2 Texas Middle School Fluency Assessment: Administering and Interpreting Results
This binder details how to score and interpret the results of the Texas Middle School Fluency Assessment (TMSFA). This course is Unit 4 of the Texas Adolescent Literacy Academy (TALA). These materials are available for view only; no credit or certificate is provided.
Texas Courses Update
Professional development courses for CPE credit are transitioning to a new course platform—TEALearn; professional development courses are no longer available through the Texas Gateway. As part of this process, TEA has reviewed courses that were previously offered through the Gateway. This resource provides an update on current status and availability of Classic Gateway courses.
New Resource Link to Test
Here's the new resource link to test. Let's hope this is a go!
Texas Middle School Fluency Assessment (TMSFA)
Texas Education Code (TEC) §28.006(c-1) requires that students who do not meet the passing standard on the Grade 6 State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) reading test must be administered a reading assessment at the beginning of grade 7. The Texas Middle School Fluency Assessment (TMSFA) was developed with Texas students to be a valid and reliable instrument for determining students’ areas of instructional need.
The TMSFA is based on valid and reliable scientific research, thoroughly measures each domain of development, and is user-friendly. The following three domains of development are assessed using the TMSFA.
- Text Comprehension (Reading)
- Word Analysis
- Fluency
Module 2: Developing Function Foundations
.
Module 3: Investigating Growth and Decay
.
Algebra I - Module 1, Topic 2: Sequences
In this topic, students explore sequences represented as lists of numbers, in tables of values, by equations, and as graphs on the coordinate plane. Students move from an intuitive understanding of patterns to a more formal approach of representing sequences as functions. In the final lesson of the topic, students are introduced to the modeling process. Defined in four steps—Notice and Wonder, Organize and Mathematize, Predict and Analyze, and Test and Interpret—the modeling process gives students a structure for approaching real-world mathematical problems.
Algebra I - Module 1, Topic 3: Linear Regressions
In this topic, students focus on the patterns that are evident in certain data sets and use linear functions to model those patterns. Using the informal knowledge of lines of best fit that was built in previous grades, students advance their statistical methods to make predictions about real-world phenomena. They differentiate between correlation and causation, recognizing that a correlation between two quantities does not necessarily mean that there is also a causal relationship. At the end of this topic, students will synthesize what they have learned to decide whether a linear model is appropriate.
Using Theoretical and Experimental Probability to Make Predictions
Given an event to simulate, the student will use theoretical probabilities and experimental results to make predictions and decisions.
Types of Science Investigations
Students will distinguish between descriptive, comparative, and experimental investigations.
Experimental Design
Given investigation scenarios and lab procedures, students will identify independent variables, dependent variables, constants, and control groups.
Developing the Concept of Slope
Given multiple representations of linear functions, the student will develop the concept of slope as a rate of change.
Using Multiplication by a Constant Factor
Given problems involving proportional relationships, the student will use multiplication by a constant factor to solve the problems.