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Reviewing MCAS in History and Social Science

Reviewing MCAS in History and Social Science. In the Elementary Grades. Kevin M. Dwyer Student Assessment Services Massachusetts Department of Education 10/30/07. What do we expect? . Scope and Sequence Grade 3

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Reviewing MCAS in History and Social Science

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  1. Reviewing MCAS in History and Social Science In the Elementary Grades Kevin M. Dwyer Student Assessment ServicesMassachusetts Department of Education 10/30/07

  2. What do we expect? • Scope and Sequence • Grade 3 • History: Massachusetts from the Pilgrims to the present; prominent MA citizens • Geography: MA & its physical features; NE states • Civics: local government; prominent local landmarks; key national documents • Economics: role of taxes; role of specialization in businesses and industries

  3. Scope and Sequence (cont) • Grade 4: North American Geography • United States • 50 states and capitals; five (5) regions • Physical characteristics, resources, landmarks • Canada • Provinces, major cities, climate types • Major physical characteristics, resources • Mexico • Major cities, topography, climate types • Major physical characteristics, resources

  4. Scope and Sequence (cont) • Grade 5: Early American History • Pre-Columbian • Incas, Aztecs, Maya—locations, political structures • Age of Exploration and Settlement • Major explorers and their journeys • European colonization—Spain, Holland, France • The English Colonies, 1607-1765 • Founding of and life in the 13 colonies • Revolution and the Early Republic, 1765-1812 • Declaration, Constitution, major figures

  5. How do we assess? • Each test assesses two years of content • Gr 5 MCAS assesses Grade 4 & 5 standards • Gr 7 MCAS assesses Grade 6 & 7 standards • High School MCAS assesses US I & US II • MCAS assesses the learning of content and the demonstration of skills outlined in the Curriculum Framework • Every MCAS test item assesses a standard in the framework • Tactical info • Multiple-choice items count for one point • Open-response items are scored within a range (from one to four points) • Open-response items are set within the context of a module (stimuli, 3 MC, 1 OR)

  6. Test Structure Approximate Distribution of Test Items Per Form by Item Type (Grades 5 & 7)

  7. Reporting Categories MCAS History and Social Science, Grade 5

  8. How do districts align? • That’s a local issue • Ideally, the real work of alignment occurs at the school and classroom level • Several approaches may be useful • Embrace content literacy • Use content in History and Social Science to develop reading, writing, and vocabulary skills • Emphasize thematic understanding • What big ideas drive the story?

  9. Content Literacy: Cross-over As History • Who • What • When • Where • Why • How As Literature • Character • Plot • Setting • Theme • (Theory)

  10. Useful Approaches • “Telescoping”— • An ability to apply the appropriate level of focus to the most pertinent details • Thematic Understanding— • Themes help to organize the narrative • The framework suggests seven themes • All open-response questions relate to at least one of these themes

  11. Curriculum Framework Themes • The evolution of the concepts of personal freedom, individual responsibility, & respect for human dignity • The growth and impact of centralized state power • The influence of economic, political, religious, and cultural ideas as human societies move beyond regional, national, or geographic boundaries • The effects of geography on the history of civilization and nations • The growth and spread of free markets and industrial economies • The development of scientific reasoning, technology, and formal education over time and their effects (etc.) • The birth, growth, and decline of civilizations

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