Transcript Preparing for the Michigan Merit Exam to Maximize Student
4:00
Michigan Merit Exam Prep Course
for High School Students
Feb. 4, 11 & 18, 2009 4 :00 – 6:00 pm
Session #1
Presented by: Tovah Sheldon JCISD Data, Assessment and Curriculum Coordinator [email protected]
Agenda
Day 2
(February 11, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm) 4:00 - Review and Focus 4:15 - Content & Strategies for
Writing
5:00 - Content & Strategies for
Reading
5:15 - Activity & Dinner 5:30 -Content & Strategies for
Social Studies
6:00 - Wrap Up
Day 1
(February 4, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm) 4:00 - Norms/Expectations 4:15 - Activity- What do you know?
4:45 - Process & Format of the MME (MME Squares) 5:00 - Practice Mini - Timed Test 5:30 - Basic Test Strategies & Dinner 6:00 - Wrap Up
Day 3
(February 18, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm) 4:00 - Review & Focus 4:15 - Content & Strategies for
Math
5:00 - Content & Strategies for
Science
5:30 - Activity & Dinner 6:00 - Wrap Up
Expectations
What do you know about the MME?
Process: What rules apply when taking the MME? the MME ?) (What occurs the days before, during and after the administration of Format: What type of test is the MME? How is the MME organized?
(What testing question stems, vocabulary and test taking skills promote success on the MME?) Content: What information is “fair game” to test on the MME?
Data: What information do you get back from the MME? What else do you know about the MME? (any random facts)
Why the MME?
(Why not just ACT or no test at all...)
• Public Act 451 (Revised in 2006-MCL 380.1279g
): This law states “all pupils in grade 11 shall be administered the state assessment (i.e. the Michigan Merit Exam)” in accordance to the federal no child left behind act of 2001 and meet the following criteria: ▫ Assessment instruments that measure English language arts, mathematics, reading, and science and are used by colleges and universities in this state for entrance or placement purposes ▫ One or more tests from 1 or more test developers that assess a pupil's ability to apply reading and mathematics skills in a manner that is intended to allow employers to use the results in making employment decisions ▫ A social studies component ▫ Alignment with the Michigan Merit Curriculum high school content expectations.
This requirement is satisfied by the ACT + Writing Test. This requirement is satisfied by the 3 WorkKeys Tests This requirement is satisfied by the additional Michigan developed test. After all that, the ACT/WorkKeys don’t actually test ALL the needed HSCE, so they created additional Math and Science tests also to satisfy the last requirement.
What do you get out of it?
• The Michigan Promise Scholarship http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-22709_35150-204760--,00.html
http://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/0,1607,7-128-38193_44522---,00.html
or ▫ By having
valid
scores you get up to
$4000
for further education. ▫ By having
passing
that money earlier! scores (Level 1’s & 2’s) you get
2009 MME Test Breakout
(Only included items that count towards MME score – not # of items assessed) Social Studies Science
18% 38% 62% 82%
Reading Writing
= ACT or WorkKeys Assessment (Day 1 & 2) = Michigan Component Assessment (Day 3)
Mathematics
27%
ELA
73% 100% 100% 100%
MME Contributing Components
# of Questions
75 60 40 40 37 35 33 33 12 15 38 34 49 42 35 15 37 12 30 15 8 20 20 32 28 6
Additional Process and Format Packet
• • • Skim through the additional Process and Format Packet. (5 – 10 minutes) High light anything you didn’t know before or that stands out to you.
As a group of 3 – 5, each person share at least 2 pieces of valuable information. No one can share redundant information. (5 – 10 minutes)
Let’s check for understanding and play... MME Squares!
•
Mini-Practice Test
You will have 8 minutes to complete each of the 4 ACT like assessments. If you finish the test early, you may check over your answers for the current test or wait silently until the test time is up.
• You will complete one test at a time, without looking ahead to the next test and do not go back to a previous test after the 8 minutes are up.
