Getting Ready for FCAT 2.0

1. Getting Ready for FCAT 2.0 December 13th, 2012 Whitney Frazier, Literacy Coach Laura Ross, Writing Coach Maggie Gardner, CRT Nicole Brouhard, Math Resource

2. The FCAT Who Takes It and Why? • FCAT is Florida’s plan to increase student achievement by implementing higher standards. • Grades 3-5 take FCAT 2.0. • The FCAT measures achievement of the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards.

3. What subject areas are measured by FCAT? • Reading (3rd,4th,5th) • Math (3rd, 4th, 5th) • Writing (4th) • Science (5th)

4. WEEK ONE Day 1 – Monday, April 15 Grades 3, 4, 5, 10* Reading – Session 1 70 minutes Grades 6, 7, 8 Mathematics – Session 1 70 minutes Grades 6, 7, 8 Mathematics – Session 2 70 minutes

5. High Complexity • Demands critical thinking skills. • Students have to think in an abstract and sophisticated way. • Involves multiple steps.

6. FCAT 2.0 Cognitive Complexity Level

7. Reading

8. High Complexity Read the following sentence that describes the picture in the article. Extravagant costumes and beautiful songs help turn Carol into a star in the opera Othello. Use the picture to help tell what the word extravagant means. • dirty and dull • modern and popular • ordinary and simple • expensive and wonderful

9. What to Expect

11. Length of Texts • The length of reading selections should vary. • The table shows average lengths of texts. • Texts’ lengths must not exceed the maximum number however, poems may be shorter than the minimum indicated.

12. Math

13. High Complexity Mrs. Tellez is buying fish for her fish tank. The price of each fish changes according to the type and size of the fish, as shown in the chart below. FISH PRICES

14. High Complexity Mrs. Tellez wants to buy 1 angelfish, 2 goldfish, 2 guppies, and 3 mollies. Which of the following could be the total cost of the 8 fish? • $ 8.00 • $ 9.00 • $10.00 • $11.00

15. Science

16. High Complexity Felipe and Marsha were studying forces and decided to do an experiment. They placed four equally sized blocks made of different materials on an elevated plastic tray. They watched the blocks move down the tray. Which of the following conclusions can Felipe and Marsha make about the forces that cause the blocks to move down the tray? • The force of friction is the same on each block. • The force of friction causes the speed of each block to increase. • The force of gravity causes all the blocks to move at the same speed. • The force of gravity is greater than the force of friction on all the blocks.

17. So What Can You Do As a Parent? • Read with your child at least 30 minutes a night (fiction/nonfiction). • Listen to your child read. • Ask questions about the story to your child.

18. Writing

19. Testing Day Tips • Be here on time (8:10). • Breakfast will be provided for grades 3-5 on testing days. • Get plenty of sleep. • Be relaxed. • Be positive. • Encourage your child to do their best.

20. FCAT Resources • FCAT 2.0 site: http://fcat.fldoe.org/ • Test Item Specifications: http://fcat.fldoe.org/fcat2/itemspecs.asp • FCAT Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]: http://www.fldoe.org/faq/default.asp?Dept=179&Cat=0 • Test Design Summary: http://fcat.fldoe.org/pdf/designsummary.pdf • FCAT Writing Lessons Learned: http://fcat.fldoe.org/lessonslearned.asp

21. Questions?

22. What Can I Do To Help My Student? • Read at least 20 minutes a night with your child. • Make sure that the book is on their reading level. • Ask the students questions about what they have read. • Read both fiction and non-fiction books, flyers, brochures, etc. • Read, Read, Read!