TCAP TESTING

It's almost here.  In just a few days, thousands of Williamson County students in grades two through eight will begin the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program Achievement Test.  The TCAP testing window for Williamson County Schools runs from April 14-18.  The test is a timed, multiple choice assessment that measures skills in reading, language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.   

There are some things students can begin doing now to prepare themselves for the tests:

• Maintain good study habits: do your class work.

• Review homework and materials which pertain to test topics.

• Make a study schedule and follow it.

• Practice resources and sample questions are available at  www.internet4classrooms.com.

• See teachers for additional help.

Williamson County Schools Health/Wellness Coordinator Ken Brooks offers the following additional tips:

Common phrases include “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” and “if you are going to skip a meal don’t skip breakfast.”  The research backs this up in terms of academic learning and testing.  The findings include:

• Children who eat breakfast show improved cognitive function, attention, and memory.

• Children perform better on tests of vocabulary and matching figures after eating breakfast.

• Consuming breakfast improves children’s performance on demanding mental tasks.

• Children who eat breakfast closer to test-taking time perform better on standardized tests than those who skip breakfast. 

• Children who eat a complete breakfast, versus a partial one, make fewer mistakes and work faster in math and number checking tests.

Healthy breakfast foods are those that are high in protein, high in fiber/whole grains, low in sugar and low in fat.  This type of breakfast will provide a consistent energy release until lunch time.  The combination of complex carbohydrates, protein and a small amount of fat will delay the hunger symptoms.  Avoid those high in salt and sugar, since these can create problems for the test taker.

Good breakfast choices are eggs, including hard-boiled, whole grain breads for toast, whole grain bagels, cereals high in fiber, high fiber granolas, fresh fruit, 100 percent juice with no added sugars, yogurt, and hot cereals such as oatmeal.   

For the non-conventional breakfast eater choices include peanut butter, crackers, low-fat cottage or natural cheeses, vegetable pizza, lean meats and smoothies made with fruit, low-fat yogurt and a spoonful of wheat germ.