Student-Parent–Teacher Confere nces
Thursday – April 18
On Thursday, 18th April (1:00 pm – 8:00 pm) we will be hosting Student-Parent–Teacher (Three-
Date: 18th April
Time: Thursday (1:00 – 8:00)
Location: Gymnasium
Half Day Schedule for Thursday 18 April.
It will not be possible to turn up on the night and see teachers without making an appointment – please use the booking system provided HERE. If required, here is the code: rr5q9
This means you will have the opportunity to visit all of your student’s teachers.
Sincerely
Head of Secondary
Social and Emotional Counsellor Interviews
Parents’ Guide to MAP Tests
What is the NWEA MAP test? The MAP Test is a standardized test given to over 8 million students in 140 different countries. It measures a student’s knowledge and understanding of core skills and concepts in math and reading.
Why did ISB choose the MAP Test? The MAP Test was chosen for several reasons. The first is that the test is personalized for every student. As a student answers questions correctly, the questions get more difficult. As a student answers questions incorrectly, the questions get a little easier. The second reason is that it is used by many international schools and results can be compared with other schools. Finally, the results are available immediately for schools, students, and parents. Schools can use the scores to adjust their curriculum and teaching. Students and parents can use the scores to work on areas of growth.
How is achievement measured? A RIT score appears at the end of the test. This score represents where your child is at that particular time on that particular test – it’s like a snapshot. By itself, one score does not mean anything. However, when the scores are compared over time, they can tell a more complete story of a student’s progress. A good analogy is a photo album. Each picture represents one moment in time but looking back you can see how someone has grown over time. See the table at the end of this document.
How often will my child take the MAP test? ISB MYP students will take the test two times a year, in the fall and spring.
How can I help my child? Getting a good night’s sleep and having a good breakfast will help your child. While most students complete the test in less than an hour, some students will take more time, which can be tiring and stressful. It is important to help your child recognize that one test cannot tell the full story of his/her achievement. Students might have an off day and score lower or a particular skill has not yet been taught that year. It’s the pattern that matters, not the individual score.
What information will I receive from my child’s school?
For a complete list of FAQ’s for parents of students taking the MAP test, click here. You can also read more about MAP at NWEA blog or NWEA website.
Works Cited
Fleming, Jena. “Answers to Parents’ Top 6 Questions on the #MAPtest.” Teach. Learn. Grow., 23 Nov. 2016, www.nwea.org/blog/2016/answers-to-the-top-6-questions-parents-ask-about-the-map-test/.
“NWEA: Fair, Accurate Results Thanks to a Best-in-Class Scale.” Teach. Learn. Grow., www.nwea.org/normative-data-rit-scores/.
MAP Practice for Students
On Monday, April 15 and Tuesday, April 16 we will conduct our Spring MAP Testing for grade 6-9. There are a couple of things students can choose to do in preparation. This takes about 5 minutes:
1. Go to https://test.mapnwea.org
2. If you get a message saying “Oops! Where’s my test window?” Then you need to disable the pop-up blocker in your browser. There are instructions to do that in Chrome at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
If you do not get the “Oops!” message, move to Step 3.
3. Try the Practice Test.
– Login: grow
– Password: grow
– Choose any test for your grade.
Look for and try the new features in the toolbar at the top: Zoom, Line Reader, Notepad and Answer Eliminator.
You are now prepared for the testing session!
The MAP testing schedule for next week in the Secondary School is HERE.
PSAT Testing for Grade 10
For the first time at BIFS, students in Grade 10 will be attempting the PSAT tests this year in place of the MAP tests. We are treating the test period in a similar fashion to the MAP tests. They are a general test of both mathematical ability and reading and writing ability. Neither MAP tests or the PSAT’s have involved any specific preparation. We have emphasised to all students in Grade 10 that this is nothing they should be concerned about and to simply give it their ‘best shot’ next week. I have linked the PSAT website below, should any parents wish to read up on the finer details of the tests – HERE
Service @ ISB
Ms Donahue, Ms Pascual and Ms Montague gave a wonderful presentation to the PTA on Wednesday of this week on what ‘Service’ is at ISB. Please see their presentation link HERE.