Welcome to MSP Information Night 2013
(Measurements of Student Progress)
1

Purpose of the MSP
 State: Measures student learning of skills
and knowledge important to our children’s
success in school and life.
 Educators: Improve teaching and to do a
better job of meeting every student’s
academic needs.
 The MSP ensures that students all across
our state are receiving a consistent
education that will prepare them for the
21st century while at the same time
checking to make sure that their learning
is on track to meet the standards set by
the legislature.

Math
 30 problems
 One day
 4 Short Answer questions - 2 points
 6 Completion questions - 1 point
 20 Multiple Choice Questions-1 point
 Prove every answer and prove the
other choices are wrong if there is
extra time
 5 pilot items (not scored)

Math Performance Expectations
 Students are expected to know how to:
 Accurately multiply up to a three digit
number by one- and two-digit numbers
using the standard multiplication
algorithm
 Recognize decimals through hundredths
with place value models, fraction
equivalents, and the number line
 Convert a mixed numbers and decimals
to a fraction and vice versa and visually
represent the number

How Parents Can Help
 Math Homework- Review with child
and discuss next steps
 Math Facts- memorize +, -, x, and
division facts
 Computation-practice 2 digit x 2-3
digits, subtraction with regrouping,
division with a one digit divisor
 Mathematical Reasoning- identifying
important data, determining plan
and strategy, calculating, checking
that answer makes sense

Possible questions to ask your child
 What’s your answer?
 How did you get that?
 Why did you do that?
 What gave you that idea?
 How do you know you’re right?
 What is it you are being asked to do?
 What is the learning involved here?
 What do you already know that could help
you?
 What strategy is appropriate?
 Did you show/explain your thinking?
 Did you check/verify that you answered
the question?

Test Taking Tips
 Use specific information not general statements
 Check the accuracy
 Use specific math language
 We can only add or subtract like units

Reading
 30 problems
 26 multiple choice
 4 short answer
 6 pilot items (not scored)
 One day
 Always refer to the text. “I know this
because in the text it says…”
 Students should know how to:
 find main ideas and supporting details,
 summaries,
 make inferences (draw conclusions),
 compare and contrast different
selections.

How Parents Can Help
 Read with your child, have them
summarize key events, identify the
problem, solution, characters, and setting.
 Read nonfiction- read and interpret tables
and charts, identify text features and
recognize how they help you as a reader
 Emphasize the importance of rereading
and following directions step by step
* Support all thinking with
examples/quotes from the text.

Writing – Narrative and
Expository (2 days)
•Narrative: Tells a story, which includes
details to describe events, characters and
setting, has a beginning, middle and end,
uses carefully chosen words, transitions and
has sentence fluency.
•Expository: Writing to explain or inform.
Focused on a main idea with specific and
elaborate details. Writing includes examples
and/or reasons to support ideas, has an
opening, middle, and end with transitions,
uses carefully chosen and specific words,
and has sentence fluency.

 All writing for each prompt is completed in
ONE day.
 Students need to independently
brainstorm, create a plan, write a draft,
revise, edit, and write in final all in the
same day.
 Both pieces scored on Content,
Organization & Style (COS) and
Conventions (CON)
 Students should know how to use:
 Checklists
 Pre-writing strategies Link DEARFS
 Indicate paragraphs (even with dialogue)
 Transition words- first, then, next
 Effective word choice
 Satisfying ending

How Parents Can Help
 Help your child revise and edit
writing – emphasis on making sense
and engaging the reader
 Insist on best use of conventions in
ALL subject areas
 Practice using a dictionary and
thesaurus as resources to
strengthen their own writing
 Continue to read quality literature
together and discuss the good
writing you notice

Final Thoughts
 The MSP has no testing time limits, so
students can take their time to do their
best. However, all tests must be finished
before the end of the school day.
 There will be some scheduling changes
during testing
 Testing Window April 24th – May 16th
 More information to come
 OSPI (Office of the Superintendent of
Public Instruction) Testing Information
Website
http://www.k12.wa.us/Assessment/StateTesting/default.aspx
***MOST IMPORTANT: Please make sure your child is in school
everyday. They need to be here in order to learn the skills needed for
testing.