Making A New Friend

1. Making A New Friend Brian’s class is learning about China. Each student has been assigned a pen pal who lives in China. Every student must write a letter to introduce themselves to their new pen pal. Before Brian writes his letter, he makes a list of all the things he wants to tell his new friend. • Things to include in my letter: • My name and age • Things I like to do • Things I learn in school • What my favorite foods are • Which idea should Brian include under “Things I like to do”? • A 8 years old • B how to write in cursive • C Brian Wilson • D play baseball • An idea that Brian could add to his list about himself is – • F pets I have • G famous Americans • H facts about China • J my best friend’s kitten provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

2. Answer Sheet – For Teacher Use Notes to Teacher: The Standards of Learning English: Writing assessments ask students to respond to a series of multiple choice questions on different parts of the writing process. Prewriting is the getting-ready to write stage. Prewriting will be assessed on the Standards of Learning multiple-choice tests. Students will be provided with webs, lists, story frames, or event frames. They will be asked to analyze the visual and respond to questions. To be successful on this part of the test students must be able to focus on central topic and group related ideas. Students can prepare for this part of the Standards of Learning writing assessment by participating in different prewriting activities prior to writing. Student prewriting can be shared with their peers. Students can be asked questions like: Is there any item in the wrong place?, What could be added?, Should anything be deleted?, Who is the intended audience?, etc. provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

3. Here is the first part of Brian’s rough draft. Use it to answer the questions below. Dear Pen Pal, (1)I know we have never met but I feel like I already know something about you. (2)I have been studying China in school. (3)I have been studying China. (4)I know that the compass and the kite were invented in China. (5)I fly kites. (6)Kites are the most fun on windy days. (7)I also have a toy compass! (8)Once, my dad got poison ivy when we went on a hike in the woods. (9)He had to stay home from work because he was so itchy. • Which sentence should be removed because it repeats information already provided? • A sentence 1 • B sentence 3 • C sentence 4 • D sentence 5 • Which sentences can be removed because they do NOT stay on topic? • F sentences 1 and 2 • G sentences 3 and 4 • H sentences 5 and 6 • J sentences 8 and 9 provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

4. Answer Sheet – For Teacher Use Notes to Teacher: During the revising stage of the writing process students will revise for organization, specific vocabulary, and specific information. To assist students in developing these skills direct instruction must take place on grouping like information into clear paragraphs, ordering paragraphs so there is a logical flow of information and including vivid vocabulary in their writing. Working with students to replace “tired” words in their writing with “lively” ones will boost their vocabulary. Writer’s workshop mini-lessons provide the perfect opportunity to model the use of “vivid vocabulary” and passage organization. The Standards of Learning assessments will ask students to use their revising skills to identify ways to improve a passage that is provided. To be successful on his section of the assessment, students should be able to identify the intended audience, follow the organization of particular forms of writing and clarify writing when revising by including specific vocabulary and information. provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

5. Here is Brian’s second draft. Use it to answer the questions below. Dear Pen Pal, (1)I know we have never met but I feel like I already know something about you. (2)I have been studying China in school. (3)I have been studying China. (4)I know that the compass and the kite were invented in China. (5)I fly kites. (6)Kites are the most fun on windy days. (7)I also have a toy compass! (8)Once, my dad got poison ivy when we went on a hike in the woods. (9)He had to stay home from work because he was so itchy. 5 How is sentence 5 best written to include the MOST description? A I like to fly kites. B I like to fly colorful kites. C Kites are fun. D Kites go up in the air. • Brian has messy handwriting. To make sure his pen pal can read his letter he should – • F type it on a computer • G use a crayon • H get his sister to write it • J draw pictures provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

6. Answer Sheet – For Teacher Use Notes to Teacher: During the revising stage of the writing process students will revise for organization, specific vocabulary, and specific information. To assist students in developing these skills direct instruction must take place on grouping like information into clear paragraphs, ordering paragraphs so there is a logical flow of information and including vivid vocabulary in their writing. Working with students to replace “tired” words in their writing with “lively” ones will boost their vocabulary. Writer’s workshop mini-lessons provide the perfect opportunity to model the use of “vivid vocabulary” and passage organization. The Standards of Learning assessments will ask students to use their revising skills to identify ways to improve a passage that is provided. To be successful on his section of the assessment, students should be able to identify the intended audience, follow the organization of particular forms of writing and clarify writing when revising by including specific vocabulary and information. provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

7. Here is the second part of Brian’s rough draft. Use it to answer the questions below. (10)I am 8 years old and I am in third grade at Clover Elementary School. (11)I like to read books and play video games. (12)My favorite book is The Polar Express. (13)My favorite video game is called Hot Wheels World Race. (14)Pretend a car on a track. (15)It is really hard not to crash. (16)Do you like to play video games? (17)I like to play baseball with my friends after skool. (18)We play in my backyard. (19)I liek to be the first to bat. (20)I can hit the ball really far. • Another way to write I am as it is used in sentence 10 is – • A I will • B I’d • C I’m • D I have • Which sentence should be revised because it is NOT a complete sentence? • F sentence 10 • G sentence 11 • H sentence 14 • J sentence 15 provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

8. Answer Sheet – For Teacher Use Notes to Teacher: During the editing stage of the writing process students will edit for correct sentence formation, grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. To assist students in developing these skills direct instruction must take place on sentence formation, grammar, capitalization and punctuation rules. Writer’s workshop conferences provide the perfect opportunity to work on these skills with a student using their own writing. The Standards of Learning writing assessments ask students to use their editing skills to identify ways to improve a passage that is provided. To be successful on this section of the test students must be able to use complete sentences, use the word I in compound subjects, use past and present verb tenses, use singular possessives, use simple abbreviations, use correct spelling for frequently used words, including irregular plurals, e.g., men, children, punctuate correctly commas in a simple series, apostrophes in contractions with pronouns, e.g., I’d, we’ve. provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

9. Here Brian’s second draft. Use it to answer the questions below. (10)I am 8 years old and I am in third grade at Clover Elementary School. (11)I like to read books and play video games. (12)My favorite book is The Polar Express. (13)My favorite video game is called Hot Wheels World Race. (14)Pretend a car on a track. (15)It is really hard not to crash. (16)Do you like to play video games? (17)I like to play baseball with my friends after skool. (18)We play in my backyard. (19)I liek to be the first to bat. (20)I can hit the ball really far. 9 How is sentence 17 BEST written? A I like to play baseball with my friends after skoul. B I like to play baseball with my friends after schoul. C I like to play baseball with my friends after school. D as it is 10 How is sentence 19 correctly written? F I like to be the first to bat. G I leik to be the first to bat. H I leek to be the first to bat. J I lick to be the first to bat. provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

10. Answer Sheet – For Teacher Use Notes to Teacher: During the editing stage of the writing process students will edit for correct sentence formation, grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. To assist students in developing these skills direct instruction must take place on sentence formation, grammar, capitalization and punctuation rules. Writer’s workshop conferences provide the perfect opportunity to work on these skills with a student using their own writing. The Standards of Learning writing assessments ask students to use their editing skills to identify ways to improve a passage that is provided. To be successful on this section of the test students must be able to use complete sentences, use the word I in compound subjects, use past and present verb tenses, use singular possessives, use simple abbreviations, use correct spelling for frequently used words, including irregular plurals, e.g., men, children, punctuate correctly commas in a simple series, apostrophes in contractions with pronouns, e.g., I’d, we’ve. provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.