WELCOME 8 th Grade Mrs. Raimont Mrs. Kantner-Brill Mrs. Redding Ms. Finklestein

1. WELCOME 8th Grade Mrs. Raimont Mrs. Kantner-Brill Mrs. Redding Ms. Finklestein January 12, 2012 FCAT FAMILY NIGHT

2. FCAT Writing Test Tuesday, February 28th 2012

3. What is the FCAT writing? The FCAT writing requires students to draft a written response to an assigned topic within a 45 minute time period. Students are given an expository or a persuasive prompt to respond to. This year ALL students will receive the same prompt.

4. How is it scored? In writing, students can receive a score from 1 to 6, a 6 being the highest score. Each essay is scored by two examiner trained by the Department of Education. Therefore, students will receive either whole number scores or half number scores this year.

5. How Is It Scored? Focus- on topic Support – elaboration Organization – logical progression of ideas Conventions - grammar

6. When will I know how my child scored? Test scores for students and summary scores for schools are distributed in late May. Students will be given their reports to take home at the end of the school year.

7. Sample Expository Prompt Everyone has a favorite hobby or pastime. Think about your favorite hobby or pastime. Now write to explain why this is your favorite hobby or pastime.

8. Sample Expository Introduction On a typical day of school I count the seconds for the bell to ring and set me free from the shackles that bind me to my desk. I know that when it does, Matt will dash to basketball practice, and Ashley will prance around in the ballet studio. As for me, nothing compares to the joy I get from sprawling on my bed with my favorite authors. The “thing” for me is reading.

9. Sample Persuasive Prompt Recently, there has been a push for students to read more at home. Think about your position in this issue. Now write to convince your principal whether or not students should read more at home.

10. Sample Persuasive Introduction Curled up in my evergreen backyard I bask in a puddle of light with a novel held preciously in my arms. The story line and characters suck me in, and before I know it, the sun meets the tops of the houses at twilight. This is a daily occurrence for me, but so many students are missing out on the wonders of reading, and therefore, losing valuable skills. Mr. Principal, I wholeheartedly believe that students should indeed spend less time playing X-Box and more time reading at home.

11. What can I do to help my child become a better writer? Ask to see samples of his or her writing. (MYACCESS is a great source) Offer your critique. A captivating opening A clear main idea Supporting details that support that main idea Clear and effective language A purposeful closing Make sure that your child is completing his or her myaccessprompts on a timely basis. Provide words of encouragement to avoid test anxiety. Make sure your child attends writing camp if he or she has received an invitation.

12. FCAT 2.0 Reading Test • FCAT tests gets progressively more rigorous each year. • The assessment is compiled of easy, moderate, and difficult questions that assess an entire hierarchy of critical thinking skills. * Only 20 to 30 percent of students are expected to answer high complexity answers correctly.

13. Test Compilation: FCAT 2.0 Reading Portion • Grade 8 - 60% Informational • Magazine or newspaper articles • Textbook passages • Biographies • Brochures 40% Literary • Poems • Short stories • Plays

14. Major Benchmarks Students are expected to master a key set of benchmarks as established by the Department of Education. These benchmarks are featured in the form of questions on the FCAT. Here are some of the key benchmarks your child will be expected to know:

15. FCAT 2.0 Reading Grade 8Content Focus Areas Vocabulary in context and structure Author’s Purpose and Author’s Point of View Cause and Effect Comparison/Contrast Main Idea and Supporting Details Literary Elements (including plot development, characters, setting) Text Organizational Patterns Text Features (titles, headings, sub-headings, text in bold or italics) Synthesizing Information From Two Sources Descriptive and Figurative Language Determining Reliability and Validity of Information

16. General reading strategies that can be reinforced at home. • Predicting • Selective Underlining • Margin Note-taking • Summarizing • Paraphrasing • Identify tone • Re-read parts of passage

17. General question frames that can be applied to any passage. Main Idea: What would be another good title for the article? What is the central idea of the article? Author’s Purpose: What is the author’s purpose for saying ________? The author wants the reader to think _________. Analyzing and Evaluating The information in the article would be most useful for __________. Synthesizing How do _____ and ______ suggest the central idea that __________?

18. What else can YOU do to help? • Encourage your child to read every night. Reading Counts, it really does! • Monitor reading logs. • 40 points per quarter – regular classes • 60 points – advanced classes • Turn Off The TV, computer, phone, video game!! • Make sure students are completing their FOCUS, Study Island or other online program assignments without help or interruptions. • Read with your child. • Model by reading books/newspapers at home. • Make sure your child is completing all homework assignments. • Have a positive attitude towards the test.

19. Science FCAT

20. Test Details 5th, 8th and 11th graders take the Science FCAT. Test is comprised of two 80 minute sessions taken on the same day, Thursday, April 19th, 2012.

21. Question Types and Scoring • There are two types of questions on the Science FCAT. • Multiple choice- worth 1 point each and should take 1 minute to answer • Gridded response- worth 1 point and should take 1-1.5 minutes to answer.

22. What will the test encompass? FCAT will focus on science literacy and the ability to use scientific knowledge. Test will NOT focus on the pure memorization of material.

23. What is covered? The test questions are grouped into four clusters. - Physical/Chemical Sciences - Earth and Space Sciences - Life and Environmental Sciences - Scientific Thinking

24. SAMPLE QUESTIONS

27. How You Can Help Your Young Scientist • Encourage your child to read in the content area. • Turn on the Discovery channel to increase interest and background knowledge. • Discuss current science events. • Ask them to explain to you basic science phenomena. Why is the sky blue? What type of clouds are those? What causes morning dew?

28. Math FCAT

29. FCAT Math Test Design • Two 70 minutes sessions on the same day. • Approximately 60-65 questions • Two types of questions: • Multiple choice • Gridded response • Reference Sheet Provided • Four function calculator • Not a computation test

30. SSS Mathematics: Content

37. Gridded Response Question

38. How you can help your child prepare for the Math FCAT. • Make sure your child is completing homework/FOCUS/StudyIsland. • Calculate tips and total bill while dining out. • Compute gas mileage. • Figure out percentages while shopping: taxes, sales, discounts, rebates. • Practice math facts every day.  (Great websites available) • While cutting up a pizza, a pie, or a cake, talk about fractions.  • Discuss conversions using household items, i.e., 2 liter bottles/gallon of milk. • Point out graphs and charts in newspapers and discuss the findings and how displayed.

39. Helpful Websites Math www.connected.mcgraw-hill.com  (textbook website) http://fcat.fldoe.org/ www.fcatexplorer.comwww.studyguidezone.com/fcattest.htm Reading http://www.edinformatics.com/testing/testing.htm Writing http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/#

40. For copies of this presentation, please visit our school website www.pinescharter.net. • West Campus • General Tab • FCAT Family Night PowerPoint Presentation

41. Saturday, January 21, 2012 8:00am – 3:00pm Accepting donations every day from 8:00am – 4:00 Volunteers are needed on Fri. 1/20 beginning at 8:00am and Sat. 1/21 beginning at 7:00am. Contact Mrs. Torres— storres@pinescharter.com— with questions or to sign up for volunteer time.

42. Thank you for your time, attention, and dedication. Together we can ensure your child’s success!