Getting Pumped for the MSA

On Friday, we had our annual MSA Assembly to share data from the previous year and get the students pumped for doing their very best on the tests this year. We shared motivational videos (WLMS Rappers http://youtu.be/RcT_ovElwGw) and we held a competition between the girls and the boys to see which gender would reign supreme. The competition, a balloon blowing contest, served as a metaphor for taking the test. How, you might ask? Well...here are some of the answers our students came up with...

• There is a strategy to blowing-up a balloon...the same as taking a high stakes test.

• You have to get pumped-up to perform at your highest levels.

• The test is a competition.

• Every balloon counts...so does every answer.

• You have to be quiet during the competition...and when taking the test.

• You have to concentrate to do well. 

Congratulation to all of our girls. They beat the boys at each grade level. In particular, they were most successful in the 8th grade! Our boys really blew it this year. : (   While it was close, the girls proved to be better this year!


Here are some more pics from the assemblies:

The Maryland School Assessment is Coming!

Fueling Up for MSA!

Our staff is working very hard to prepare our students to be successful on the Maryland School Assessment (MSA) this month. Here are some of the ways we are helping our students prepare: math and reading teachers have been meeting with all students to share their 2011 scores, Ms. Kelley and Ms. Warner have created “MSA Gauges” to help students visualize their performance from last year on the MSA, students are setting goals for their MSA achievement this year, and during extended homeroom time we have provided specific test taking strategies for students to consider.

This coming week, we will conduct MSA assemblies for each grade level to encourage all students to try hard and to do their very best when taking the tests on March 13, 14, 20 and 21.

You might be asking, how can I help my child be ready to perform to the best of their ability? Well, here are some simple things that will have a huge impact. Please keep the testing dates in mind when scheduling appointments. We will begin to administer the tests promptly at 8:10 a.m. and they will continue until 11:00 a.m. each day. It would be extremely helpful if parents do everything they can to see that their child is in school on time on these days since it is very difficult for students to have to make up these tests during other class times. A good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast are the best ways to help ensure your child’s success on these exams. Also, it is important to take time to talk with your child and reinforce the importance of doing their very best on the MSA.

Your support and interest mean a lot.

More Motivational MSA Videos!

Love these! Great job! Thanks Geordie and Robert for sharing theses videos with me.

MSA Rap: World Premiere of the Book Lady and the WLMS Rapsters

We have been working hard this year...

I know our students are going to try their best!!!

Thanks to Vanilla Ice and the Boys Choir of Harlem for their inspiration.

MSA Math Night at WLMS!

This past Thursday night, we hosted our first Maryland School Assessment Mathematics Night. We concentrated on sharing the resources we have compiled for families to use to enhance math skills and to review concepts that are tested on the annual assessment.

Here is a link to the resources we shared: http://wlms.hcpss.org/MSAResources

I want to thank Ms. Carmean and our entire Math Team for organizing this event and for helping to compile the resources we shared. I especially want to thank Ms. Carmean for developing the MSA Math Calendars that were inspired by the benchmark calendars that my own children received from the elementary school they attend in Carroll County.

What does your school do to prepare for annual assessments? 

Does it work? How do you know?