PARCC Parent Night For Grade 8 Students January 25, 2017 Melissa Jones Director of Curriculum Colts Neck Township Public Schools

What is PARCC? The PARCC assessment system is an annual year-end test in English language arts/literacy, and mathematics in grades 3-8 and high school - Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. For the 2016-2017 school year, 8th grade students are scheduled to take PARCC Grade 6, 7, & 8 ELA: April 19-21, 2017 Grades 6, 7, & 8 Grade Level Math, Algebra I & Geometry: April 24-26, 2017

How was NJASK different than PARCC Writing Prompt: Going to the movies is a major source of entertainment for many students. Imagine that the only discount movie theater in your area is closing. Write a persuasive essay in support of keeping the discount movie theater open You have read a website entry and an article, and viewed a video describing Amelia Earhart. All three include information that supports the claim that Earhart was a brave, courageous person. The three titles are: • “The Biography of Amelia Earhart” • “Earhart’s Final Resting Place Believed Found” • “Amelia Earhart’s Life and Disappearance” (video) Consider the argument each author uses to demonstrate Earhart’s bravery. Write an essay that analyzes the strength of the arguments related to Earhart’s bravery in at least two of the three supporting materials. Remember to use textual evidence to support your ideas What’s Different Writing prompts on past assessments often did not require a careful reading of the passages associated with them or, as in this case, include a reading passage. In this example, students are asked to write a persuasive essay, which is good, but with nothing more than their opinions as “evidence.” PARCC’s writing prompts address both reading and writing standards, giving students the opportunity to show their analytical skills. http://www.parcconline.org/assessments/practice-tests/a-different-kind-of-test

PARCC Sample Questions https://parcc.pearson.com/practice-tests/english/

https://parcc.pearson.com/practice-tests/math/

PARCC - Teaching to the Test PARCC assesses Common Core Standards Our curriculum is developed using the NJSLS The Common Core Standards and the NJSLS are very similar

What does PARCC give us? PARCC gives a better understanding of student’s mastery with respect to grade level standards in Language Arts and math.

Changes in the Graduation Requirements for the class of 2021 http://www.nj.gov/education/assessment/parents/GradReq.pdf

How are your children affected?

Questions? This will be available on my website