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
8 Texas Adolescent Literacy Academy Tier I: Content Area Instruction
Texas Adolescent Literacy Academy Tier I builds knowledge and skills so teachers can effectively support the development of reading skills in adolescent students. The strategies presented in the course promote the implementation of effective reading instruction for all students across all content areas. TALA Tier I, previously available in Texas Courses, is now openly available but does not earn course provider credit and no certificate will be offered.
2 Texas Middle School Fluency Assessment: Administering and Interpreting Results
This binder details how to score and interpret the results of the Texas Middle School Fluency Assessment (TMSFA). This course is Unit 4 of the Texas Adolescent Literacy Academy (TALA). These materials are available for view only; no credit or certificate is provided.
8 CTE 101: Career and Technical Education in Texas
This binder provides an overview of Career and Technical Education in Texas and how it is implemented at the state and local levels. Teachers who are not certified in CTE and have been assigned to teach one of the CTE courses for mathematics or science credit must complete CTE 101. CTE-certified teachers may complete CTE 101, but it is not a requirement.
True North Statement
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Garden Spiders
Although the brown recluse spider shares the garden with the famous black widow, did you know, of the two spiders, the brown recluse is more aggressive and more likely to bite? Or did you know the garden spider can easily handle prey larger than itself?
Given short summaries about the reasons for European exploration and colonization of North America, students will compare English and Spanish settlements in the New World.
Given background information, students will be able to identify economic, social, and political issues surrounding the Gilded Age. Students will identify significant historical figures associated with the Gilded Age.
The student understands the causes of the Great Depression.
Given primary and secondary sources of information about selected New Deal measures (e.g., the creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps or the passage of the Agricultural Adjustment Act), students will analyze how these measures affected various regions of the United States.
Given background information, students will identify the social and economic impact of World War II on the American home front, such as the Great Depression, rationing, and increased opportunity for women and minority employment.
Students will identify ways in which Cold War tensions were intensified.
Given a timeline, students will understand the political, economic, and social impact of selected U.S. political leaders on the world from the 1970s into the 21st century.
Given background information, students will describe the changing role of the United States as a world power during the Carter Administration.
Given information about social issues throughout U.S. history, students will describe the causes and effects of significant societal issues.
Given selected examples of American art, music, and literature, students will be able to identify the era of U.S. history that is reflected in the art.
Given background information about selected historical figures, students will be able to analyze the importance and contributions of women and people of various racial, ethnic, and religious groups to the national identity and the cultural landscape.
Given background information, students will be able to trace the historical development of the civil rights movement in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, and describe the roles of political organizations that promoted civil rights.
Teaching Adolescents Who Struggle With Literacy
This resource provides the five components of literacy for adolescent readers.
Teaching Written Conventions in Context
This resource focuses on the use of model sentences to teach written conventions in context.