FCAT FOR FAMILIES

AgendaAgenda / Welcome and Introductions / Goals and Objectives / Workshop Presentation / Evaluation / Welcome and Introductions / Goals and Objectives / Workshop Presentation / Evaluation

GOALGOAL / Support the efforts of families in assisting children’s attainment of FCAT skills.

ObjectivesObjectives Understand what the FCAT is and what our children are expected to do. Understand what the FCAT is and what our children are expected to do. Understand why increasing time spent reading and conversation is the most effective way to help your child be successful on the FCAT. Understand why increasing time spent reading and conversation is the most effective way to help your child be successful on the FCAT. Leave with simple strategies to use right away. Leave with simple strategies to use right away. Understand what the FCAT is and what our children are expected to do. Understand what the FCAT is and what our children are expected to do. Understand why increasing time spent reading and conversation is the most effective way to help your child be successful on the FCAT. Understand why increasing time spent reading and conversation is the most effective way to help your child be successful on the FCAT. Leave with simple strategies to use right away. Leave with simple strategies to use right away.

FCAT IN A NUTSHELL / FCAT stands for Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. / FCAT is based on the Sunshine State Standards. / The Sunshine State Standards tell what students are expected to know and be able to do at their grade level. / FCAT stands for Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. / FCAT is based on the Sunshine State Standards. / The Sunshine State Standards tell what students are expected to know and be able to do at their grade level.

FCAT IN A NUTSHELL (cont.) / FCAT has different types of questions: short answers, long answers, and gridded response. / In fourth grade, students are tested in Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. / In grade five, students are tested in Reading, Mathematics, and Science. / FCAT has different types of questions: short answers, long answers, and gridded response. / In fourth grade, students are tested in Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. / In grade five, students are tested in Reading, Mathematics, and Science.

FCAT IN A NUTSHELL FCAT IN A NUTSHELL (cont.) / In grade eight, students are tested in Reading, Mathematics, and Science. / In grade ten, students are tested in Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. / In grade eight, students are tested in Reading, Mathematics, and Science. / In grade ten, students are tested in Reading, Mathematics, and Writing.

FCAT Schools cannot “ Teach to the Test ” Children have to answer… / multiple choice questions / short response questions / long response questions / gridded response questions in Math, Reading, Writing, and Science Children have to answer… / multiple choice questions / short response questions / long response questions / gridded response questions in Math, Reading, Writing, and Science

FCAT-Expects Our Children To: / Take skills and use them in real-life problem solving situations. / Solve multi-step problems. / Understand and use information. / Get the main idea from reading. / Write and organize thoughts. / Sustain reading, writing and problem solving for forty-five minutes or more. / Take skills and use them in real-life problem solving situations. / Solve multi-step problems. / Understand and use information. / Get the main idea from reading. / Write and organize thoughts. / Sustain reading, writing and problem solving for forty-five minutes or more.

QuestioningQuestioning Two kinds of questions: / Lower Order: “What is the color of the animal in the picture?” (fact/meaning/definition) / Higher Order: “How does the animals coloring help him stay safe?” (concept/explanation/example) Two kinds of questions: / Lower Order: “What is the color of the animal in the picture?” (fact/meaning/definition) / Higher Order: “How does the animals coloring help him stay safe?” (concept/explanation/example)

QUESTIONING (continued) / Why did…? / Why do you think…? / What if…? / How would you…? / How do you know…? / How are…alike/different? / How did/does…? / Which is better…? Why? / Why do you think…? / Why did…? / Why do you think…? / What if…? / How would you…? / How do you know…? / How are…alike/different? / How did/does…? / Which is better…? Why? / Why do you think…? / Why did…?

FCAT 3 rd Gr. Reading Sample Questions

Gridded Response Questions

FCAT 3 rd Gr. Math Sample Questions

FCAT 4 th Grade Reading Short Response Sample

FCAT 5th Gr. Science Sample Questions

TIMETIME / Just small amounts of time can reap enormous benefits. / Make the most of the time you already have. A little bit of time over the long haul makes all the difference. / Use everyday opportunities to build reading vocabulary, problem solving skills and reading stamina. / Just small amounts of time can reap enormous benefits. / Make the most of the time you already have. A little bit of time over the long haul makes all the difference. / Use everyday opportunities to build reading vocabulary, problem solving skills and reading stamina.

Simple Ideas Doing Laundry: / Let your child help sort some of the laundry and explain his reasoning. / Ask the child to determine the size of the load of clothes and the appropriate amount of detergent that should be used. Doing Laundry: / Let your child help sort some of the laundry and explain his reasoning. / Ask the child to determine the size of the load of clothes and the appropriate amount of detergent that should be used.

