PSSA Prep: Resources, Tools, and Strategies to improve student achievement
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Transcript of PSSA Prep: Resources, Tools, and Strategies to improve student achievement
PSSA Prep:Resources, Tools, and
Strategiesto improve student
achievement
Colonial Intermediate Unit 20Educational Consultants
Kathy Emeigh610-515-6546
[email protected] Petrilak
Guiding Questions: What resources can help us to
decide our instructional focus?
What tools are available for us?
What are practical strategies are there to embed PSSA prep in our daily instruction?
Bright Ideas Periodically a
“Stop, Drop, and Jot” will take place.
Use Bright Ideas paper to generate ideas of the information you’ve heard throughout the training.
Why focus on the special education population?
To meet adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) required by No Child Left Behind (NCLB) schools and subgroups must meet four targets: Student achievement at proficiency or
above For 2006-07 Math score - 45% (56% for ’08-’10) For 2006-07 Reading score - 54% (63% for
’08-’10) 95% participation 90% attendance 80% graduation rate
Special Education is a Subgroup
Subgroups must meet targets or a school does not meet AYP
Subgroup has 40 or more students.
Bottom line… at least for now is that IEP students need to improve their PSSA performance
The Good and the Bad of It Good
IEP students responsible for same Anchors/Standards as regular education students
IEP aligned to Anchors/Standards giving Special Education teachers a clear instructional focus.
Schools can meet AYP through a Safe Harbor.
Bad Rules changed mid
game. Chronological age and
grade used as the basis for state assessment.
Some districts may only focus on the IEP students who are capable of raising PSSA scores.
Logic 101 Continue to expect
all students make progress
AND Identify students
who will increase the school or district proficiency rate by 10%.
PA Academic Standards1.1, 1.2, 1.3
Assessment Anchor Content Standards
A.1, A.2, B.1, B.2, B.3
Anchor Descriptors
EligibleContent
“Trifolds” and More from IU 13
http://www.iu13.org/inst_init_literacy_anchor.shtmlFor reading assessment anchor content
standards presented in “teacher friendly” charts and graphs.
http://www.iu13.org/inst_math_anchors.shtmlFor math assessment anchor content standards
presented in “teacher friendly” charts and graphs.
THE TRIFOLDS ARE GREAT! EASY COMPARISON ACROSS THREE GRADE LEVELS.
Reporting Category
Five Math Reporting Categories:
A. Numbers & OperationsB. MeasurementC. GeometryD. Algebraic ConceptsE. Data Analysis & Probability
Two Reading Reporting Categories:A. Comprehension and Reading SkillsB. Interpretation and Analysis of Literature
Eligible Content
Known as “assessment limits”
Identify how deeply teachers need to
cover an Anchor to prepare students
for PSSA
Not all Eligible Content is assessed on the PSSA; shows the range of knowledge from which the test
was designed.
Test Blueprint- Math
Reporting Category
Grade3
Grade4
Grade5
Grade6
Grade7
Grade8
Grade11
Numbers and Operations
40-50% 43-47% 41-45% 28-32% 20-24% 18-22% 12-15%
Measurement 12-15% 12-15% 12-15% 12-15% 12-15% 12-15% 12-15%
Geometry 12-15% 12-15% 12-15% 15-21% 15-21% 15-20% 12-18%
Algebraic Concepts
12-15% 12-15% 13-17% 15-20% 20-27% 25-30% 36-42%
Data Analysis and
Probability13-16% 12-15% 12-15% 15-20% 15-20% 15-20% 12-18%
Total Points66
Points66
Points66
Points66
Points66
Points66
Points66
Points
Begin With the “End” in Mind!
Information on Assessment Anchor Content Standards
Open website to:www.pde.state.pa.us
Click on tab Pre K- 12 Left hand side of page, click on
Assessment Left hand side of page, click on
Assessment Anchors
Downloadable Tools
The Assessment Anchors and Glossaries are here
Item Samplers,
Handbook with Blueprints,
Formula Sheets
…and More from IU 13 An Assessment Anchor Guide with:
assessment anchoreligible content
key vocabulary All on one teacher friendly page! http://www.iu13.org/inst_init_literacy_anchor.shtml http://www.iu13.org/inst_math_anchors.shtml
Source of the words contained in this packet:
The words were taken from one of the forms of the 2005 Math and Reading PSSA
They were not taken from test content, but from test question forms
Please note that these words are not intended as a complete listing.
The list represents the critical content words that “stood out” upon review.
Purpose of Adopt-A-Word To give students access to vocabulary
that will help them better comprehend the intent of test questions
To give teachers concise and common “test” vocabulary to embed in current classroom routines and curriculum across content areas
Why “adopt” a word?
In a learning community, it is very important that all teachers take ownership of critical content vocabulary.
Students need multiple opportunities for exposure to these words across content areas
And from Susan in Philadelphia School
District…..
