Van Nuys Middle School STAR Testing Strategies

1. Van Nuys Middle School STAR Testing Strategies • Understanding the challenge • Test taking strategies that work • Doing our best • Being confident

2. Tools and Strategies to Prepare for the CST • Measuring Up – ELA, MATH • CST Released Test Questions – ELA, MATH, • HISTORY, SCIENCE • Kaplan Test-Taking Strategies – ELA, MATH • Periodic Assessments – ELA, MATH, HISTORY • SCIENCE • Jeopardy and millionaire math games • History Jeopardy Power Points • Study Island – ELA, MATH, HISTORY, SCIENCE • Daily warm-ups as a way of accessing prior knowledge • Dialogue with your fellow teachers • Instilling confidence in our students by recognizing • their hard work, not their intelligence

3. Commonly asked questions regarding standardized tests.

4. Why do we spend so much time reviewing the instructions? • If you do not understand how to take the test, YOU could make a major mistake that could negatively affect your score. • If you have any questions about how to take the test ASK THE TEACHER. It’s our job to answer the questions you have.

5. Can my test score be lowered if I do not bubble in the right way? • YES! Make sure you are bubbling in the answer completely. • Use a dark, #2 pencil. • Keep track of skipped answers and make sure your questions and answers match up on the answer sheet. • Every fifth question (5,10, 15, so on) check to make sure your test booklet and answer sheet match up.

6. Getting Stuck • What should I do if I get stuck on a question? Should I work at it for a while, or should I skip it?

7. Getting Stuck • Skip it. If you don’t get it within a minute you are wasting time. • Leave that space blank and move on to the next problem. • When you get to the end of the test, come back and use the strategies for guessing. • If you run out of time, make sure you answer every question.

8. Guessing • If I don’t know the answer should I guess, or is it better to leave the answer blank?

9. Guessing • YES!!! Guess, but only if you don’t know the answer. Guessing is the last thing you do, not the first! • Try to eliminate any obviously wrong answers first. • You are not marked down for wrong answers, so a guess is better than a blank space.

10. Guessing • “All of the Above” and “None of the Above” should be considered carefully. • If the choice uses words like “never” and “always” it is usually wrong. • Once you guess, stick with your answer. Only change if you are absolutely sure you are wrong. • If you get 5 “All or None of the above” in a row….you may want to go back and double check.

11. Why do we have to take these tests? • The state of California wants to know how much you know compared to other students in the same grade. • Your teachers need to know what you know and what you still need to learn. That way, they will be able to teach you better.

12. How well are we expected to do on the test? • You should always try to do your best. • Your scores on these tests will influence the classes you are assigned next year.

13. How well are we expected to do on the test? • You should show improvement from last year’s score to this year’s score; that means you have learned more than you were expected to learn in 1 year. • If your score remains the same, that means you have learned 1-years worth of work. • Your score should not go down.

14. Remember, this test is used tomeasure what you do know, not to make you feel bad because of what you don’t know.

15. What if there is a question we haven’t covered in class? • That is expected. The standardized tests are designed to test every State Standard. • Since the test is administered before the end of the year, some of the information may not have been covered yet in your classes. • Do your best on what you do know and remember from class.

16. What about test anxiety?

17. Test anxiety! • It is normal to be nervous. • Just slow down and relax. • Take a few deep breaths. • Very few people get it all right. • Remember: No one has ever died from taking the standardized test. • Take the tests one day at a time.

18. Fight Test Anxiety! • If you have a positive attitude going into the test, chances are you will do better. • Having a positive attitude will only make you feel better.

19. What can I do to be physically ready? • Get a good night’s sleep! You need to be rested and ready for the challenge of the new day. • This does not mean sleep in and get to school late, it means go to bed earlier. • Eat a good breakfast. The school will even see that you have one; we will feed you for free. • Stay away from soda, candy and coffee. They will make you too hyper to take the test.

20. Strategies for Language Arts Tests

21. Read the questions first! • When you read the questions first you prepare your mind for reading the selection. • Study any graphs, charts and/or diagrams. • Get an idea of what the passage will be about. • Pay attention to any vocabulary words they give. Write them on your scratch paper. • Make sure you understand what each question is asking you. • The best reason for reading the questions first is… Many questions can be answered without reading the selected text!

22. 69. Read this sentence. Hallidie believed that the cables would be strong enough to pull the cable cars up the steep slopes of the city. Which words from this sentence are adjectives? A strong, steep B would, enough C slopes, city D believed, pull 70. Which of the following sentences from paragraph 3 would make the most logical concluding sentence for that paragraph? A As a result, Hallifie began making wire cables. B He hired William E. Eppelsheimer, a German engineer, to design the first cable-car line. C Now he was ready to “go onboard.” D Hallidie also needed a franchise to build the system. 71.Read this sentence. About one month after the test run, the Clay Street Hill line opened for public use. (Kessler 21) What is the correct way to punctuate the in-text citation? A use (Kessler, 21) B use. (Kessler, 21) C use (Kessler 21). D use. (Kessler 21). 72. Read this sentence. San Francisco, ____________________, is the only city today where the cable car still operates. Which word or phrase could best provide a transition in this sentence that would unify its ideas with the previous sentence? A however B for example C as a result D nonetheless

24. 73. Read this sentence Puppet theaters can be traced back to ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and China;__________, some people believe that puppet theaters may have been the first theatre of any kind. Which word or phrase could best provide an effective transition between the two parts of the sentence? A in fact B even so C besides D additionally 74. Read this sentence There is four common types of puppets: shadow figures, rod puppets, marionettes, and hand puppets. What is the correct way to write the underlined words? A There is B There are C There are D They’re 75. Read this sentence. The puppets are quite memorable because their shadows are so intricate. Which underlined word is spelled incorrectly? A quite B memorible C their C intricate 75. Which statement in paragraph 3 of Kelsey’s draft should be supported with facts and details? A The Chinese used shadow figures made of animal skins or cardboard. B Rod puppets are more lifelike figures. C The third kind of puppet, the marionette, is difficult to manipulate. D Hand puppets are the fourth type of puppet.

