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Looking Back/ Looking Forward. Preparing to Implement the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. Teachers in Texas and Birdville have met the challenge for improvement in all content areas since the accountability system was introduced :. Mathematics Reading Writing. All Tests Taken.
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Looking Back/Looking Forward Preparing to Implement the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills
Teachers in Texas and Birdville have met the challenge for improvement in all content areas since the accountability system was introduced : Mathematics Reading Writing
Meeting the Challenge • These increases each year were accompanied by a narrowing gap between the performance of all students and of ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged students. • In fact, each of those subgroups improved their scores more significantly than the “all student” group between 1994 and 2002.
A New Challenge • Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS)
Preliminary Information • The assessment will be totally aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills in all content areas tested. • Assessments will cover a higher percentage of the TEKS than did TEKS-Based TAAS. • The sample items in TAKS Information Booklets demonstrate that questions and problems will require students to think and problem solve at a much higher level, to read much more closely than in previous assessments, and to write in a more real-world-focused way—reflecting the level of learning in the TEKS.
What are the implications for our district?
The implementation of TAKS means we will no longer have the conflict between: Source: The Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin
We must have a powerful instructional program: Source: The Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin
Taught Written Tested Reality
Tested Taught Written Our Goal
TAAS Mathematics From 1999 TAAS, Grade Four: Mr. Mendez had 2 orange groves. He sold 760 pounds of oranges from 1 grove and 650 pounds of oranges from the other grove. How many pounds of oranges did he sell? F. 1,100 lb. G. 1,310 lb. H. 1,410 lb. J. 13,110 lb.
TAKS Mathematics This is a TAKS fourth grade math item:
TAAS Reading From 1997 TAAS Reading, Grade 5: 6. The word impressive in this passage means-- F. asking for an answer G. concerned with training H. deserving of praise J. written in a hurry
TAKS Reading Look at the chart comparing the two stories. Story Differences The Sultan’s Pearls The King’s Gold The sultan’s empire is The king’s castle is near the sea. near the mountains. The wise man looks for The guard searches the person who took the for the thief. pearls. ____________________ The wise man thinks carefully as he searches for the thief.
TAKS Reading Which of these best completes the chart? A. The guard thinks the king has misplaced the gold in the castle. B.* The guard accuses the second man but has little proof. C. The guard believes the king will blame him. D. The guard questions many suspects before he finds the thief.
TAAS Writing Fourth Grade TAAS Writing, 1997: My best friend is having a slumber party next friday. We (16) aregoing to camp in tents in her yard. We’lleach have to (17) (18) bring apillow sleeping bag, and flashlight. Her dad is (19) planing to cook hot dogs over a campfire for us. Her aunt just returned from africa and will tell stories aroundthe (20) fire. I can hardly wait until the weekend. 16. A. Spelling B. Capitalization C. Punctuation D. No mistake
TAKS Writing 4th Grade Writing TAKS 3. Which sentence could BEST be added after sentence 9? A.* Mom couldn’t reach the duckling, either. B. Last summer I broke my arm. C. We had been feeding Daisy for many years. D. Ducklings always follow their mothers. This item asks students to determine which of four sentences is needed in order to give the reader a better understanding of the events in the paragraph.
TAAS Writing Writing Prompt from 1997 TAAS, Grade 4: Think about a time when something exciting happened to you. Write a story telling all about the time when something exciting happened to you. BE SURE YOU HAVE WRITTEN YOUR COMPOSITION ON THE TWO LINED PAGES ON THE ANSWER DOCUMENT.
TAKS Writing Grade 4 Sample Prompt for TAKS: Write a composition about a time when you made a new friend.
TAKS Writing • REMEMBER--YOU SHOULD • write about a time when you made a new friend • make sure that each sentence you write helps the reader understand your composition • write about your ideas in detail so that the reader really understands what you are saying • try to use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and sentences
TAAS Science 2002 Science TAAS - Grade 8 Which of the following jawbones is most likely from an animal that relied on plants as its main food source? AC BD
TAKS Science Science TAKS - Grade 5 Which skull belongs to an animal best adapted for catching and eating fish? AC BD*
TAKS Science Science TAKS - Grade 5 Three soil samples were tested to see how much water each could hold. The same amount of water was added to each funnel of soil. Very few plants would probably grow in the clay because the water would – A fail to reach the roots of the plants B become too cloudy C run through the soil too quickly D become poisonous to the plants
Every reading prompt used in the TAKS Reading Information Booklet grades 3-6 has a Social Studies theme. (You can draw your own conclusions!) Social Studies: A K-12 Program
Birdville students have traditionally performed poorly on TAAS in the Social Studies areas of economics and geography. The majority of these concepts are student expectations introduced and developed in elementary, beginning in Pre-K and K. Social Studies: A K-12 Program
Mosteconomics vocabulary and concepts are introduced and taught in grades 1-4. In several cases they are not taught again until they’re tested in 8th grade. This has created difficulty for middle school teachers who have been responsible for preparing students for the Social Studies TAAS tests. Social Studies: A K-12 Program Example: Scarcity is supposed to be introduced and taught at the 3rd grade level! It doesn’t reappear until 8th grade testing.
The Mohair Industry in Texas • Goats, whose fleece is used to produce mohair, can be raised on hard, rocky land. • A subsidy (payment to farmers by the government to help keep up production) for the mohair industry was an economic benefit for Texas ranchers in the 1940’s • The mohair subsidies ensured that there would be an adequate supply of the fabric for military uniforms. • Texas leads the nation in mohair production, with most production in the Edwards Plateau. • Mohair has many uses and makes a very durable fabric. • Which of the following was NOT a reason for the mohair subsidy? • To support the war effort • To spur economic growth for Texas • To reduce production of mohair • To increase the supply of mohair Social Studies: A K-12 Program * 1997 TAAS, Grade 8
In order to be successful on the previous question, students must have had the following experiences in elementary: • knowledge of economic concepts. • experience reading social studies-related expository texts. • experience answering questions of similar difficulty.
Inventors found ways to replace manual labor with machines that helped speed the production process. • Factories brought workers together under one roof. • Large amounts of money were needed to develop industries. • Corporations could raise large amounts of money from investors. • Large numbers of people moved to areas where factories and textile mills were located. • Which is the most appropriate title for the information in the box? • Process of Invention • Effects of the Industrial Revolution • The Money Economy • Urbanization in Colonial America * 2001 TAAS, Grade 8
In order to be able to answer this question, students need to be able to draw on their knowledge and experience of elementary • economics • content (5th grade Industrial Revolution) • reading (expository text with a social studies theme)
The TEKS expectations that are tested on the Social Studies TAKS Tests in 8th, 10th, and 11th grades are the culmination of Social Studies instruction that begins in the earliest grades and that is built upon in each succeeding grade.
We have evidence of a need to refocus our instruction when we examine data from the 2002 tests.