• The test order will be English, Math, Reading, then Science. • You will have a 5 minute break between Math and Reading.
Dinner Break and Answer Key
• While enjoying dinner take a few minutes to score your own test.
• As a group of 3 – 5, write as many test strategies as you can think of that helped you perform on the test. • Do your strategies match with the research?
•
General Test Strategies for MME
Reverse Triage: Deciding whether to do a question now, later, or much later is a crucial part of improving ACT results. The point of Triage is to help you invest your time more profitably. ACT is a strictly timed test. Remember that easy questions are worth just as much as hard questions. So do the easy ones first.
• “First Pass, Second Pass” – On the first pass, do the questions you know how to do. On the second pass, do the questions you
think
you know how to do.
• The ACT is a multiple-choice test. This means you don’t have to come up with an answer; you just have to identify the correct answer from among the choices provided.
• There is no penalty for guessing. There are 215 total questions on the ACT. If you went into the test room and filled out your name then went to sleep… obviously your score would be a zero. However, if you went into the test room, filled out your name and then picked answer B 215 times, guess what your composite score would be? 12! I don’t recommend random guessing as an overall strategy, but you can see that it is better to answer every question even if it is guessing than leaving anything blank.
• P.O.E = The Process of Elimination. POE will enable you to make your guesses really count. Sometimes it is easier to spot incorrect answers than correct ones. By eliminating one or two incorrect answers, your odds of picking the right answer just got better
Wrap Up...
• Practice for next time...
▫ The ACT Assessment Sample Test Booklet ▫ The ACT Assessment Writing Test •
Try out at least one of the test strategies and see if you increase your average score.
• Our next session is on Feb. 11 from 4:00 – 6:00 and will focus on the : ▫ Essay Writing portion of the ACT ▫ Reading and English Multiple Choice portion of the ACT ▫ WorkKeys Reading for Information ▫ Michigan Social Studies Test •
Feel free to email me if you have questions or are struggling on a specific part of the test. Any questions or concepts that you really want help on, we can address at the next session, if you email me ahead of time. ( [email protected]
)
Resources
• Practice Tests: http://www.actstudent.org/sampletest/index.html
More Information: www.act.org
www.act.org/workkeys www.mich.gov/mde www.mich.gov/mme www.mich.gov/oeaa
4:00
Michigan Merit Exam Prep Course
for High School Students
Feb. 4, 11 & 18, 2009 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Session #2
Presented by: Tovah Sheldon JCISD Data, Assessment and Curriculum Coordinator [email protected]
Agenda
Day 2
(February 11, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm) 4:00 - Review and Focus 4:15 - Content & Strategies for
Writing
5:00 - Content & Strategies for
Reading
5:15 - Activity & Dinner 5:30 - Content & Strategies for
Social Studies
6:00 - Wrap Up
Day 1
(February 4, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm) 4:00 - Norms/Expectations 4:15 - Activity- What do you know?
4:45 - Process & Format of the MME (MME Squares) 5:00 - Practice Mini - Timed Test 5:30 - Basic Test Strategies & Dinner 6:00 - Wrap Up
Day 3
(February 18, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm) 4:00 - Review & Focus 4:15 - Content & Strategies for
Math
5:00 - Content & Strategies for
Science
5:30 - Activity & Dinner 6:00 - Wrap Up
Expectations
What worked?
Reading and Writing Content & Strategies
• It is fair game to test any of the 91 English Language Arts (Reading and Writing) High School Content Expectations on the four tests that count toward your MME E L A Score.
( http://www.michigan.gov/documents/ELA11-14open1_142201_7.pdf
) ACT Writing, ACT English, ACT Reading, and Work K eys Reading for Information • Even though the ACT English test has 37 questions that count towards the MME Writing Score, The Writing Essay test worth 12 points is weighted more for your MME Writing Score. The essay will be the last test you take on Day 1 and you’ll be exhausted!
• Remember, when you finish with one test, erase it from your mind and start fresh!
The Writing Essay Test: What is the ACT Writing Rubric?
