Transcript David Lawrence Jr. K

Andover Middle School
“From Excellence to Emminence”
FCAT FAMILY NIGHT
T H U R S DAY, F E B RUA RY 1 2 , 2 0 0 9
If a doctor, lawyer, or
dentist had 40 people in
his office at one time, all
of whom had different
needs, and some of
whom didn't want to be
there and were causing
trouble, and the doctor,
lawyer, or dentist,
without assistance, had
to treat them all with
professional excellence
for nine months, then he
might have some
conception of the
classroom teacher's job.
~Donald D. Quinn~
Test Dates
 FCAT Reading
 March 10th
 FCAT Math
 March 11th
What is the Florida Comprehensive
Assessment Test (FCAT)?
 A test used to measure students knowledge and
understanding of the Sunshine State Standards (SSS)
in the areas of reading, writing, math and science.
 The SSS outline what students should know and be
able to do at each grade level.
 There is a direct connection between the SSS and the
questions on the FCAT.
FCAT Reading Clusters
Grade
6-8
WORDS &
PHRASES I
• words in
context
• drawing
conclusions
• organizational
patterns
MAIN IDEA,
PLOT &
PURPOSE
• main idea
COMPARISONS
&
CAUSE/EFFECT
• relevant details
• use of
comparison &
contrast
• organizational
patterns
• cause & effect
relationships
• author’s purpose
or point of view
• character & plot
development
• setting
• conflict resolution
• tone
REFERENCE &
RESEARCH
• organization
• interpretation &
synthesis of
information
• validity &
accuracy of
information
FCAT Math Strands
NUMBER
SENSE
• identifies +,
–, x, ÷
• determines
estimates
• knows how
numbers are
represented &
used
MEASUREMENT
GEOMETRY
ALGEBRA
• recognizes
measurements &
units of measure
• describes,
draws,
identifies, &
analyzes two- &
threedimensional
shapes
• describes,
analyzes, &
generalizes
patterns,
relations, &
functions
• compares,
contrasts, &
converts
measurements
• visualizes and
illustrates
changes in
shape
• uses
coordinate
geometry
• writes and
uses
expressions,
equations,
inequalities,
graphs, &
formulas
DATA
ANALYSIS
• organizes,
interprets, &
analyzes data
• identifies
patterns &
makes
predictions,
inferences, &
valid
conclusions
• uses
probability &
statistics
FCAT Scores
 Scores for students on all tests range from a low of
100 to a high of 500.
 Average student score throughout the state is 300.
 Your child’s achievement on the FCAT falls into one
of five possible levels:
FCAT Achievement Levels
Level 5
Indicates that your child answered most questions correctly,
including the most challenging questions
Level 4
Indicates that your child answered most questions correctly, but
was successful only some of the time with questions involving
the most challenging content
Level 3
Indicates that your child answered many questions correctly but
was generally less successful with questions involving the most
challenging content
Level 2
Indicates that your child had limited success with the challenging
content on the FCAT
Level 1
Indicates that your child had little success with the challenging
content on the FCAT
What is the best way to prepare
my child?
 Make sure your child attends school
regularly

The more often your child is in a learning situation, the
more likely he/she will do well on tests.
 Make sure your child arrives on time for school.
 Give your child encouragement.
 Praise him/her for the things done well throughout the
year.
 See that your child has a well-rounded diet.
 A healthy body leads to a healthy mind.
What is the best way to prepare
my child?
 See that your child completes homework
assignments.

Homework supports classroom instruction and can
help your child increase his/her comprehension of the
classroom work.
 Meet with your child’s teacher(s) as often as
possible to discuss your child’s progress.

Parents and teachers should work together to benefit
the child.
 Ask the teacher(s) to suggest activities for you
to do at home with your child.
What is the best way to prepare
my child cont’d?
 Make sure your child is well rested on school days.
 Children who are tired are less likely to pay attention in class
or handle the demands of classwork and tests.
 Try not to be overly anxious about test scores.
 Too much emphasis on test scores can be upsetting to
children.
 See that your child dresses comfortably.
 Students should wear school uniform and a sweater of jacket
if appropriate.
What is the best way to prepare
my child cont’d?
 If your child wears a hearing aid or glasses, be
sure he/she remembers to use them during all
testing sessions.
 Make sure your child receives any necessary test-
taking accommodations.

