Get Ready for the ELA and Math Tests!

What are the English Language Arts (ELA) and Math tests?

The English Language Arts (ELA) and Math tests are two of the most important exams your child will take all year. All New York kids in grades three to eight take the ELA in January. In March, all children will take the similar Math test. The tests measure if students have met the learning goals for their grade.

Why are the tests important?

The tests help decide if a student is ready to pass to the next grade. Poor results on the ELA and Math tests can mean a student must repeat the same grade.

ELA TEST DATES:

Grade 3-5: January 12th to 16th
Grade 6: January 21st to 23rd
Grades 7-8: January 21st to 22nd

MATH TEST DATES:

Grade 3: March 3-4th
Grade 4: March 3-5^th
Grade 5: March 3-4^th
Grades 6-8: March 10-11th

HOW TO GET YOUR ELA AND MATH TEST REWARDS!

Families with children in public school in grades three through eight automatically receive Rewards if a child scores a level 3 or 4 or improves an ELA or Math test score by one level over the previous year.

 GRADES 3-5: Families earn $300 per ELA and Math test. If the child passes both tests, families will receive $600.

 GRADES 6-8: Families earn $350 per ELA and Math test. If the child passes both tests, families will receive $700.

 What to send in:

 -If your child goes to public school: NOTHING! We can get your child’s scores directly from the Department of Education. You do not need to send in a coupon.

-If your child goes to a private, charter, or parochial school:

-Special Coupon. Click here for a copy of the Special Coupon. If your child goes to a private, parochial, or charter school, you must fill out the Special Coupon form to get the ELA and Math Rewards.

IMPORTANT REMINDER:
Rewards may take several months to be delivered due to possible delays at the Department of Education. 

Get Involved and Get Ready! 

Since the ELA and Math tests measure what your child learns in school, one of the best ways for your child to prepare is by attending school every day and paying attention in class. At home, help your child with homework every day and do the activities below to guarantee ELA and Math success.

-Take sample tests. Download sample tests from the New York State Department of Education web site and go through them with your child. The more familiar your child is with how the test works, the better he/she will do.

-Talk with your child’s teachers now to see if your child is having a hard time with any particular subjects – especially English and math. Let them know that you care about how well your child does both in school and on the tests. Finding common ground and having a positive attitude when talking with your child’s teachers make a big difference in helping your child.

-Test prep books and study guides will help your child become comfortable with all the subjects and skills being tested in the ELA and Math tests. Test prep books explain exactly how the test works and provide worksheets, sample questions, and tips to build skills. Ask your child’s teacher or a librarian for suggestions on the right books for your child. 

-Read with your child. Children of all ages—from the very young to high schoolers—benefit from reading with their parents. With younger children, you can read aloud and ask them to follow along. With older children, you can ask them to read aloud to you. You and your child can also read the same book on your own and then discuss it together. Reading regularly makes a big difference in building language skills. 

Helpful Links for ELA and Math Success 

Math Links

SAMPLE MATH TESTS
2008>>
2007>>
2006>> 

Taking sample tests is an excellent way to prepare for the ELA and Math tests. Here you’ll find recent ELA and Math tests that you can download and go over with your child.  

Math and Reading Help for Kids>>

List of links to articles that deal with just about everything related to studying math, but that don’t go in depth about specific math concepts. Find resources about math anxiety, homework-help tips, at-home math activities, and more from the American Library Association.

What Math Skills Your Child Needs to Learn in Each Grade>>
Learn about which math concepts are usually taught in each grade.

10 Ways to Help Your Kids Do Well in Math>>
Great tips on how you can help your child master math concepts from the Family Education Network.

Cool Math 4 Kids>>
This site is an “amusement park of math for kids.” It’s full of games, puzzles, and other activities that kids can do on their own. It also has worksheets and tutorials that kids and parents can do together.

Math.com: Help Your Kids>>
You’ll find step-by-step tutorials of math concepts in pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry geared toward parents who have forgotten the math they learned in school, but want to help their kids with homework. Also included are online calculators, converters, and equation solvers.

Cyberchase Math Games>>
Cyberchase is a site for kids based on the animated educational show on PBS that teaches kids math concepts. Geared toward 8- to 12-year-olds, the site offers lots of games as well as downloadable activities parents can do with their kids.

Test Prep and Education Resources

QUICK TEST PREPARATION TIPS>>

Fast, practical hints on how you can help your child develop good study habits and prepare for important tests. For example, make sure your child eats a good breakfast on test day.  

USING YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY>>

Go to the library to find ELA and Math test prep books and study guides for free. At this site, you’ll find information on how to find the library closest to you, how to look for books using the card catalog, and learn about the other activities--such as story hours and workshops--offered by libraries.  

MAKING SENSE OF YOUR CHILD'S TEST SCORES>> 

 For a helpful worksheet on how to understand your child's ELA and Math test scores, scroll down to "NYSTP English Language Arts 2008" and select English (or whichever language is most comfortable for you). There is also a worksheet for understanding Math test scores.

TALKING WITH YOUR CHILD'S TEACHERS>>

Get the most out of conversations with your child's teachers! Learn about helpful approaches to use when talking about your child's education. For example, show teachers you want to work with them by saying "How can we fix this problem?" instead of "You need to fix this problem." 

20 WAYS YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILDREN SUCCEED IN SCHOOL >>

SPANISH: Link>> 

Find excellent help on:

 

 - making your home a good place for learning and studying

- finding extra services, such as tutoring, if your child is struggling in school

- knowing your rights as a parent of a public school student

- learning about the most important people at your child's school

 

TALKING TO TEACHERS WHEN YOU SPEAK SPANISH>> 

SPANISH: Link>> 

Learn what to expect when you speak with your child's teacher about his/her education. Find answers to questions such as "What if I don't speak Spanish?" and "Is it rude to ask my child's teacher questions?"

ELA Links

SAMPLE ELA TESTS

2008>>  

2007>> 

2006>> 

FUN READING ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR CHILD>>

  SPANISH: Link>> 

How can you use a recipe, junk mail, an empty jar, or even your child's own name to build language skills at home? Learn how at this site. You'll find free, fun reading activities that you can do with your child to build language skills. There are sections for grades 3-5 and grades 6-8.

WHAT ENGLISH SKILLS YOUR CHILD NEEDS TO LEARN IN EACH GRADE>>

Are you wondering exactly what the ELA test covers? Click here to find out the skills--such as being able to find facts in a newspaper article--that students must demonstrate to pass the ELA test. There are sections for grades 3-4, grades 5-6, and grades 7-8 along with activities you can do together.