Jenkins is invested in helping your child perform at his or her peak during this years CSAP test.  To support us as partners in your student's success, please make attendance a top priority and please try not to schedule appointments for your children during these days.

"Ready - Set - Go!" Preparing students for the Colorado State Assessment Program in Math, Reading and Writing is like training top Olympic runners for a variety of short, medium, and extended events.  Students must maintain focus, accuracy, and the ability to "see it through" as they complete numerous reading and writing & mathematical tasks over multiple days of examinations.

CSAP tests are developed directly from Colorado State Performance Standards; standards prescribe what students should know and be able to do at each level of their education.  Standards embody the essential competencies of critical readers, writers, & problem-solvers.  Additionally, in the CSAP testing situation, students must transfer their learning into an independent performance to achieve a proficiency rating in each area.  The CSAP test, then, provides a snapshot evaluation of students' performance ability at a particular point in time in an independent, extended testing format.

Preparing students for the rigors of CSAP testing continues year round as a natural part of the standards-based instructional process at Jenkins Middle School.  In reading, students must be prepared to attend to a variety of texts, both fiction and non-fiction, in shorter as well as extended lengths.  Students read and respond to questions after each of several passages without teacher or peer interaction; breaks are allowed only between (not during) testing sessions. 

In writing, students respond to short answer, sentence, paragraph, and extended (multi-paragraph) essays.  Students are evaluated on their ability to navigate the writing process independently, scoring points for organizing their thoughts, rough draft and final draft products.  Writing prompts include expository, narrative, descriptive, and persuasive writing as well as letter composition.

In math, students must work with manipulative and solve multi-step problems; they must be able to explain the rationale behind their answer, writing out the steps to their problem-solving process.  Calculators are not to be used on any portion of CSAP testing.

In preparing for CSAP, the Jenkins staff utilizes an effective combination of technique training (how to) and endurance training (building stamina and independence) in developing students' ability to achieve critical reading and writing processes at increasing levels of challenge.

High-stakes testing requires the development of competent critical thinkers: Readers, writers, and problem-solvers. Proficiency on the CSAP test indicates, more importantly than a score that our students are prepared to "Go for the Gold" in the many real-life tests that lie in their academic and professional futures.  The important work of educators at Jenkins Middle School involves preparing students to perform well on tests such as the CSAP, building their confidence and opening opportunities in their wonderfully bright futures.

Promote Health to Enhance Student Achievement

Physical and mental health plays important roles in academic achievement.  You can assist your child to succeed in school and on test days by the following suggestions.

Feed Them

Our brains need fuel to operate.  Breakfast is perhaps the most important meal of the day.  It gets your child off to a good start.  Students who eat a good breakfast have been shown to have increased attention spans and fewer behavioral difficulties.

Water Them

Recent research tells us that the brain requires hydration to function well.  A general rule of thumb is one cup of water per hour for optimal functioning.

Facilitate Sleep

Adolescents need a minimum of 8 hours of sleep per night.  Some researchers believe that 9 hours, 23 minutes is optimal for peak performance the next day.   Adequate sleep allows for longer periods of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, consolidation of previous learning, and deep refreshment, all of which make one mentally sharper.  You might also structure a minute or two of peaceful reflection time.  Such time stimulates creativity and helps students be more relaxed. 

Stress Management

Some stress is positive and propels higher achievement.  But stress can be overwhelming and debilitating.  Be sure your student knows a number of different stress management techniques.  Positive self-talk (?I know I can do this?), avoid being rushed, talking about hopes and fears, thinking about long term goals, exercise, and humor are a few healthy ways to relieve stress.  One of the very best ways to relieve stress is taking deep breaths.  It is important for optimal learning because the brain needs oxygen to think clearly.  Breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth increases oxygenation and clear-headedness.  A positive parental attitude also promotes a ?can do? student attitude.

Exercise

Physical activity has so many positive side effects: It releases endorphins and serotonin and other ?feel good? hormones in the brain; it calms and redirects nervous energy; it relieves muscle tension; it results in a state of related alertness.  Encourage your children to spend a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes a day in active physical exercise of some sort.  Aerobic is best.  Walking is fine.  Just keep them moving.

Adapted from Classroom Connections published by the National Middle School Association

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