GA Milestone ELA Test Sutton Middle School 2016-2017

Agenda Today we will discuss the following: Structure of the Test Reminders for Day 1 Testing Reminders for Day 2 Testing Reminders for every day of testing.

Structure of the Tests

Two Days of Testing for ELA Day 1: only 1 test session Day 2: two test sessions Writing Test Day What will be on the test: At least 2-3 Reading Passages 4 selected response questions ONE constructed response This could be a short 2 point informational/expository constructed response Or, a “medium length” narrative writing constructed response ONE EXTENDED RESPONSE Could be a letter Could be an essay Will require a “claim” Could be: informational, expository, or argumentative Worth 7 points Reading/ELA questions Two tests Test 2: At least 40 selected response questions At least 7-8 reading passages At least two constructed response writings (maybe) Questions will be about the reading passage or will be vocabulary or grammar questions from the passages. Test 3: Questions will be about the reading passage or will be vocabulary or grammar questions from the passages Wednesday! Thursday!

Day 1 Testing

Reminders for Day 1-ELA Testing 1 Strategies to remember: CIRCLE the KEY words of the question! TAP the writing prompts Task/Topic of the writing instructions/question (WHAT?) Audience of the writing instructions/question (WHO?) Purpose of the writing instruction/question (WHY? To inform, explain, persuade, entertain?) TAKE 10 Plan your long writing out! What is your thesis? What evidence are you going to use from the reading for your writing? Choose some transition words to use PLAN the structure: Is it a letter? Greeting, introduction (why am I writing you), Body (what I’m writing about), conclusion Is it an essay? Introduction, Body, Conclusion SAY, MEAN, MATTER Remember: What does the text SAY? What does it MEAN? Why does it Matter? READ EVERYTHING! Read the questions first, then read the passages. KNOW what the WRITING prompts are ASKING you to do!? 6th and 7th Graders: write in the test booklet!! Mark up that text!!! 8th Graders: use the “web tools” to make notes, use your scratch paper to write down notes. UNPACK the WRITING questions! You need to know WHAT they want you to write about!

Manage your Time! Be aware of what time it is and how much you have. Give yourself at least 30 minutes to write Make sure to give yourself 10 minutes to plan your writing. Know the start and stop times. Practice reading a clock, to know what times it is! Use every minute of the test. Check, recheck, and triple check everything. Don’t put your head down early.

Day 2 Testing

YOU take two tests for ELA on Thursday This is for Day 2 of testing.

Reminders for Day 2-ELA Testing 2 READ EVERYTHING! Read the questions first, then read the passages. KNOW what the WRITING prompts are ASKING you to do!? 6th and 7th Graders: write in the test booklet!! Mark up that text!!! 8th Graders: use the “web tools” to make notes, use your scratch paper to write down notes. UNPACK the WRITING questions! You need to know WHAT they want you to write about! This test is ALL ABOUT THE READING PASSAGE, know what the passage is about, even if the words are hard. Number paragraphs, and even consider annotating the text as much as possible, it will help! Strategies to remember: CIRCLE the KEY words of the question! TAP the writing prompts Task/Topic of the writing instructions/question (WHAT?) Audience of the writing instructions/question (WHO?) Purpose of the writing instruction/question (WHY? To inform, explain, persuade, entertain?) What? Ask yourself “WHAT?” Take a second when questions are hard, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and ask yourself “what do I know about this?” Then look back at the question. When in doubt, take a breath. Use Process, of Elimination!

Manage your Time! Be aware of what time it is and how much you have. Give yourself at least 30 minutes to write Make sure to give yourself 10 minutes to plan your writing. Know the start and stop times. Practice reading a clock, to know what times it is! Use every minute of the test. Check, recheck, and triple check everything. Don’t put your head down early.

Reminders for Day 2-ELA Testing 3 READ EVERYTHING! Read the questions first, then read the passages. KNOW what the WRITING prompts are ASKING you to do!? 6th and 7th Graders: write in the test booklet!! Mark up that text!!! 8th Graders: use the “web tools” to make notes, use your scratch paper to write down notes. UNPACK the WRITING questions! You need to know WHAT they want you to write about! This test is ALL ABOUT THE READING PASSAGE, know what the passage is about, even if the words are hard. Number paragraphs, and even consider annotating the text as much as possible, it will help! Strategies to remember: CIRCLE the KEY words of the question! What? Ask yourself “WHAT?” Take a second when questions are hard, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and ask yourself “what do I know about this?” Then look back at the question. When in doubt, take a breath. Use Process, of Elimination! TAP the writing prompts Task/Topic of the writing instructions/question (WHAT?) Audience of the writing instructions/question (WHO?) Purpose of the writing instruction/question (WHY? To inform, explain, persuade, entertain?)

Manage your Time! DON’T be like Fry! Be like you! You know this stuff, you got this! Just make sure to be smart about your time. Use every minute of the test. Check, recheck, and triple check everything. Don’t put your head down early.

Final Testing Reminders

Get some Rest! DON’T be like Patrick! Get some sleep the night before, eat something healthy, and get some rest. It is best that you are rested and your mind is ready for the next day. Try to get as much sleep as you need, but be mindful not to over sleep.

PREPARE for the BIG DAY CHECK … Have a good breakfast Give yourself plenty of time to get to the exam room! Make sure you know where the exam is being held! Take everything you need –pencils, eraser, anything else? Go to your locker first thing, put all items in your locker, and then report to your homeroom. Announcements will be made for you to report to your testing locations. Go to the restroom before the exam starts. DO not WANDER around the hallways in the morning during testing. It is important that you go to your testing locations and that you are on time!

PACE YOURSELF Read the instructions BREATH! Read all the questions and give yourself time to answer those you are required to answer Plan how much time you will need for each question! Take breaks, and keep as quiet as you can. Even if you are done, others are testing and need the time to test. If you are stuck, go to the next question. You can come back to the unfinished one later. If you are really stuck, try to have an intelligent guess. READ everything! FOLLOW instructions of the testing administrator. SHOW UP, make sure that you are here.

ABOVE ALL … Perform as well as you can – ‘YOU are YOU’ so you can only do the best you can on the day Don’t go through the answers with your friends afterwards, if it is only going to worry you Try to put the last exam out of your mind and look ahead to the next one – you can’t go back to change things Exams are Important, but they are not the only key to a successful future. GOOD LUCK !

Let’s Get Ready for the Milestone! You got this.

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You’re in the Zone, Georgia Milestone!