Resources for Grades 4 – 8
Support and engagement are critical for adolescent students. The following resources provide 4th through 8th grade students with the opportunity to practice skills learned in the classroom.
PASS Online
The Practice Assessment/Strengthen Skills (PASS) activities are designed to help Louisiana students prepare for the LEAP, GEE, iLEAP, LAA2 and End-of-Course exams. The resource includes tests in English Language Arts, mathematics, science and social studies.
PASS questions are targeted for students in grades 3-12 and include instructional feedback when students answer a question incorrectly. The questions are similar to those given on the state’s standardized exams. A password must be used to access the interactive resource. Password information can be obtained by called the Louisiana Department of Education Help Line at 1-877-453-2721. Students who wish to access these interactive tools, may log on to www.louisianapass.org. To temporarily access the site, you can click on the Guest Log In.
PASS Key Features
- Multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions, along with writing prompts are included.
- Detailed instructional feedback for multiple-choice and short-answer questions is provided.
- Student reports can be used by students and teachers to track progress.
- Read-aloud function is available for some English language arts and mathematics tests in grades four, eight and in high school.
- Upon test completion, students have the opportunity to play a game or take a virtual tour with their guide to learn interesting facts about people and their cultures, places and nature.
PASS On Paper
In addition to the online resources, PASS on Paper is provided for students in 4th and 8th grade who do not have easy access to a computer to download and print short lessons in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. The PASS on Paper tool is based on PASS test questions.
Newton’s Classroom
Newton’s Classroom provides mathematics tutorials for students in grade 1-8. These interactive tutorials help students develop basic mathematics skills and concepts.
Newton’s Classroom offers eight topics in which students, parents and teachers can use to develop skills: Place Value & Rounding, Addition/Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Fractions, Decimals & Percents, Addition/Subtraction of Fractions, and Multiplication/Division of Fractions.
Some of the key features Newton’s Classroom offer students are a read-aloud function for the Place Value & Rounding activities, and Multiplication Flash Cards, which help students recall multiplication facts quickly, and comes with detailed student reports.
Released Test Items
The Released Test Items are test questions from previous exams that are designed to help students become familiar with the types of questions that appear on the standardized assessments.
Past questions from year 2000 through 2009 can be accessed and include questions for 4th and 8th grade in the subjects English Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
LEAP Sample Items and Practice Tests
Sample Test Books for the LEAP are provided so that students can become familiar with the format of the standardized exams. The Sample Test Books contain questions in English Language Arts and mathematics. Solutions to the questions that appear in the book may be accessed online, but are not available in the book, so that students have a mechanism to check their work.
Additionally, Practice Tests for students in 4th and 8th grade are designed so that students can become familiar with the format of the assessments. The Practice Tests illustrate how each section of the exam will appear and may be used at home or at school so that students can practice taking the test.
Some sessions of the Practice Tests are shorter than those on the real test. After each session, look for the NOTE that tells the number of questions that is on the real test. It is also important to note that some sessions of the tests are in the answer document, just as they appear on the real assessment.
LEAP Tutoring Lessons
The LEAP Tutoring Lessons for students in 4th and 8th grade are designed to offer students remediation in the English Language Arts and mathematics standards and benchmarks that are covered on the LEAP. These lessons offer step-by-step scripted lessons so that noneducators may instruct students; educators may also tailor these tutoring lessons for the classroom.
Test-Taking Tips
Guidelines students and their families may use to help prepare students to be successful as they take the state's standardized exams.
Tutoring Hotline
Tutoring Hotline, which is specifically centered on assisting 4th and 8th grade students and their families as they prepare to take the LEAP. Tutors assist students and their families in answering questions from the Sample Test Books. The Hotline will operate from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning March 14 and ending April 8. The toll-free phone number for the Hotline is 1-877-453-2721.