FCAT 2.0 Reading Night

1. Welcome! FCAT 2.0 ReadingNight January 31, 2013

2. FCAT 2.0 Reading NightAgenda • Welcome/Introductions • What is expected of students? • How will students prepare? • How will students prepare for Writing 2.0 • How can parents assist? • Question/Answer

3. FCAT 2.0 • The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test ® 2.0 (FCAT 2.0) measures achievement of Florida students in writing, reading, mathematics, and science. End-of-course (EOC) assessments measure achievement of Florida students who have completed coursework in Algebra1, Geometry, Biology, and U.S. History.

4. FCAT 2.0 Reading Content

5. Types of Reading Text (Literary Text) • Literary Text • Fiction – Short Stories, Poetry, Historical fiction, Fables, Folk tales, tall tales, Legends, Myths, Fantasy, Drama, Excerpts from longer works • Nonfiction – Biographical and autobiographical sketches, diaries, memoirs, journals, letters, Essays (e.g., personal and classical narratives) Critiques

6. Types Reading Text (Information Text) • Primary Sources/Nonfiction • Historical documents (e.g. Bill of Rights), Essays (e.g., informational, persuasive, analytical, historical, scientific) • Secondary Sources/Nonfiction • Magazine articles, Newspaper articles, Editorials, Encyclopedia articles • Functional Materials • Consumer documents (e.g., warranties, manuals, contracts, applications) • Embedded in text (e.g., tables, charts, maps, graphs, illustrations, photographs, captions, text boxes) • How-to articles, brochures, fliers, schedules, website pages

7. Length of Text

8. Time • Two 70 minute sessions =140 minutes • SPED & ESOL – The length of the school day Test Dates • FCAT 2.0 Writing – February 26-27 • FCAT 2.0 Reading - April 15th – 30th • CELLA– March 5—April 5th

9. Testing Policies to be aware of • Electronic Devices Policy – If students are found with ANY electronic devices during testing, their tests will be invalidated. • The best practice would be for students to leave devices at home on the day of testing.

10. How will teachers prepare students for Reading Success? • Continuous Teacher modeling of effective reading strategies • Reading across all content areas • Continuous assessment results to inform instruction and progress • Skill focused reading lessons • Rigorous questions: infuse critical thinking • ELL Tutoring • School-wide Intervention Groups

11. FCAT 2.0 Sample Reading Test • Effective Reading Strategies • Before • During • After

12. How can Parents assist? • www.readingplus.com/users • Site code: ccmschool • FCATExplorer.com • OdysseyCompasslearning.com • Odyssey.dadeschools.net • Achieve 3000: Teenbiz • Reading every night

13. FCAT Writing 2.0 – 8th GradeRX for High Quality Writing • FOCUS • clearly establishes a main idea, theme, or topic • consistent awareness: maintains theme or unifying point throughout • ORGANIZATION • Structure/Plan of Development (Sequence, Cause/Effect, Compare Contrast, etc.) • Structure: Beginning, middle, end • Transitional: Logically embedded devices to signal relationships and connections between sentences

14. FCAT Writing 2.0 – 8th GradeRX for High Quality Writing • SUPPORT • Quality Details to explain, clarify or define • Quality of support: specificity, depth, relevance and thoroughness • Elaboration with Concrete details • Pertinent information helping reader construct mental images • Precise word choice to support ideas • Natural, reasonable consistent tone to response • Credibility • CONVENTIONS • Varied Sentence Structures to allow emphasis of critical pointes • Punctuation • Capitalization • Spelling

15. Infusing Writing at Home • Examples: • Have your child write to tell you about their daily activities. • Have your child write to persuade you with adequate support (rather than ask) why they need you to buy them something. • If you text with your child, require full words rather than text abbreviations.

16. Supporting Successful Children • Monitor your child’s school performance. • Provide a quiet, suitable environment and materials to complete Home Learning assignments. • Establish a schedule allowing adequate time for studying and free time. • Use an assignment book/agenda to monitor daily Home Learning tasks and completion

17. Supporting Successful Children • Review Home Learning assignments and help your child organize a plan for completing them. Ask questions abut problems – why did you choose that answer? Why do you thing the answer is correct? • Spend time talking and discussing books and assignments. Ask specific questions (show me how, tell me how…) • Discuss events – the school day, local news, world news. This will help acquire a wide range of knowledge.

18. Supporting Successful Children • It is vital that your child is getting a full night’s rest several nights before the test and during the assessment period. • Ensure students have a nutritious breakfast every morning. Remember, breakfast is available at school. • Make sure your child attends school daily. The more effort your child puts into learning, the more likely he/she will perform well.

19. Supporting Successful Children • Keep stress levels to a minimum. Let your child know how proud you are of them and that you know they will do their very best. • Relax, you are prepared and we know you can do it!

20. Questions/Answers www.countryclubmiddle.org