26. When you must read the text to find the answer, read carefully! • Try reading only the first and last paragraphs as well as the first sentence of all other paragraphs. • Use your scratch paper to write down any important words. • Use your scratch paper to take notes about important ideas.

27. Look for Context Clues! • Check the text and question for clues to the meaning. • Look for relationships between words in definition questions. • Break down large words to figure out their meaning. • Use the reading strategies you learned in class.

28. Vocabulary-in-Context Questions Reading words in context makes figuring out tough vocabulary much easier. The test makers use Vocabulary-in-Contextquestions to test this important skill. Every time you read challenging text (a difficult novel or a quality newspaper), you figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words from the context. The context of a word is the words that surround it. If you’re stuck on an unfamiliar word, focus on any familiar words in the same sentence.

29. Vocabulary in Context (Example) For example, try to use the context clues in the following sentences to figure out the meaning of the word feigned: Keith feignedbeing sick so he could stay home from school. Using the clues sick and stay home from school makes it easier to understand that feigned means… faked.

30. Vocabulary in Context (Example) The thief kept his illicit wealth in a closet in the basement. We’re looking at a thiefwho is keeping illicit wealth in a closetin the basement. Using these clues, we come to the conclusion that illicit means illegal.

31. Vocabulary in Context (Practice) Incensed by his opponent’s behavior, the tennis player smashed his racket on the ground. Incensed means… A. interested B. amused C. unmoved D. enraged

32. Vocabulary in Context (Practice) We’re looking at someone who has smashed his racket on the ground. This person is not interested in or amused by his opponents behavior. And he is definitely not unmoved (his reaction is highly emotional.) We can conclude that he is enraged. D (enraged) would be the correct answer choice.

33. Vocabulary in Context (Practice) Since I had lost a few checker pieces, I used pennies to represent the missing ones. Represent means to… A. replace B. reject C. support D. revise

34. Vocabulary in Context (Practice) The speaker had lostsome checker pieces and used pennies instead. To use one thing instead of another is to replace it. A. Would be the correct answer.

35. Vocabulary in Context (Example) Though I was the one who came up with the concept for the design, she came up with the final product. Concept means… A. color B. idea C. money D. sketch

36. Vocabulary in Context (Practice) A major clue in this sentence is found in the word though because it indicates the speaker did something that was the opposite of the person who came up with the final product. Looking at the possible answers, I can see that the opposite of coming up with the final product would be coming up with the initial idea. B Would be the correct answer.

37. Answer the questions! • Eliminate any obviously wrong answers. • Choose the best answer from the remaining choices. • Bubble in the answer on your answer sheet; make sure you bubble in the correct space.

38. Double Trouble Answer Choices In the Language section of the Language Arts Test, underlined questions test your ability to correct grammatical errors in a sentence. The test makers underline only the specific phrase being tested. This is where you focus your attention.

39. Double Trouble Answer Choices A great strategy for underlined questions is to eliminate Double Trouble answer choices. On underlined questions,there is rarely more than one error in a sentence, but these questions will usually have one and sometimes two answer choices that correct more than one error. These are Double Trouble choices.

40. Double Trouble Answer Choices Double Trouble answer choices trick you into believing that because they correct more than one error, they must be the right answer choice. But they are not. The strategic thing to do is to immediately eliminate those answer choices that correct more than one error.Don’t even consider them. By doing this you greatly increase your chances of choosing the right answer.

41. Double Trouble Here is a sample question to practice on. The film Jaws was release in the 1970’s. A were release in the 1970’s. B was released in the 1970’s. Cwerereleased in the 1970’s. D Correct as is You can automatically eliminate answer C because it makes two corrections; was is changed to were, and release is changed to released. This is double trouble. Don’t waste your time considering this answer.

42. Try these Double Trouble problems • Did you know thatdoctor Lu is going to receive an award next week? • A Doctor Lu is going • B Doctor Lu are going • C doctor Lu, is going • D Correct as is • What answer choice can you automatically eliminate.

43. Double Trouble • You can automatically eliminate choice B because it makes two corrections: Doctor Lu are going. That’s Double Trouble. There should only be one correction in the answer. You’ve just increased your chances of getting the right answer by 25 %

44. Double Trouble (practice) • As she entered the office, Rachel asked, “Hello, is anyone there? • A there”. • B there • C there?” • D Correct as is • What answer choice can you automatically eliminate?

45. Double Trouble • You can automatically eliminate answer choice A because it makes two changes.

46. Double Trouble (practice) • TravelEast on Route 90 to get from Boston to Seattle. • A East on route 90 • B east on route 90 • C east on Route 90 • D Correct as is • Which answer choice can you automatically eliminate?

47. Double Trouble • You can automatically eliminate answer choice B.

48. Double Trouble (practice) • Please give the information to him and I so we can use it later on. • A he and me so • B him and me so • C he and I. So • D Correct as is • Which answer choice can you automatically eliminate?

49. Double Trouble • You can automatically eliminate answer choice A and answer choice C because they both make two corrections each. These types of questions never need more than one correction. By eliminating these two choices you increase your chance of getting the right answer by 50%.

50. Elimination strategies. Very often on standardized tests, whether it’s Math, English, Science, or Social Studies, you will see correct as is, all of the above, or none of the above as the last answer choice given. If you don’t know the answer to the question, immediately eliminate these answers. Most of the time they are wrong. Test makers use these options to trick you. They are answers that make you feel comfortable.