• • 6 point rubric (see next slide/handouts) Each essay is read and scored by two readers (giving a total of 12 points) • Looking at samples... Range Finding Activity ▫ As a table pick an anchor paper, read it independently, give it a score, then talk as a group until you agree.
▫ ▫ Repeat the process for as many anchor papers as possible. You have 15 minutes to do as many anchor papers as possible.
Six Point Holistic Scoring Rubric
Six Point Holistic Scoring Rubric
Six Point Holistic Scoring Rubric
The Writing Essay Test: What is the ACT Writing Rubric?
• • 6 point rubric (see next slide/handouts) Each essay is read and scored by two readers (giving a total of 12 points) • Looking at samples... Range Finding Activity ▫ As a table pick an anchor paper, read it independently, give it a score, then talk as a group until you agree.
▫ ▫ Repeat the process for as many anchor papers as possible. You have 15 minutes to do as many anchor papers as possible.
How did your group do?
• Using the Anchor Paper Answer Key, check how many papers you or your group score correctly?
The Essay Writing Test Portion Continued...
•
What the graders are grading:
▫ Take a position on the prompt.
▫ Maintain focus on the topic.
▫ Support your ideas.
▫ Organize your ideas.
▫ Use language clearly and effectively.
•
Make it easy for the graders to give you a top score by:
▫ Showing that you have a thesis.
▫ Clearly show your essay has structure.
▫ Provide relevant, concise examples.
Steps to Writing for the ACT:
Step 1:
Work with the prompt to brainstorm
Step 2:
Structure your essay. ( short outline
)
I. Introduction Paragraph
▫ Paraphrase the Prompt ▫
II. Con Body Paragraph
▫ State your Thesis Topic Sentence ▫
III. Pro Body Paragraph
▫ Con Example Topic Sentence ▫
IV. Pro Body Paragraph II
▫ Pro Example Topic Sentence ▫
V. Conclusion
▫ Pro Example II Restate Thesis Introduction – frame the discussion, and then state your thesis.
Body paragraphs – support your position by making a good transition/topic sentence, giving a relevant example, and then explaining how the example supports your position. Also provide the cons or attack the other position. Conclusions – should restate the thesis
Step 3:
Put it all together and proofread when you are done.
Things to keep in mind:
Length ...should be 5 paragraphs. N o less.
Sentence Structure ...vary short and long sentences, but be careful of grammatical mistakes.
Diction ...use word choice wisely. If you are uncertain about the meaning or spelling of a word, just pick a different word and try not to be repetitive. Neatness ...make sure to indent. Don’t go over the lines or write down the side of the paper. Avoid messy cross-outs and make sure your handwriting is as legible as possible.
ACT English Test Strategies
• You need to know what types of errors (punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills) crop up again and again – and how to fix them. Use Reverse Triage (now, later, or much later).
• Don’t rely on your ear; look for specific errors. Just less than 2 5 % of the time there is nothing wrong with the question and the right answer is “ N O C H A N G E ” .
• T h e b e s t w a y t o t a c k l e t h i s t e s t i s t o p r a c t i c e , p r a c t i c e , p r a c t i c e a n d t h e n p r a c t i c e m o r e ( a n d w o r s t c a s e s c e n a r i o . . . a t l e a s t g u e s s ! )
http://classroom.jc-schools.net/basic/la-grammar.html
ACT Reading Test Strategies
• Attack the passages in the order that best suits you.
• • • • See through the camouflage that hides correct answer choices. ▫ Look for answer choices that reword parts of the passages.
▫ “ Read between the lines” to make inferences.
Identify incorrect answer choices and eliminate them quickly.
Answer questions without really reading the passages.
Put all these techniques together in order to approach every passage and questions with a step-by-step strategy that leads systematically to the correct answers.
• Reading Test Topics (Remember to pick the order that best suits YOU.) ▫ Natural Science Passages Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Physical Sciences.
▫ Mostly filled with lots of details and dry technical description.
