APRIL

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Time to Test Prep for CAASPP!

Hello everyone.  This Digital Cafe is going to focus on CAASPP testing.  It's been quite a while since any of us have done it so hopefully these resources will help. This will also be helpful for those who have never administered the test.


The two most important things you can do right now to prepare are:

  • Make sure you are able to log in to CAASPP and have signed the affidavit
  • Go through a Practice or Training Test with your students USING THEIR SSIDs
    • Practice tests are grade specific and are about 25 questions long
    • Training Tests are for grade bands (3-5, 6-8, High School) and are only about 7-8 questions long
These two steps will make testing days go much smoother.  

Having the students use their SSIDs to practice allows the Test Administrator to make sure any accommodations or supports are in place for those who need them, and it verifies that the students' SSID numbers are working properly. 
(Check for proper accommodations by clicking the eyeball icon in the test administrator interface during a practice test - If the students does not have the proper accommodations, please notify your admin ASAP before real testing begins)

VUSD Version of conducting a Practice or Training Test below




Teacher Resources:

VUSD CAASPP Help Site:  Tutorial videos and printed directions

VUSD Training Slide deck:  Procedures and rules about testing

Tutorial Videos on how to use Accommodations:  See how students will utilize specific accommodations

Slide Deck Directions (courtesy of Jorndan Kieschnick WCW)


Video and Quick Reference Guides: Great resource for administering the Summative, Practice, and Interim tests. 

Student Resources:


How to launch the Secure Browser:  The secure browser is to be used by students for the Summative and Interim Tests ONLY.  Teachers NEVER  need to use the Secure Browser


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And now for something non-CAASPP related...

Naviance College Search Activity

Hello High School Educators,


This information is particularly pertinent to those of you with students who are Juniors. It is that time of year when students who are considering college or a technical institute should be starting their exploration of options. Luckily in our district, we have some very powerful research tools available through Naviance, our online career and college planning tool. I would encourage you all to get your students on the platform and using the two powerful college search tools - SuperMatch College Search and Advanced College Search.


I have even created activity handouts centered around using these two search tools. They were created as a two-day activity but could be completed in one long class period. There is a pre-activity worksheet, the actual activity worksheet, and a supplemental list of college resources that can be found in Naviance. The document sharing is set to be opened by anyone logged in with their district account. You can either print them or make your own copies of them for distribution through Google Classroom.


I have also included Naviance login instruction links. Students can login through Google or Clever, and staff can login directly or through Google. FYI each staff member can login to a demo account in order to see the Naviance platform as a student. If you are unsure if you have a staff account, please contact me at aarons@vacavilleusd.org. 


Student Google login instruction video: http://bit.ly/2G561Xt 


Staff Google login instruction video: https://bit.ly/2OINJDD 


Pre activity handout: http://bit.ly/2CL18BO 


College search activity handout: http://bit.ly/2HYMOde 


College resources list: http://bit.ly/2TTpIWN 


Regards,


Aaron Kelly Stephens

VUSD Digital Education Coordinator

aarons@vacvilleusd.org 




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