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
Explain the Influence of the Setting on Plot Development in Literary Text/Fiction (English 7 Reading)
You will learn how the setting in a story can influence the development of the plot.
Analyze Point of View in Literary Texts/Fiction (English 7 Reading)
You will learn how to analyze different points of view, including first person, third-person omniscient, and third-person limited.
Understanding Drama (English 7 Reading)
You will learn how to explain a playwright’s use of dialogue and stage directions.
Understanding Poetry (English 7 Reading)
You will learn the importance of graphical elements (e.g., capital letters, line length, word position) in the meaning of a poem.
Imagery and Figurative Language (English 7 Reading)
You will be able to identify figurative language and understand how it creates imagery, appeals to the senses, and suggests mood.
Make Connections Between and Across Literary Texts (English 7 Reading)
You will learn how to make connections between and across texts, including other media (e.g., film, play), and provide textual evidence.
Unforgettable Elephants
In this video segment from Nature, witness the joy an elephant family experiences when a new baby elephant is born. This birth was a celebration within elephant society.
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 the Present Progressive Tense | No Nonsense Grammar
Present progressives describe an action in progress, or something that started in the past and is still happening. It is formed with the helping "to be" verb in the present tense and the present participle of the verb.
Edison: Boyhood and Teen Years
Find out how young Thomas Edison’s curiosity got him into trouble, and how, during his teen years, he lost his hearing but gained confidence as an aspiring inventor, in this video adapted from AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Edison.
Using the Correct Verb Tense | No Nonsense Grammar
Verb tense is used to show when an action occurs, whether it is in the past, the present, or the future.
4 OnTRACK English I Writing: Writing the Expository and Procedural Essay
OnTRACK English I Writing, Module 3, Lessons 1–4. Students write expository and procedural or work-related texts to communicate ideas and information to specific audiences for specific purposes
6 Section 2: Education Laws and Rules
This section provides an overview of general state and federal education laws and rules related to work-based learning (WBL).
5 Section 4: Local School Policies
This section discusses local school policies pertain to work-based learning (WBL), as well as how those policies are typically applied in Texas high schools.
5 Section 3: Texas Education Agency Rules Impacting Work-Based Learning
This section describes Texas Education Agency (TEA) rules related to work-based learning (WBL), with an emphasis on Section V of the Student Attendance Accounting Handbook (SAAH) and rules regarding career preparation and practicum courses. In addition, it provides a brief overview of career and technical education (CTE) funding and coding guidelines.
4 Section 7: Training Plans for Career Preparation and Practicum Courses
This section explains what a work-based learning (WBL) training plan is, how it is used, why it is important, and how to correctly complete it.
6 Section 5: Workplace Laws and Rules
This section describes workplace laws and rules that must be considered when overseeing student work-based learning (WBL) experiences and where to find additional information and resources related to the laws and rules.
7 Section 6: WBL Training Sites
This section explains how to identify and select appropriate training stations for students’ WBL experiences, and ensure that training sponsors understand their responsibilities.
4 Section 8: Recordkeeping and Documentation for WBL
This section describes the records that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires work-based learning (WBL) teacher-coordinators to verify, produce, and/or maintain to comply with federal and state laws and policies.