Fiction Passages Excerpts from short stories and novels.
▫ ▫ Mostly concerned with who, what, where, when, and why.
Contains hints and suggestions about characters and their motivations. Social Science History, Economics, Psychology, Political Sciences, and Anthropology.
The author will often have a viewpoint about the subject Humanities Passages Art, Music, Architecture, and Dance.
The author will often have a viewpoint about the subject.
WorkKeys: “Reading for Information ” Test Strategies
• Use similar strategies to the ACT Reading test.
• WorkKeys is only 33 questions in 40 minutes.
• The test is to measure the skills people use when they read and use written texts in order to do a job. The written texts include memos, letters, directions, notices bulletins, policies and regulations. • It is often the case that these workplace communications are not well written or targeted to the appropriate audience.
(See examples in packet).
Dinner break...
Dinner and Data
What score should you shoot for? Try to exceed the “College Readiness Benchmarks” indicated on the table to the left...
Test
English Math Reading Science
Scale Score (Bench mark out of 36)
18
Raw Score
22 21 24 39-41 out of 75 33-34 out of 60 23 out of 40 29 out of 40
Approx. % correct of raw score
53% 55% 58% 73%
Social Studies Test Content & Strategies
• The Social Studies Test is based on the old Michigan Curriculum Frameworks and has 42 questions on the Michigan Component in 40 minutes & 38 questions on the WorkKeys “Locating Information” test in 45 minutes.
• There are 7 - 11 questions per topic (History, Geography, Civics and Economics) on the Michigan Social Studies test. Remember this is the last test on the last day...
▫ Do the questions you know F I R S T ! ▫ Use P.O.E. and identify incorrect answer choices and eliminate them quickly.
• “Locating Information” assessment tests inquiry ability (see Locating Information Skills page – Levels 3 – 7 with examples).
Wrap Up...
• Practice for next time...
▫ The ACT Assessment Writing Test •
Try out at least one of the test strategies and see if you increase your average score.
• Our next session is on Feb. 1 8 from 4:00 – 6:00 and will focus on the: ▫ Mathematics portion of the ACT ▫ Work Keys Applied Mathematics ▫ Michigan Mathematics Test ▫ Science portion of the ACT ▫ Michigan Science Test •
Feel free to email me if you have questions or are struggling on a specific part of the test. Any questions or concepts that you really want help on, we can address at the next session, if you email me ahead of time. ( [email protected]
)
4:00
Michigan Merit Exam Prep Course
for High School Students
Feb. 4, 11 & 18, 2009 4 :00 – 6:00 pm
Session #3
Presented by: Tovah Sheldon JCISD Data, Assessment and Curriculum Coordinator [email protected]
Agenda
Day 2
(February 11, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm) 4:00 - Review and Focus 4:15 - Content & Strategies for
Reading
5:15 - Activity & Dinner 5:30 - Content & Strategies for
Writing
5:00 - Content & Strategies for
Social Studies
6:00 - Wrap Up
Day 1
(February 4, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm) 4:00 - Norms/Expectations 4:15 - Activity- What do you know?
4:45 - Process & Format of the MME (MME Squares) 5:00 - Practice Mini - Timed Test 5:30 - Basic Test Strategies & Dinner 6:00 - Wrap Up
Day 3
(February 18, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm) 4:00 - Review & Focus 4:15 - Content & Strategies for
Science
5:30 - Activity & Dinner 6:00 - Wrap Up
Math
5:00 - Content & Strategies for
Mathematics Test Content
• ALL High School Content Expectation from Algebra I and Geometry are fair game. Also, MOST of the HSCE from Algebra II are allowed to be on the test AND some of the ACT questions and WorkKeys questions will test content which was learned
prior
to high
school. • ▫ Read for yourself...
▫ http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-38924_41644_42668-- ,00.html
or www.mich.gov/mathematics http://mi-math-companion.wikispaces.com/
ACT Mathematics Strategies
• The ACT is intentionally set up to have easy, medium and hard questions. Some will have just one step and take less than one minute while other will have more than three steps to solving them and could take more like three to five minutes. Don’t forget to use Reverse Triage.
