FCAT FAMILY NIGHTTHURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2009

Andover Middle School

“From Excellence to Emminence”

If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job. 

~Donald D. Quinn~

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Test Dates

FCAT Reading

FCAT Math

March 10th

March 11th

What is the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT)?

A test used to measure students knowledge and understanding of the Sunshine State Standards (SSS) in the areas of reading, writing, math and science.

The SSS outline what students should know and be able to do at each grade level.

There is a direct connection between the SSS and the questions on the FCAT.

FCAT Reading Clusters Grade WORDS &

PHRASES IMAIN IDEA,

PLOT & PURPOSE

COMPARISONS &

CAUSE/EFFECTREFERENCE &

RESEARCH

6-8 • words in context

• drawing conclusions

• organizational patterns

• main idea

• relevant details

• organizational patterns

• author’s purpose or point of view

• character & plot development

• setting

• conflict resolution

• tone

• use of comparison & contrast

• cause & effect relationships

• organization

• interpretation & synthesis of information

• validity & accuracy of information

FCAT Math Strands

NUMBER SENSE MEASUREMENT GEOMETRY ALGEBRA DATA

ANALYSIS

• identifies +, –, x, ÷

• determines estimates

• knows how numbers are

represented & used

• recognizes measurements & units of measure

• compares, contrasts, &

converts measurements

• describes, draws,

identifies, & analyzes two- &

three-dimensional

shapes

• visualizes and illustrates changes in

shape

• uses coordinate geometry

• describes, analyzes, & generalizes

patterns, relations, & functions

• writes and uses

expressions, equations,

inequalities, graphs, & formulas

• organizes, interprets, &

analyzes data

• identifies patterns &

makes predictions,

inferences, & valid

conclusions

• uses probability &

statistics

FCAT Scores

Scores for students on all tests range from a low of 100 to a high of 500.

Average student score throughout the state is 300.

Your child’s achievement on the FCAT falls into one of five possible levels:

FCAT Achievement LevelsLevel 5 Indicates that your child answered most questions correctly,

including the most challenging questions

Level 4 Indicates that your child answered most questions correctly, but was successful only some of the time with questions involving the most challenging content

Level 3 Indicates that your child answered many questions correctly but was generally less successful with questions involving the most challenging content

Level 2 Indicates that your child had limited success with the challenging content on the FCAT

Level 1 Indicates that your child had little success with the challenging content on the FCAT

What is the best way to prepare my child?

Make sure your child attends school regularly The more often your child is in a learning

situation, the more likely he/she will do well on tests.

Make sure your child arrives on time for school.

Give your child encouragement. Praise him/her for the things done well

throughout the year.See that your child has a well-rounded

diet. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind.

What is the best way to prepare my child?

See that your child completes homework assignments. Homework supports classroom instruction and

can help your child increase his/her comprehension of the classroom work.

Meet with your child’s teacher(s) as often as possible to discuss your child’s progress. Parents and teachers should work together to

benefit the child. Ask the teacher(s) to suggest activities

for you to do at home with your child.

What is the best way to prepare my child cont’d?Make sure your child is well rested on

school days. Children who are tired are less likely to pay

attention in class or handle the demands of classwork and tests.

Try not to be overly anxious about test scores. Too much emphasis on test scores can be

upsetting to children.

See that your child dresses comfortably. Students should wear school uniform and a sweater

of jacket if appropriate.

What is the best way to prepare my child cont’d?

If your child wears a hearing aid or glasses, be sure he/she remembers to use them during all testing sessions.

Make sure your child receives any necessary test-taking accommodations. Accommodations are available for students in

Special Education and students who are Limited English Proficient.

Language Arts/Reading Department

C. HenfieldO. Powell-Quildon

A. SmithT. Taylor

John Steinbeck

Reading is the

greatest single effort that the human

mind undertakes, and one must do it

as a child.

