FCAT FAMILY NIGHT thursday , February 12, 2009

1. Andover Middle School“From Excellence to Emminence” FCAT FAMILY NIGHT thursday, February 12, 2009

2. 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~

3. Test Dates • FCAT Reading • FCAT Math • March 10th • March 11th

4. 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.

5. FCAT Reading Clusters

6. FCAT Math Strands

7. 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:

8. FCAT Achievement Levels

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Language Arts/Reading Department C. Henfield O. Powell-Quildon A. Smith T. Taylor

14. Reading is the greatest single effort that the human mind undertakes, and one must do it as a child. John Steinbeck

15. Good Readers Activate Self-question Draw inferences Determine importance Monitor comprehension Using sensory images Use fix-up strategies Synthesize

16. Levels of ComplexityTargets 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. READERS USE STRATEGIES Think about what they already know Predict Connect to the text Determine importance – separate details from main ideas.

20. 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

21. 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.

22. BEST PRACTICES ENGAGE STUDENTS: USE accessible text Poems, cartoons, newspapers, magazines, speeches, essays, internet material, graphs, charts, graphic novels, manuals, menus, music lyrics, brochures…

24. Vocabulary Development

25. ASSIGNMENT Your task is to identify a strategy to use with your child using an accessible text item.

26. Mathematics Department J. Noel K. Foutch B. Diaz B. Davis

27. 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.

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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!"

32. 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

33. 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