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Dear Parents of Second Graders:
Your child will be involved in the School District of Greenville County’s testing program in October and November. All second grade students in Greenville County will be taking the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) and the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (IOWA). These are nationally normed tests, and the test results will be placed in your child’s permanent record. The CogAT measures a student’s verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning abilities. The IOWA assesses a student’s capabilities at all stages of their development in reading, language, and mathematics. Results of these tests will be used to identify students for academically gifted and talented programs.
The CogAT and IOWA are untimed and are teacher-directed for second grade. Testing will begin at 8:30 A.M. each day and will last less than two hours. To provide the best testing environment for our students, parents are not allowed in or near the second grade classrooms until testing is over each day.
To ensure that the students perform to the best of their ability, we need your assistance with the following during testing:
Make sure your child gets plenty of rest at night.
Make sure your child eats a nourishing breakfast.
Make every effort to have your child in school. We have a very limited makeup schedule, and it is important that your child take all of the sub-tests in order for us to have a complete score.
Make sure your child is at school on time. Although testing will not begin until 8:30 A.M., there are many things the teachers and students will have to do each morning before testing begins.
Please send two #2 pencils with your child for marking test documents.
Make sure your child wears comfortable clothing and leaves watches and other items at home that may be distracting.
If you have any questions, please contact Terri Wheeler-Hawkins (355-7461) or Monica Brackett (355-7462).
Thank you for your cooperation,
Taylors School Testing Coordinators
CogAT and IOWA Testing Schedule - 2nd graders
CogAT – October 15-17
CogAt Makeup - October 18
IOWA – October 21-22
Makeup Dates – October 23 - 24 (CogAT and IOWA)
What is WATCH D.O.G.S.® (Dads Of Great Students)?
WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) is a family and community engagement educational initiative. Learn more about WATCH D.O.G.S. here.
What are the goals of a WATCH D.O.G.S. program?
1) To provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important.
2) To provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security and reduce bullying.
Who are Watch D.O.G.S. ?
Watch D.O.G.S. are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father-figures who volunteer for at least one day each year at an official WATCH D.O.G.S. school.
How can you become a WATCH D.O.G.?
1) Become a Level 2 volunteer. For information on how to complete this process,
2) After you are an approved Level 2 volunteer, contact Mrs. Merritt to schedule a date or dates to volunteer. You can call her at 864-355-7428 or email her at smmerritt@greenville.k12.sc.us.
To learn more about what a Topcat WATCH D.O.G does while at school and to fine out what our WATCH D.O.G.S. are saying about the program,
Registration for K5 and First Grade (for students who were not enrolled in a Greenville County K5 program) will be December 3rd through December 6th.
How important is attendance? Please view this infographic to see its impact.
