oct. 12th: Reading Day 1
Wednesday, Oct. 13th: Reading Day 2
Thursday, Oct. 14th: Writing Day 1
Friday, Oct. 15th: Reading and Writing Make-Up Day

Monday, Oct. 18th: Reading and Writing Make-Up Day
Tuesday, Oct. 19th: Mathematics Day 1
Wednesday, Oct. 20th: Writing Day 2
Thursday, Oct. 21st: Any Subject Make-Up Day