3 pages of strategies!
“Some PSSA Glossary Words Ideas and Mini-
Lessons”
A “Collection” of Strategies!
From Joann in Pocono Mt. School District. Using the Item Samplers from PDE:
Practice with sticky notes Double-space and enlarge font (“George” went
from below basic to proficient with this strategy!) Have your students grade the sample student
responses, and see if their score agrees with PDE’s.
Use acetate sheets and “grease” pencils to allow the students to interact with the text in a more concrete way.
A “Collection” of Strategies!
From Susan in Philadelphia School District.
Using the Rubrics from PDE: With your class, generate “student friendly”
rubrics. Student Work Sheet Constructed Response –
Graphic using the 3 point reading rubric Uses “Reading Responses” with lawyer talk. She gave us the ideas for glossary mini-
lessons!
A “Collection” of Strategies!
From Kelly in CIU 20 region.
Poster Support – “fading support”
Fraction
Percent
Decimal
1/4 25% .25
1/2 50% .50
3/4 75% .75
1/1 100% 1.00
A “Collection” of Strategies!More from Kelly in CIU 20 region.
Strategies/toolbox specific to test taking.
Name:_______________ (4Sight Test) 1 2 3 4 5
What tools/strategies/bright ideas WILL you use to be successful on the test?_____________________________________________
What WILL you do if you become frustrated while taking the test?_____________________________________________
What tools DID you use on the test?_____________________________________________
What DID you do when you got frustrated? Did it work? _______________________________________________________________
A “Collection” of Strategies!
From Maria in Upper Merion SD. PSSA- specific instructional strategies to
introduce students to rubrics: Present the rubric on an overhead
transparency, underlining key vocabulary. Discuss and explain key terms.
Explain each level of the rubric noting the use of words such as “all, most, some, few, or none” and their relationship to the scores 0 – 4.
A “Collection” of Strategies!
MORE from Maria in Upper Merion SD. Brainstorm and practice a problem together. Have students score their own work using the
Math. General Problem Solving Rubric and discuss how they can improve their scores! (up one more level is inherently motivating!)
Use the item sampler to illustrate the differences between a 4,3,2,1, and 0 score.
A “Collection” of Strategies!
EVEN MORE from Missy in CIU 20 region. Hang posters that explain formulas, key words,
vocabulary words Practice reading and solving different multiple
choice and open-ended questions by focusing on key words.
Use math notebooks to write key PSSA vocab, definitions, formulas, facts.
Conduct teacher “think alouds” while solving problems. “I know lunchtime is at 12:00. It’s 11?40 now. I can count by
fives to see how many minutes until lunchtime: 11:45, 11:50, 11:55, 12:00. I counted by fives four times, so that’s 20 minutes in all. Lunch is in 20 minutes.”
1. Show all the steps you used to solve the problem. If you used a calculator or did some of the work in your head, you must write a description of the steps that you followed.
AND2. Write an explanation stating the
mathematical reason(s) why you chose each of your steps.
Explanation Tips
Explanation Tips Encourage students to EXPLAIN their
work - not DESCRIBE it Description:
“I multiplied 5 and 20 to get 100” Explanation:
“I multiplied the number of quizzes and the number of points of each quiz to find the total points for the quizzes.”
Make sure ALL steps are explained. Encourage students not to use
numbers in their explanations – this will stop them from describing their work.
e.g. First I added $38.25 and $17 and got $55.25. Then I divided $55.25 by $4.25 to get my answer….
Explanation Tips
Assign Targeted Students to
Teacher/Coach Assigned teacher
follows students from PSSA preparation to PSSA test administration
Teacher assumes ownership responsibility for their group of students
Use All Allowable Testing Accommodations when Administering
PSSA Accommodations available online.
• Ensure Special Education Teacher have copies of Accommodations
• Review Accommodations with all teachers
• Devise a plan to put Accommodations in place
Best Accommodations Small group administration of test
(low teacher/student ratio provides needed support)
Simplify the directions and make sure student is clear about what to do
Teacher use of highlighters Adjust test taking time, give
students breaks
Many Students Do Poorly on Tests Because They are Confused by the
Format or Directions
Repeat and Clarify Directions
Provide Individual Assistance
Closely Monitor Redirect students to
specific questions/responses if they are experiencing difficulties
Special Education Teachers Need to be Knowledgeable About PSSA
Understand the Importance of the PSSA Accept that students with IEPs must
take the test and are expected to show improvement.
Be familiar with the format Know Allowable Accommodations Motivational Strategies Test-taking Strategies Active During Testing Connect Teacher Performance to
Student Results
Think about it…. “Talent wins games, but teamwork and
intelligence wins championships.” Michael Jordan
“People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.” Vince Lombardi
“A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants, but is miles ahead in results.” Ella Wheeler Wilcox
“Teamwork divides the task and doubles the success.” Anonymous