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Mother Matches Wits With Students

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 7, 2008

BRANDON - To take some of the sting out of the upcoming Florida Comprehensive Assessment Tests, staff at McLane Middle School invited parents to test their own knowledge - and have a little fun with their kids.

They were given a quiz modeled after "Are You Smarter Than a 5th-Grader," the popular Fox television show in which adults are asked questions that average fifth-graders can answer. McLane's version featured questions for fifth-, sixth- and seventh-graders taken from previous FCATs, FCAT Explorer and other FCAT resources.

Even with students volunteering as coaches, the challenge was daunting to some parents, who opted not to take the challenge. Linda Calhoun of Brandon, however, bravely took a shot at answering the sixth-grade questions.

"This is going to stump me," Calhoun said when faced with finding the average of five numbers. She got the right answers to all the questions, however, and won a basketful of school supplies.

Michelle Richardson, the school's parent involvement coordinator, said McLane encourages parents to get involved in their kids' education.

"We know that increased parental involvement is linked to higher student achievement and performance," she said.

Liz Bleau

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