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
Language Arts Resources
LAR utilizes many techniques to help students learn the content. This is done by breaking the concepts down into smaller/targeted concepts, utilizing color coding, charts, mnemonics, graphics, audio clips, easy-to-grasp written and/or auditory explanations that students can internalize with ease; font size for emphasis; practice quizzes for students to self-check for understanding; level quizzes that progress from surface knowledge --> to connecting several concepts --> to applying the content to practical examples.
These learning techniques are especially beneficial for students who are English Language Learners (ELL), Limited English Proficient (LEP), English As Second Language (ESL), Special Education (SPED), and/or Sect. 504 students.
Visit the Language Arts Resources site to access student lessons, quizzes, and more!
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.
Matter and Energy—Chemical Reactions
Given descriptions or illustrations, students will investigate how evidence of chemical reactions indicates that new substances with different properties are formed.
Predicting, Finding, and Justifying Data from Verbal Descriptions
Given data in a verbal description, the student will use equations and tables to solve and interpret solutions to problems.
Defining Similarity
Given similar figures, the student will use critical attributes to define similarity.
Exploring Probability with Independent Events
Given a problem situation, students will use experimental data or theoretical probability to make predictions and determine solutions to situations involving independent events.
Making Inferences and Convincing Arguments about Samples and Populations
Given problem situations that include given or collected data, the student will analyze the data and make inferences and convincing arguments based on the data.
Selecting and Using Appropriate Operations to Solve Problems
Given problem situations involving rational numbers, the student will select and use appropriate methods to solve the problems.
Estimating and Finding Solutions to Problems Involving Similarity and Rates
Given application problems involving similarity and rates, the student will estimate and determine the solutions to the problems.
Generating Similar Figures Using Dilations
Given a figure, the student will identify the scale factor used for a dilation, and use a dilation by a scale factor, including enlargements and reductions, to generate similar figures.
Using Geometric Concepts and Properties to Solve Problems
Given pictorial representations, the student will use geometric concepts and properties to solve problems from art and architecture.
Using Proportional Relations to Find Missing Measurements of Two-Dimensional Figures
Given pictorial representations and problem situations of 2-dimensional figures or 3-dimensional figures, the student will use proportional reasoning to find a missing measurement.
Using Rational Numbers to Solve Problems
Given a problem situation in verbal form, students will select and use an operation involving rational numbers in order to solve the problem.
Selecting and Using Appropriate Forms of Rational Numbers
Given real-life problems, the student will select an appropriate method and solve problems involving proportional relationships.
Exploring Probability with Dependent Events
The student will investigate and develop the concept of dependent probability, including formalizing procedures related to dependent probability and applications of dependent probability.
Finding Lateral and Total Surface Area
Given concrete models and nets (2-dimensional models) of prisms, pyramids, and cylinders, the student will find and determine the lateral and total surface area.
Matter and Energy—Food Chains, Food Webs, and Energy Pyramids
Given scenarios and descriptions, students will be able to diagram the flow of energy through living systems, including food chains, food webs, and energy pyramids.
Human Activity in Watersheds
Given scenarios, descriptions, maps and illustrations, students will be able to model the effects of human activity on groundwater and surface water in a watershed.
Human Systems
Given descriptions or illustrations, students will be able to identify the main functions of the systems of the human organism.