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1. Super QARfor Test-wise Students Taffy Raphael & Kathryn Au
Senior Authors
3. Increasing Accountability Pressures No child left untested!
Mandated federal testing, grades 3-8
Testing related to state and district standards
4. The Challenge
To meet two goals
Prepare students to perform well on tests
Keep quality of education high
Higher level thinking
Reading comprehension
Rich Content
5. Higher Level Thinking Importance in the Global Community
Rising Standards
Most recent evidence: changes in the SAT (June 27, 2002 newspapers)
6. SAT Revision for 2005 25-minute essay question to be added
Plus multiple choice grammar / usage items
Verbal section renamed “critical reading”
Drop analogies section
Add short prose passages to test reading
Math section
Add questions from 3rd year high school algebra
7. Concern for Students Present emphasis on basic skills
All students can also benefit from instruction in higher level thinking
In general, students of diverse backgrounds have few opportunities for such instruction
8. QAR - Question Answer Relationships Research-based
A strategy to promote higher order thinking
An approach to test preparation
A language for talking about questioning activities
13. Program Content Comprehension strategy focus
Fiction and nonfiction across the curriculum
Metacognition
Preparation for all test formats
Multiple choice
Short answer
Extended response
Activities for partners, groups, whole class
16. Phases of Instruction Phase 1: Concept Lessons teach students QAR.
Grade 1 = 10
Grades 2 - 8 = 5
Phase 2: Booster Lessons promote application
Grade 1 = 5
Grades 2 - 8 = 8
17. Lesson Plan Set the purpose
Model (includes thinking aloud)
Coach
Build Independence
Reflect
18. Overhead Transparencies
19. Phases of Instruction Phase 1: Concept Lessons teach students QAR.
..Grade 1 = 10
Grades 2-8 = 5
Phase 2: Booster Lessons promote application.
Grade 1 = 5
Grades 2-8 = 8
20. Lesson Plan Set the Purpose
Model (includes thinking aloud)
Coach
Build Independence
Reflect
21. Student Activity Book Texts of different genres, subject areas
Space for writing questions, reflection, group work
Sample test items
22. Student Book
23. Strategy Posters
24. Student Bookmarks
25. Big Books -- Grade 1
26. Why Use QARs? Leads to quality instruction in core comprehension skills
Builds confidence among students in question-asking and question-answering situations
Provides a language to talk about comprehension strategies
Provides a language to talk about test requirements