Today was MCAS for Trottier. MCAS is the state-wide test for
public schools that monitors each student’s progress up until 10th
grade. A student must pass the 10th grade MCAS in order to receive a
Certificate of Graduation, rather than just a Certificate of Attendance. The
eighth graders took the math (No Calculator) section today, so I did not attend
during testing session because I would not be able to do anything when the
whole student body is taking a state administered test in complete silence.
However, the day before, the Algebra I students were told
that they were expected to get within the Proficient to Advanced range, while
the Pre-Algebra eighth graders were told to take the test seriously, and to use
not only the concepts they learned throughout the whole year, but also some
test taking strategies for multiple choice questions. For example, they can
still possibly get a question right by using the “Plug n’ Chug” method. I think
high school students may overlook a strategy so simple and try to figure out
the actual concept of solving a problem.
One other special problem on MCAS are the math Open Response
Questions. The “Plus n’ Chug” method can’t be used for these types of
questions. Graded anonymously on a scale of 1-4, students are required to show
all work for the problem, because, as Mr. Griffin put it, “I know my classes
well enough to figure out their mistakes and why they tried to do them. However,
the people grading the MCAS don’t know which student they are grading so just
writing down the right equation to use for a problem can be the difference
between a 1 and a 3.”
Sorry this blog post isn’t very interesting…MCAS is not the
most exciting thing.
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