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MATH-U |
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The Mississippi Math Assessment Tool of Benchmark Understanding (MATH-U) is a mathematics assessment that is developmentally appropriate to administer individually to students in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. This observational and informal assessment is made up of child-centered, teacher-driven activities, and it is suggested that teachers administer the assessment as a pre-test/post-test. Given as a pre-test, it is used to provide critical decision-making information for the teacher and to prescribe interventions for students prior to the end-of-grade Mississippi Curriculum Test (MCT) in the second grade. Given as a post-test, it is used to monitor the effectiveness of instruction. The Mississippi Department of Education provides MATH-U to all public school districts. The assessment is not a standardized, large group assessment and is not linked to the district or school level accreditation.
The Mississippi Math Assessment Tool of Benchmark Understanding assesses the five strands of mathematics from the Mississippi Mathematics Intervention Supplement. Each of the five content strands (Patterns/Algebraic Thinking, Data Analysis/Prediction, Measurement, Geometric Concepts, and Number Sense) is presented in separate flip-charts that are colorful and inviting to young students. Manipulatives are used throughout the test, providing a hands-on assessment that simulates the kind of hands-on instruction so vital to early instruction. To save time, MATH-U comes with a checklist the teacher completes as the assessment is being administered. Because the test is divided among five content strands, it may be administered in one to five sittings. This allows for the adaptability needed in assessing young students with varied attention spans. Schools and school districts have the flexibility to use this informal, diagnostic assessment to meet the needs of their students.
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Mississippi Department of Education Office of Student Assessment P.O. Box 771 |