• Avoid Partial Answers. This is one way ACT “tricks” test takers. Make sure you underline and/or are clear on what the actual problem is asking, so that you do
all
the steps needed to reach the final answer. • Use POE and Common Sense. Having good number sense give you good common sense in math. • Of the 60 questions, usually 2 are “red herrings”. Those are questions that contain more information that is needed to solve the problem. Just make sure to really read each question carefully.
ACT Mathematics Strategies Continued...
• Know what you are tackling and know that you won’t know the answer to EVERY question...
Pre-Algebra and Elementary Algebra (24 Questions) Basic Terms: real numbers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, integers, positive, and negative, even and odd, digits, prime numbers, absolute value, variables and coefficients.
Basic Operations: divisibility rules, sum, product, difference, quotient, factors, and multiples Basic Symbols: equal, not equal, less than, greater than, less than or equal to, greater than or equal to.
Exponents: Multiplying numbers with the same base, dividing numbers with the same base, negative powers, fractional powers, raising a power to a power, the zero power, the first power, and distributing exponents. (be careful with parenthesis) Radicals: Square roots (only give the positive root).
Order of Operations, fractions, decimals, scientific notation, ratios, percents, averages, and word problems.
Intermediate Algebra and Coordinate Geometry (18 Questions) Based on exponents, square roots, factoring, writing equations, inequalities, simultaneous equations, and graphing. The Basic Equation (when x has a particular value), The Cosmic Equation (when x has no particular value), Simultaneous Equations, Inequalities, & Logarithms Know the “Golden Rule of Algebra: Whatever you do to one side of an equation, you have to do to the other side.” Some options for solving: work backwards, do the translation, & plug it in. ACT’s favorite quadratic equations: Train yourself to recognize these both factored and unfactored.
x 2 – y 2 = (x + y) (x - y) x x 2 2 + 2xy + y – 2xy + y 2 2 = (x + y) 2 = (x – y) 2 Graphing Inequalities (open circles, closed dot) Important formulas for Coordinate Geometry to memorize: The Y-intercept formula: y = mx + b The Slope formula: slope = change in y or y change in x 1 –y 2 The Midpoint formula: (x[m], y[m]) = x 1 x 1 – x 2 + x 2 , y 1 + y 2 2 2 Circles, Ellipses and Parabolas you should have a vague ideas of what these equations look like but you don’t have to memorize these extra tough ones…
ACT Mathematics Strategies Continued...
• Know what you are tackling and know that you won’t know the answer to EVERY question...
Geometry (14 Questions) Based on angles (supplementary, vertical), lengths, triangles (types), quadrilaterals, parallel lines, areas (formulas), perimeters, circles (radius, chord, area and circumference formulas), and volumes.
Basic Trigonometry (4 Questions) Based on SOHCAHTOA and some other basic trigonometry formulas.
Two of the four trig questions will deal with right triangles.
Know degrees in a: circle, line, perpendicular angle, triangle, quadrilateral, etc. Be on the look out for problems which the application of Pythagorean theorem is not obvious but can be used. SOHCAHTOA = Sine is Opposite over Hypotenuse. Cosine is Adjacent over Hypotenuse. Tangent is Opposite over Adjacent. Be on the look out for figures/diagrams… they are not necessarily “to scale”. ACT states most figures are drawn “reasonably accurate” but not “EVERY diagram is drawn EXACTLY to scale”, so don’t rely on them and don’t be mislead. You may want to just draw your own diagram if there is no one included for you.
