Social Studies Special Programs 2010-2011

1. Social Studies Special Programs 2010-2011 Chris Treadway – Social Studies Project Manager Veronica Barron – WVDE Office of Instruction Special Programs Assistant Joey Wiseman – WVDE Office of Instruction Social Studies Coordinator

2. Golden Horseshoe 2011

3. WV Studies Teachers • We need a list of your county’s WV Studies teachers’ name and e-mail address.

4. Golden Horseshoe Test April Test Dates Vary by County April 1-8, 2011 Make-up days will be assigned as necessary county-by-county

6. Student Test Registration WVDE aggregates the data available on WVEIS for automatic registration of each teacher’s class Students are registered for the test based on the class information in WVEIS Students use online practice quizzes to prepare for test. Student user ID and password remains the same for the actual test. WV History Teachers share this information with test moderator on test day in the event that a student forgets this procedure.

7. Sample Test Items for Practice • Available from January 18, 2011 – March 31, 2011 at 11:59PM • 10 items released from last year’s test • Added to the 30 items already available • There is no special teacher access to these items. • The items cannot be printed as a whole document.

8. Home School Students Home school students are to contact the school in their district and inform the principal that they need to register: School/Golden Horseshoe Contact will need to complete a Golden Horseshoe Registration form for the student. The form will need to be e-mailed to rjwisema@access.k12.wv.us and/or vbarron@access.k12.wv.us. All fields must be completed or the form will be returned. Access to practice quizzes Make arrangements with the principal and the WV Studies teacher to take the essay test at the school on the essay test day ONLY. Make arrangements to take the multiple-choice test at the school on the county designated day ONLY

9. Private School Students Private schools need to contact the County Golden Horseshoe Contact. School contact will need to complete a Golden Horseshoe Registration form for the student. The form will need to be e-mailed to rjwisema@access.k12.wv.us and/or vbarron@access.k12.wv.us. All fields must be completed or the form will be returned. WVDE assigns passwords to all students who are listed on the spreadsheet Private school students have access to all practice quizzes, essay test and multiple-choice exam Private schools must give the exam on their designated county exam day.

10. Sample Test Items • Good practice for using the test site • Trial and practice prior to test day ensures easy access for the student when test day arrives • All students who plan to take the Golden Horseshoe Test must login to the WV Learns site by March 1, 2011. • Important to afford them the opportunity to practice prior to test day

11. 2011 Golden Horseshoe Test Format – Multiple Choice Portion Multiple choice exam is to be given on the designated county test day The multiple choice exam is 50 questions and must be given in a 45 minute time period The test will be turned on at the beginning of the school day and off at the end of the school day on the designated day of your county exam. Test Administrator must not be the regular classroom teacher for West Virginia History Test Administrator may be the school counselor, county coordinator, or teacher from a different curricular discipline.

12. 2011 Golden Horseshoe Test Format – Essay Portion Essay test must be completed in class on February 24, 2011. Essays will be sent electronically from my office to the county coordinator one weeks prior to the test date. Essay test administration details will be sent electronically with the essay test. Time allotted for the essay will be one 40-45 minute class period. If an emergency should occur causing a county school system to be closed on the day of the essay test, the makeup day for the essay will be the first day students return to class. Essays are to be mailed back to my office. All essays will be due in my office on March 4, 2011.

13. January Packet Electronic Only • Like last year, the test information, ceremony details and Golden Horseshoe Honorary Nominee forms for Superintendents will be sent to you electronically. • Please watch for it in January • Read receipt request will be included to ensure that it was delivered and opened

14. 2011 Essays for Practice Email this year will include past essays Please use these as class assignments to help improve your students’ writing ability Please make sure to use the past essays as writing prompts and NOT the actual Golden Horseshoe Essay prompt.

15. Accessing Practice Test on Acuity • Log on to https://www.acuityathome.com • Type in your assigned username and password • On the next screen you will select TAKE A TEST • Select Subject: SOCIAL STUDIES • Pick one of the practice tests • You will navigate through the test answering questions • At the end of the test, you have 2 choices you can SAVE & EXIT and go back to the test later or you can click on FINISH & TURN IN TEST. This screen also shows you any questions that you have forgot to answer. • On the day of the actual Golden Horseshoe test be sure to click on FINISH & TURN IN TEST or it will NOT be scored.

16. Golden HorseshoeTest Administration Reminder Test Administrator must not be the regular classroom teacher for West Virginia History Test Administrator may be the school counselor, county coordinator, or teacher from a different curricular discipline.

17. Questions