Subj: Preparing Grade 3 and Grade 7 students for International Assessments

Dear parent,

Please be informed that Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has launched a new initiative named Question-a-Day programme to prepare the present grade 3 and grade 7 students for the international benchmark exam – (TIMSS-2019) “Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study” in grade 4/8.

The TIMSS assessment of 2019 will be delivered in an electronic environment (eTIMSS).

It is expected of the participants that:

1. they have experience in responding to questions in an online environment;
2. they have experience in the type of questions that they are likely to be asked;
3. they acquire test taking skills to maximise their capacity in correctly responding to the questions;
4. they be upskilled in responding to items that require a greater depth of understanding of concepts, and;

The Question-a-Day program is designed to help students acquire the skills and strategies needed to solve problems which require higher-order thinking.

The Question-a-Day program provides opportunities for students including:

• daily interaction with TIMSS-style items in Mathematics and Science;
• progressive learning of content and skills articulated within the TIMSS frameworks;
• practice in completing items online;
• information for teachers to interact with and use data to inform individual student learning;
• teacher support via the provision of weekly specifically targeted learning materials; and
• regular monitoring of student interaction and participation with the items and the activity of teachers in response to the data and materials provided.

The Question-a-Day program is offered to all students in Grade 3 and/or Grade 7, with full participation expected. The students will be asked to complete one Mathematics and one Science question after each school day in their own time on a mobile phone or device of their choice.

Students and parents will be provided with logon details and information on how to access the questions. Parents will be asked to encourage their students to complete the questions each day.

Recognition will be given to students who participate daily with an ongoing incentive system and certificates to be presented at the end of each Trimester.

Regards
Principal.