Other basic formulas: Cosecant = 1 , sine Secant = 1 , cosine Cotangent = Sin 2
Sin
Cos
+ Cos 2 = Tan
1 , tangent = 1
WorkKeys “Applied Mathematics” Strategies
• The test is 33 in 45 minutes. • This assessment tests the skills people use when they use mathematical reasoning and problem-solving techniques to solve work-related problems. • Employees may use calculators and conversion tables to help with the problems, but they still need to use math skills to think them through. (See examples with Levels 3 – 7)
Partner “Talk It Through” Activity
Sample Item – Level 6
You are preparing to tile the floor of a rectangular room that is 15½ feet by 18½ feet in size. The tiles you plan to use are square, measuring 12 inches on each side, and are sold in boxes that contain enough tile to cover 25 square feet. How many boxes of tiles must you order to complete the job?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
11 12 34 59 287
Michigan Mathematics Strategies
• By this time, you will be beginning your last day of testing!
Mathematics
27% 73%
Science Test Content
• ALL Essential Science High School Content Expectation will be fair game on the two assessments that make up the MME Science score.
• The ACT Science and Michigan Science Test are VERY different skills, but use the same strategies!
62%
Science
38%
ACT Science Reasoning Test
• This test is more like a reading test whose sole subject matter is science. What you do need is an understanding of the scientific method and how to interpret charts, graphs and tables. Time management is key in this section of the ACT.
Charts and Graphs a.k.a. Data Representation (3 passages, 15 questions)
• Look at the variables and the units used. • Not every graph is a bar graph (other graphs used are: linear graphs, graphs with curves, scatter graphs, and flat lines)
Experiments a.k.a.
Research Summaries (3 passages, 18 questions)
• Identify the research objective • Follow the procedure and identify the variable. • Take notes on each step within the experiment.
• Study the results. Look for assumptions.
Fighting scientists a.k.a. Conflicting Viewpoints (1 passage, 7 questions)
• Identify the disagreement.
• Identify the type of questions. Assumptions are probably made here.
ACT Science Reasoning Four-Step Strategy
(much like the Reading section) • Scan the passage.
• Look at each question and identify its type.
• • ▫ ▫ ▫
Understanding
-Tests your ability to paraphrase specific parts of the passage, find the assumption of an argument or in the underlying point of an experiment, and/or find the control of the study. Look for the variable that has not been manipulated or exposed.
Analysis
- Tests for deeper understanding of the information. You may have to consider more than one part of the passage. You will need to recognize relationships between different pieces of information. Then, figure out why something happened or what is going to happen.
Generalization
- Requires you to see thing in perspective – “the bigger picture”. You will be asked to relate the information, events, or ideas to something not described in the passage, more like in “the real world”. Guesstimate (make rough estimates interpreting charts and graphs) Use POE= Process of Elimination.
Michigan Science Test Strategies
• Since 62% of the MME Science Score comes from the Michigan Science Test component, it is KEY to demonstrate your knowledge here.
• Remember there are 49 questions in 40 minutes... So practice the same strategies as before: scan the passage, use POE, guess if you don’t know (it is better than not finishing), etc.
You may run out of time if you aren’t careful.
• There will be 8-13 questions per content area: Earth Science, Biology, Physics and Chemistry.
• The test will vary in difficulty meaning some will be knowledge/fact based, while others will be application or ask you to synthesize information to “predict” or “infer” what will happen.
Dinner and Data Continued...
• What will happen after the test? ▫ 3 -4 weeks after your test you’ll get an ACT Student Report back to you directly (in addition your scores will have been sent directly to your high school and the colleges you wrote on your profile) http://www.actstudent.org/scores/understand/studentreport.html
▫ Similarly, you will get the results back from the WorkKeys test and see which level you have been awarded for the NCRC (National Career Readiness Certificate). This award is either Bronze (3’s) Silver (4’s) or Gold (5’s and higher). This certificate should go in your electronic portfolio and should be noted on your resume for work or college application.
http://www.act.org/workkeys/education/students/report.html
▫ It won’t be until June or even into AUGUST that your actual MME scores are released and you will know if you earned valid and/or passing scores in all subject areas.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/FINAL_MME_Guide_to_Reports_Spring_2 008_v8.12.08_245108_7.pdf
Wrap Up...
• Thank you for your time and participation! Good Luck on the MME!!!