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
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Module 3: Investigating Growth and Decay
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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.
Cell Homeostasis: Osmosis
The focus of this resource is cell homeostasis and, more specifically, osmosis. Students investigate the concept through a virtual lab, recording and analyzing data, creating sketches to represent vocabulary, and discovering the role of aquaporins in water transport through the cell membrane.
What’s Trending with the Elements?
This resource, aligned with Chemistry TEKS (5)(C), provides alternative or additional tier-one learning options for students using the periodic table to identify and explain trends.
Drawing Conclusions about Three-Dimensional Figures from Nets
Given a net for a three-dimensional figure, the student will make conjectures and draw conclusions about the three-dimensional figure formed by the given net.
Converting Between Measurement Systems
Given a real-world situation with measurements in either metric/SI or customary units, the student will solve a problem requiring them to convert from one system to the other.
Interactive Math Glossary
Protein Synthesis
The learner explores the structure and function of the nucleic acids and enzymes important to the process of synthesizing proteins.