FCAT 2.0 F.Y.I.MARCH 15, 2014

Who is tested? 2012 FCAT 2.0 Test Dates

FCAT Reading April 14th & 15th (Grades 3, 4, 5)

FCAT Math April 21st & 22nd (Grade 3, 4) April 28th – May 1st (Grade 5)

FCAT Science April 21st & 22nd (Grade 5)

Types of Test Questions

Reading Multiple choice Math Multiple choice grade 3 Multiple choice and gridded response

grades 4 & 5 Online testing for grade 5 Science Multiple Choice

FCAT 2.0 Reading

The FCAT 2.0 Reading assessments in grades 3-10 include reading passages from the public domain, such as historical documents and works by classical authors.(e.g. Bill of Rights, Twain, etc.)

FCAT 2.0 Reading tests will ONLY have multiple-choice items.

The FCAT 2.0 Reading assessments in grades 3-10 will include a great number of test items that require reasonable inferences and reasonable prior knowledge.

FCAT 2.0 Reading Reporting Categories for Grades 3-5

Length of Texts

Types of Reading Text

How you can help at home…

Reading aloud with your child and asking questions along the way.

Share interesting articles, recipes, brochures, graphic novels, etc.

Use reading website links from school website.

Review weekly reading tests at home with your child.

Allow time for FCAT Explorer (3rd and 4th grade)

FCAT 2.0 Math

Next Generation Sunshine State Standards

Multiple Choice (MC) Items Gridded responses in 4th and 5th grades 3rd and 4th grade students answer in

test book 5th grade students will test online

Gridded Response Examples (4th and 5th)

MATH FCAT 2.0

How do I help with Math at home?

FCAT Explorer (5th Grade) Think Central Resources (Online

Intervention, Destination Math, Mega Math)

I-Ready Reflex Check your child’s homework Communicate with your child’s teacher

Math At Home… Have children work with money,

tell time, and practice measuring objects for length, capacity.

  Help your child skip count by

2’s, 5’s, 10’s from a given number forward and backwards.

  Practice addition, subtraction,

multiplication and division facts with your child.

  Identify geometric figures

together.  Keep a math journal with your

child  Play games with your child

(chess, checkers, backgammon, etc.)

Read and interpret graphs in newspapers, and magazines

Discuss sports statistics Read math-related children’s

literature Read and interpret maps

Review the work of your child.  Talk to your child’s teacher on a

regularly   Have your child explain how they

solved their homework problems  Review the math your child’s math

notebook   Offer praise, and comments for work

well done and encouragement to succeed

Math at Home…(Cont.) Make a Schedule (Time/Organization) Cook (Measure/Set the Oven/Use a

Timer/Divide in Portions) Grocery Shop (Round/Estimate/Size

Things Up/Make a List) Fill Out Order Forms Start a Savings/Checking Account

(Credit/Debit) Make a Budget Make a Math or Spending Journal Make a List Record the Temperature (Make a

Chart/Make a Graph) Record Heights and Weights of

Family Members (Make Charts/Graphs)

Read Maps (Road/Subway/Bus/Atlases/Neighborhood)

Estimate and Measure (Rooms/Heights/Things Around the House)

Estimate (Quantities/Distance/Time/Money)

Guessing Games (Heights/Number of Items/Time of Day)

Put Together Puzzles/Connect the Dots/Crosswords

Play Games (Checkers, Dominoes, Chess, Monopoly, etc.)

Look for Patterns Sort

(Toys/Buttons/Blocks/Shells/Rocks) Use Math Words

(Sum/Total/Difference/Product, etc.) Use a Calculator Read Labels (10% Fat/16 ounces/3

grams) Look for Numbers, Graphs, etc. in

Newspapers & Magazines Order a Math Magazine (Zillions) Talk Math With Your Child Why do you think that? Explain

Science FCAT (5th Grade)

All questions are multiple choice. Will require knowledge of standards from

grades 3-5. Encourage the use of FCAT Explorer for

science practice (5th grade).

Science FCAT Complexity and Reporting Categories

Steps to Better Test Taking

Name Memory Dump Mnemonic devices Acronyms, silly

sentences, pictures, Thinking Maps

Preview test Say affirmations Develop plan Budget your time Read directions carefully

for clarification

Answer all questions Easiest ones first Then difficult ones Review test Did I answer all the

questions? Did I bubble correctly? Change an answer

ONLY if you are sure Use all allotted time

Multiple Choice

Read the whole question. Read all possible choices. Cross out incorrect answers. Treat options as true/false questions. There is only one correct answer. Use clues within the question to jog memory. If you choose to skip a question, mark the

question with an (* or ?) so you will remember to come back to that question.

Eliminate similar answers.

Preparing For Test Day

Get to bed early. Make sure they have eaten breakfast or

arrive to school on time to eat in the cafeteria.

Encourage them to do their best on the test.

Thank You!