Accommodations are available for students in Special
Education and students who are Limited English Proficient.
Language Arts/Reading Department
C. Henfield
O. Powell-Quildon
A. Smith
T. Taylor
Reading
is the
greatest single
effort that the human
mind undertakes,
and one must do it
as a child.
John Steinbeck
Good Readers
15
Activate
Self-question
Draw inferences
Determine importance
Monitor comprehension
Using sensory images
Use fix-up strategies
Synthesize
7/22/2015
Levels of Complexity
Targets for Instruction and Assessment
Level 1 – Low Complexity
Involves recalling, observing and representing basic facts that
demonstrate a surface level of
 Understanding of text. Usually requires a student to
perform a one step process by:
 Locating details
 Finding details on charts, graphs, or diagrams
 Recognizing chronological order
 Identifying correct meaning of words in explicit context
 Identifying figurative language in text
Level 2 – Moderate Complexity
Involves summarizing, inferring, classifying, comparing, gathering information,
explaining, describing, while demonstrating a more complex level of
understanding. Usually requires a student to perform a 2-step process by:











Using context clues to identify the meanings of unfamiliar words
Interpreting the information in graphs, charts, and diagrams
Recognizing patterns of organization
Comparing meanings
Determining how details support main idea
Determining author’s main purpose or point of view
Demonstrating an understanding of plot development
Identifying cause and effect relationships
Summarizing the major points of the text
Identifying similarities and differences
Determining fact or opinion
Level 3 – High Complexity
Involves higher order thinking, conceptual understanding, generalizing abstract
reasoning, theme identification and complex inferencing within and across text.
This level requires a student to perform multiple steps by:
 Analyzing the use of figurative language in text
 Showing how graphs, charts and diagrams contribute to a text
 Analyzing in depth similarities and differences
 Analyzing cause and effect relationships
 Determining author’s purpose and/or point of view and how it affects the text
 Describing and illustrating how common themes are found across texts
 Applying text-based information to a similar situation
 Identifying and evaluating devices of persuasion
 Evaluating strong vs. weak argument
 Describing and analyzing the characteristics of various types of text
READERS USE STRATEGIES
Think about what they already
know
Predict
Connect to the text
Determine importance – separate
details from main ideas.
BOOK WALK
Readers consciously try to anticipate what the
text will be about before reading.
They connect by skimming and surveying:
Art work - Title
Headings – Sub-headings
Graphs - Charts - Pictures
Length- Print Size
BOOK WALK TALK
What’s familiar?

Skim & survey things that are familiar and connect to your life or
world.
What topics are covered?

What topics seem to be most important?
What questions do you have?

Questions of interest.
How is it organized?

What categories of information are provided?
Translate

Read & translate. Use index cards for vocab.
BEST PRACTICES
ENGAGE STUDENTS:
USE accessible text
Poems, cartoons, newspapers, magazines,
speeches, essays, internet material, graphs,
charts, graphic novels, manuals, menus,
music lyrics, brochures…
Vocabulary Development
ASSIGNMENT
Your task is to identify a strategy to use with
your child using an accessible text item.
Mathematics Department
J. NOEL
K. FOUTCH
B. DIAZ
B. DAVIS
Why is Math important?

It is the most widely used subject in the world.

Every career uses some sort of math.

Doing math helps the mind to reason and
organize complicated situations or problems into
clear, simple, and logical steps.

As students learn more math, the rationale is that
their minds will eventually develop into logical entity
that can resolve any difficult situation.
FCAT Preparation
Students who are successful on the FCAT has the
following in common.





Attends class regularly
Ask questions
Completes homework regularly
Read the textbook
Get additional help when necessary
Math Test Taking Tips

Read the directions

Read each problem and question very carefully

Think – what is the question asking me?

Look for the information you will need to use to
answer the question

Think – how will I answer this question? What
strategy will I use?

Check your work and answers

Plan your time – Do not spend too much
time on one question

Be positive, concentrate and do your best
Best Practices





Review all problems done in class
Never give up
Most mathematical concepts are
not perfected without many hours
of practice and reiteration
Don’t give up
Try, Try and Try again
Quote
Teacher: "Who can tell me what 7 times 6 is?“
Student: "It's 42!"
Teacher: "Very good! - And who can tell me
what 6 times 7 is?"
Same student: "It's 24!"
 Riddle 1)
 How can you add eight 8's to get the number 1,000?
(only use addition)
Answer to Riddle:
The key to this math riddle is realizing that the one
place must be zero. 888 +88 +8 +8 +8 =1,000
Resources to help my child
 FCAT Sample Test Booklets
 http://fcat.fldoe.org/fcatsmpl.asp
 FCAT Explorer
 http://www.fcatexplorer.com
 FCAT Released Tests
 fcat.fldoe.org/fcatrelease.asp