HOUSTON, Texas – As the holiday season approaches, students at Fleming Middle School are trading holiday parties for textbooks and study guides.
End-of-semester exams are on the horizon, and preparations are in full swing for students, teachers, and parents.
For the past two years, KPRC 2 has been embedded at Fleming Middle School, documenting its journey navigating Houston ISD’s New Education System.
“We are in the process of preparing our students for our DSA testing, which is our summative for the first semester,” says Charlotte Davis, 6th Grade Assistant Principal. “It’s a key assessment for students in social studies, ELA, math, science, and the art of thinking.” While the DSA only occurs twice a year, Davis emphasizes the importance of every test students take.
The testing process involves both in-class preparation and at-home support.
Chris Moses, the campus testing coordinator, underscores this dual approach.
“The way that we prepare, of course, is by sending students to tutorials. Teachers send review materials home, and parents work with their kids to make sure they’re set up for success.”
For many students, this period is a mix of anxiety and anticipation.
“Tomorrow, we’re taking our first-semester test. It’s like the test that shows what we’ve learned throughout the semester,” Christina Moses, a 7th-grade student said.
Her classmate, Alton Franklin, echoes this sentiment, saying, “I’m nervous, but at the same time I’m not because I get to show what I’ve learned all through the school year.”
Some students, however, feel well-prepared. Christina adds, “Most of the time in class, I can actually remember a lot of the material. Even things that not everyone can remember, I’m able to recall.”
Teachers at Fleming Middle School are focused on long-term learning rather than simply “teaching to the test.”
Lyndsey Mason, a 6th-grade math teacher, describes the school’s approach to benchmark testing. “At the beginning of the year, we use NWEA MAP testing,” she says. “Students take a blind assessment at the start of the year. Based on the results, we tailor our teaching to meet their specific needs.”
But the road to exam readiness isn’t without its challenges.
“The most challenging part is getting students prepared,” says Assistant Principal Davis. “The schedule doesn’t always allow time for review, so we have to be creative. Students may be tested on something they learned three months ago, which means we have to find ways to reinforce earlier lessons.”
With exams underway, Fleming Middle School’s students, teachers, and parents continue to meet challenges head-on.