Simple Ideas Simple Ideas (continued) Doing Laundry: / How long will it take the clothes to wash? To dry? / What water temperature should be used? Why? / At the Laundromat, how much will it cost to wash and dry one load of the clothes? All the clothes? Doing Laundry: / How long will it take the clothes to wash? To dry? / What water temperature should be used? Why? / At the Laundromat, how much will it cost to wash and dry one load of the clothes? All the clothes?

Simple Ideas Simple Ideas (continued) Doctors Office: / What time do we need to leave in order to be on time for the appointment? / How long (do we need/did we have) to wait to see the doctor? / Why do we usually have to wait past our appointment time to see the doctor? Doctors Office: / What time do we need to leave in order to be on time for the appointment? / How long (do we need/did we have) to wait to see the doctor? / Why do we usually have to wait past our appointment time to see the doctor?

TEST TAKING STRATEGIES / Make sure to read and follow all directions. Reread if necessary. / Read the questions first (not the answer choices). This will help you know what to pay attention to as you read the passages. / Look for key words from the questions as you read passage. / Make sure to read and follow all directions. Reread if necessary. / Read the questions first (not the answer choices). This will help you know what to pay attention to as you read the passages. / Look for key words from the questions as you read passage.

TEST TAKING STATEGIES (continued) / Do not spend too much time on any one question. If the question is too difficult, skip it and come back to it later. / If you are still not sure of the correct answer, make your best guess. / Do no leave any questions unanswered. / Do not spend too much time on any one question. If the question is too difficult, skip it and come back to it later. / If you are still not sure of the correct answer, make your best guess. / Do no leave any questions unanswered.

TEST TAKING STATEGIES (continued) / When you are finished, check to see you have not skipped any questions. / If you have time, reread to be sure you are satisfied with your answer choices. / Be especially careful to check math work since errors are more likely. / When you are finished, check to see you have not skipped any questions. / If you have time, reread to be sure you are satisfied with your answer choices. / Be especially careful to check math work since errors are more likely.

TEST TAKING STATEGIES (continued) / On multiple choice questions, avoid the temptation to choose an answer until you have read and thought about the choices. / On a multiple choice test, eliminate the answers that you know are wrong, then make your best guess. / On multiple choice questions, avoid the temptation to choose an answer until you have read and thought about the choices. / On a multiple choice test, eliminate the answers that you know are wrong, then make your best guess.

WINNING AT HOME / Start by making learning a priority. / Show interest in school work. / Support 100% attendance. / Provide a variety of reading materials for your child. / Focus on finding opportunities to build sustained reading time. / Start by making learning a priority. / Show interest in school work. / Support 100% attendance. / Provide a variety of reading materials for your child. / Focus on finding opportunities to build sustained reading time.

WINNING AT HOME (continued) / Look for everyday opportunities to have frequent conversations and listen attentively. / Ask high order questions at every opportunity. / Play with your child and explore his/her thinking. Young children learn through play. / READ, READ, READ!!! / Make it FUN! FUN! FUN!! / Look for everyday opportunities to have frequent conversations and listen attentively. / Ask high order questions at every opportunity. / Play with your child and explore his/her thinking. Young children learn through play. / READ, READ, READ!!! / Make it FUN! FUN! FUN!!

How can you help your child be successful? / Make sure your child attends school regularly. The more effort your child puts into learning, the more likely he or she will perform well on tests. / Meet with your child’s teacher to discuss his or her progress. Ask teachers to suggest ways to help the child prepare for tests. / Encourage your child, especially when he or she does well. A positive outlook helps children do their best. / Provide a quiet, comfortable place for studying at home. / Make sure your child attends school regularly. The more effort your child puts into learning, the more likely he or she will perform well on tests. / Meet with your child’s teacher to discuss his or her progress. Ask teachers to suggest ways to help the child prepare for tests. / Encourage your child, especially when he or she does well. A positive outlook helps children do their best. / Provide a quiet, comfortable place for studying at home.

How can you help your child be successful? / Make sure that your child is well rested on school days, especially on test days. / Give your child a well-rounded diet. This will help ensure a healthy body and a healthy, active mind. / Provide books and magazines for your child. By reading new materials, your child will learn new words that might appear on tests. / Don’t be too anxious about your child’s test scores. The best advice you can give your child is to “just relax and do your best.” / Make sure that your child is well rested on school days, especially on test days. / Give your child a well-rounded diet. This will help ensure a healthy body and a healthy, active mind. / Provide books and magazines for your child. By reading new materials, your child will learn new words that might appear on tests. / Don’t be too anxious about your child’s test scores. The best advice you can give your child is to “just relax and do your best.”

ReferencesReferences / Florida Department of Education / The Florida Department for Family Involvement in Education – Involvement in Education – University of South Florida University of South Florida / Florida Department of Education / The Florida Department for Family Involvement in Education – Involvement in Education – University of South Florida University of South Florida

Questions?