Gaudior Academy, Help Your Child Test Their Best

Standardized Testing: IOWA & MEAP

Standardized testing can cause many worries for parents, teachers and students alike. In Michigan, standardized tests are used to measure proficiency and assess academic skill levels found in the general curriculum of each grade. In addition to using the test findings to evaluate your child's progress, Gaudior Academy also receives funding from the state based on testing results.

The most successful test-takers tend to be students with good attendance, homework, and study habits; therefore, your daily assistance with homework and attitude toward school have the biggest impact on your child's performance.

While the major burden of taking the test rests on the shoulders of your child, you as a parent share in the responsibilities of helping to prepare your student for their testing challenge. The following links offer tips and ideas on how to create a testing environment that allows your child to feel comfortable, prepared and successful.

3. Come to school prepared. Students who arrive on time, bring test-taking materials with them and understand the importance of doing their best, have a much more positive attitude about test-taking.

4. Avoid scheduling medical, dental, or other appointments on MEAP days. Research shows students do better when tested with their class than in a make-up session, and make-ups take your child away from regular class time.

Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) assesses students in grades 3-9 based on Michigan Curriculum Framework. The MEAP test is given throughout the State of Michigan at various grade levels. Developed by Michigan educators, the MEAP measures what students should know at their grade level. The MEAP is used to judge the performance of students at given intervals using the content standards prescribed by state educators.

These academic areas are representative of the general curriculum per grade level. The purpose of these tests is to provide information about student progress within that curriculum. These tests are a useful supplement to teacher observations as to what a student can do, and aid in the monitoring of year-to-year student development. Students in grades 3 and 4 take the Language Arts and Math MEAP tests, students in grades 5-8 take Language Arts, Math and Science MEAP.

Individual test score copies are sent home once the school has received classrooms totals. A score of 1 or 2 means that your child is proficient in that area. A score of 3 or 4 indicates that your child is not proficient and needs additional help in those areas.

The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (IOWA) is a comprehensive program used to assess academic skill levels in areas such as vocabulary, reading comprehension, word analysis, listening, language, mathematics, social studies, science and sources of information. These academic areas are representative of the general curriculum per grade level. The purpose of these batteries is to provide information about student progress within that curriculum. These tests are a useful supplement to teacher observations as to what a student can do, and aid in the monitoring of year-to-year student development.

The IOWA consists of leveled batteries that assess the extent to which a child is prepared to begin work in the academic aspects of the curriculum of each level. In the Level 5 and 6 Batteries (generally kindergarten and first grade) emphasis is placed on academic skills found in the early childhood curriculum. The Level 6 Battery offers additional optional reading tests for use with students whose literacy skills have begun to develop.

The batteries for Levels 7 and 8 assess a broader array of skills. Social studies, science, and sources of information tests are included, reflecting the expansion of the early elementary curriculum in grades 1 and 2. The structures of the language and mathematics tests also parallel a corresponding change in skill emphasis in these subject areas in grades 1 and 2.

Remember: The MEAP and the IOWA tests are NOT used to screen children for placement indication. Gaudior teachers use these tests in order to better assist your child in the classroom by indicating which areas your child may need additional support. Your child is not judged on the basis of a single test score. Our philosophy at Gaudior Academy is to educate the entire child and to teach to the multiple intelligences. We realize that test scores are not a perfect measure or indicator of what your child is capable of.