Piedmont Elementary Prepares with ‘TCAPalon’

Photo by Brittney Romines

How are your children studying for the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program? Probably at their desks dredging through a half-inch TCAP Study Workbook or sitting on a computer for hours taking TCAP practice tests. Teachers cringe. Students sigh. Principals encourage.

But this year fifth graders at Piedmont Elementary School took TCAP studying to a whole new level. They participated in the first-ever TCAP-alon! Teachers Pam Oakes, Chris Watkins, and Brittany Romines came up with the idea during a brainstorming session. Their goal was to find a way to motivate the students to study for TCAPs in a physically fun, yet educational way. And they nailed it.

These creative teachers set up four stations on the back playground; Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Each station had five tasks to complete, of which some could be completed in 3-5 minutes and others in 8-10 minutes. Students were paired off in groups of two, three, or four. After a task was finished the students did jumping jacks, sang out, walked like an elephant, or called out like a chimp to get the attention of a Task Coach, who would then check and sign off each task sheet. Then they rushed to the next station for yet another task.

Teams were timed and scored, so there was a drive to finish the tasks quickly, but correctly, because there was a time penalty for wrong answers. The teams had to work together, discuss and analyze the questions, and figure out the answers. It was surprising how well they did. “Students thought it was a great alternative to regular drill and practice for TCAP preparation.” Mrs. Oakes said. “Everyone worked hard and had a fantastic time!”