CRCT

CRCT Online Practice

Students can practice for the CRCT tests on a web site provided by the Georgia Department of Education. The student usernames and passwords were sent home in January. Contact your student's homeroom teacher if you need that information sent home again. The practice will allow students to become more familiar with the format of the test so that they will be able to perform to their best ability in April! 
http://www.georgiaoas.org

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Purpose of CRCT

It’s that time of year again!  We are beginning to plan for the Georgia Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT).  This is a required test for all first through eighth grade students. The purpose of the test is to determine if students have mastered the Georgia curriculum.   

The results of the test are used in several ways.  First, they tell us what areas of the curriculum we  are covering well and where we need improvement.  As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we will use this information to develop our school improvement plan. Second, the CRCT results are used to determine if Mount Bethel has made Adequate Yearly Progress as required by federal No Child Left Behind legislation. Finally, state law requires that students in 3^rd grade pass reading and students in 5^th grade pass both reading and math to go on to the next grade.  We look forward to sharing the results with our community as soon as we receive them!

CRCT Testing - Spring 2007

We will be testing between April 16th and 25th.  Testing will begin for all grade levels promptly at 8:00 am.  It is extremely important that students be in their classrooms on time to be settled and ready for the 8:00 start time! Please read the posts below with some advice on how to best prepare your child for the testing.

What Parents Can Do

There are several things you can do to help prepare your child for the CRCT.  Please make sure that your student arrives to school on time on testing days.  The test will begin promptly at 8:00 each morning.  Students who arrive after testing has begun will not be admitted to class as the testing session cannot be interrupted.   Students who are late or absent during testing will be given a make up the test by a staff member.  However, children usually test best in a familiar environment, so it’s important for them to take the test in their classroom with their teacher.  Also, make sure your child has a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast before each testing day.  When you talk to your children about the importance of the test, try to encourage them to their best without creating too much anxiety.  A relaxed, confident child will perform better than one who is anxious.  Other suggestions for preparing you child for the CRCT are listed below.

PARENT TEST-SUPPORT STRATEGIES 

Preparing for Testing

·         Note test dates on your home calendar; schedule appointments on non-testing days.

·         Encourage your child to take responsibility for homework and class study.

·         Help you child learn how to find information independently.

·         Praise your child for work done well.

·         Encourage your child to ask questions at home and in class.

·         Get to know your child's teachers.

·         Attend parent-teacher conferences.

·         Confer with teachers on a regular basis for progress reports.

·         Gather available test preparation materials.

·         Assure your child knows that you value a good education.

Testing Day

·         See that your child is rested and eats breakfast.

·         See that your child arrives at school on time and is relaxed.

·         Encourage your child to do the best work possible.

·         Do not send your child to school if illness is apparent.

·         Do not remove your child from school on test days for appointments.

After Testing

·         Examine all test reports sent home.

·         Determine areas of strengths and weaknesses.

·         Praise your child's testing strengths and make a plan to address identified weaknesses.

·         See your child's principal, counselor or teacher if additional information is required.

Parent Strategies for Reducing Test Anxiety

·         Discuss the test openly and in a positive way.

·         Have realistic expectations of your child's performance while encouraging his/her best efforts.

·         Emphasize that the test is only one measure of academic performance.

·         Emphasize that test scores do not determine a person's worth.

      From Ms. Hayman's blog:  http://mtbethel.blogs.com/hayman