Students in grades 2-5 from across the Mustang school district will take the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) May 5-9. This test will help us to determine the level of a student's progress toward major educational objectives. A student's scores on the individual tests of the ITBS provide an overall view of educational achievement. A student's strengths and weaknesses can be identified. This information can then be used to develop remediation strategies and plans to improve instruction.

Students will be tested in the following areas:

• Vocabulary
• Reading (Comprehension - Inferential and Interpretation, Summarizing and Analyzing Main Ideas)
• Word Analysis - Second and Third Grade Only - (Phonological Awareness and Decoding, Letter Sounds, Blends, Digraphs, Rhyming Words, Compound Words, Word Families, etc.)
• Listening - Third Grade Only
• Spelling
• Language Usage and Expression (Capitalization, Punctuation)
• Math (Concepts and Estimation, Problem Solving and Data Interpretation, Computation, etc.)
• Social Studies
• Science
• Maps and Diagrams
• Reference Materials

1. Review for the tests by using "Study Island" (www.studyisland.com) or

other prep materials.

2. Attend school each day of testing and in the days prior to testing for

review. Please avoid scheduling appointments during testing.

3. Arrive at school on time. Students will not be permitted in the classroom

once the test has begun.

4. Get a good night’s sleep. Restrict evening activities during the week of

testing.

5. Eat a nutritious breakfast each morning of testing. Children have

difficulty concentrating if they are hungry.

The ITBS tests are very challenging but our students can do well if we make it a priority. Put May 5-9 on your calendars now.