04/22/2023

15Good Readers

Activate Self-question

Draw inferences Determine importance

Monitor comprehension Using sensory imagesUse fix-up strategies

Synthesize

Levels of ComplexityTargets for Instruction and Assessment

Level 1 – Low ComplexityInvolves recalling, observing and representing basic

facts that demonstrate a surface level ofUnderstanding of text. Usually requires a student

to perform a one step process by:Locating detailsFinding details on charts, graphs, or diagramsRecognizing chronological orderIdentifying correct meaning of words in explicit

contextIdentifying figurative language in text

Level 2 – Moderate ComplexityInvolves summarizing, inferring, classifying, comparing, gathering

information,explaining, describing, while demonstrating a more complex level of understanding. Usually requires a student to perform a 2-step

process by: Using context clues to identify the meanings of unfamiliar words Interpreting the information in graphs, charts, and diagrams Recognizing patterns of organization Comparing meanings Determining how details support main idea Determining author’s main purpose or point of view Demonstrating an understanding of plot development Identifying cause and effect relationships Summarizing the major points of the text Identifying similarities and differences Determining fact or opinion

Level 3 – High ComplexityInvolves higher order thinking, conceptual understanding, generalizing

abstract reasoning, theme identification and complex inferencing within and

across text. This level requires a student to perform multiple steps by: Analyzing the use of figurative language in text Showing how graphs, charts and diagrams contribute to a text Analyzing in depth similarities and differences Analyzing cause and effect relationships Determining author’s purpose and/or point of view and how it affects

the text Describing and illustrating how common themes are found across

texts Applying text-based information to a similar situation Identifying and evaluating devices of persuasion Evaluating strong vs. weak argument Describing and analyzing the characteristics of various types of text

READERS USE STRATEGIESThink about what they already

know

Predict

Connect to the text

Determine importance – separate details from main

ideas.

Readers consciously try to anticipate what the text will be about before reading.

They connect by skimming and surveying:

Art work - TitleHeadings – Sub-headingsGraphs - Charts - Pictures

Length- Print Size

BOOK WALK

BOOK WALK TALK

What’s familiar? Skim & survey things that are familiar and connect to

your life or world.What topics are covered?

What topics seem to be most important?What questions do you have?

Questions of interest.How is it organized?

What categories of information are provided?Translate

Read & translate. Use index cards for vocab.

BEST PRACTICES

ENGAGE STUDENTS:

USE accessible text Poems, cartoons, newspapers, magazines, speeches, essays, internet material, graphs, charts, graphic novels, manuals, menus, music lyrics, brochures…

Vocabulary Development

ASSIGNMENT

Your task is to identify a strategy to use with your child using an accessible

text item.

Mathematics Department

J. NOELK. FOUTCHB. DIAZB. DAVIS

Why is Math important?

It is the most widely used subject in the world.

Every career uses some sort of math. Doing math helps the mind to reason and

organize complicated situations or problems into clear, simple, and logical steps.

As students learn more math, the rationale is that their minds will eventually develop into logical entity that can resolve any difficult situation.

FCAT Preparation

Students who are successful on the FCAT has the following in common.

Attends class regularly Ask questions Completes homework regularly Read the textbook Get additional help when necessary

Math Test Taking Tips

Read the directions Read each problem and question very carefully Think – what is the question asking me? Look for the information you will need to use to

answer the question Think – how will I answer this question? What

strategy will I use? Check your work and answers Plan your time – Do not spend too much time on one question Be positive, concentrate and do your best

Best Practices

Review all problems done in class Never give up Most mathematical concepts are not perfected without many hours of practice and reiteration Don’t give up Try, Try and Try again

Quote

Teacher: "Who can tell me what 7 times 6 is?“

Student: "It's 42!"

Teacher: "Very good! - And who can tell me what 6 times 7 is?"

Same student: "It's 24!"

Riddle 1)How can you add eight 8's to get the number

1,000? (only use addition)

Answer to Riddle: The key to this math riddle is realizing that the

one place must be zero. 888 +88 +8 +8 +8 =1,000

Resources to help my childFCAT Sample Test Booklets

http://fcat.fldoe.org/fcatsmpl.asp FCAT Explorer

http://www.fcatexplorer.com FCAT Released Tests

fcat.fldoe.org/fcatrelease.asp