 Department of Secondary Curriculum

 Language Arts Florida Standards (LAFS)  Test Specifications for Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) and FSA Writing  Scoring of Palm Beach Performance Assessments and FSA Writing  Best Practices for Administrators

 LA The student will use context clues to determine meanings of unfamiliar words  LAFS.6.RL.2.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.  LAFS.68.RH.2.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.

Though this may assess one vocabulary standard, it also assesses reading comprehension, author’s purpose, and several writing standards.

 LA The student will locate and analyze the elements of plot structure, including exposition, setting, character development, rising/falling action, conflict/resolution, and theme in a variety of fiction  LAFS.6.RL.2.5 Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.  LAFS.6.RL.3.7 Compare and contrast the experience of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text, including contrasting what they “see” and “hear” when reading the text to what they perceive when they listen or watch.

Drag and drop elements to order plot events

Part A and Part B Questions- students have to explain how they determined the answer.

Questions might have more than one correct answer.

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 LA.6.4.3: The student develops and demonstrates persuasive writing that is used for the purpose of influencing the reader.  LAFS.6.W.1.1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence. o Introduce claim(s) and organize the reasons and evidence clearly. o Support claim(s) with clear reasons and relevant evidence, using credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text. o Use words, phrases, and clauses to clarify the relationships among claim(s) and reasons. o Establish and maintain a formal style. o Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the argument presented.

 Writing to Persuade (Persuasive)  Writing Situation: Suppose you could convince a famous person to visit your town.  Directions for Writing: Think about why this person should visit your town. Now write to convince this person to visit your town.

Test specifications: students will receive 2-4 texts with a combined word count of words.

 The materials in the HMH (language arts classrooms) and Read 180 were designed to meet the rigor of the new standards and assessments. o It is imperative teachers adapt to the new resources and materials. Doing what we’ve always done will not be successful.  Teaching and assessing benchmarks in isolation will not prepare students.  All forms of literacy will need to be taught. o Visual literacy o Speaking and listening o Traditional and non-traditional text  Learning Village will be the portal for providing teachers with resources and lesson plans.  Professional development will be crucial.

 With a few exceptions, professional development will be school-based.  Each school will be assigned a resource teacher and specialist who can provide modeling, small group PD (done during common planning, before or after school, etc.), full staff PD, etc.  District-wide professional development opportunities: HMH Day 1 (resources) HMH Day 2 (best practices) Read 180 (either conversion or new) FSA Writing Scoring

 Have teachers review the training tests.training tests  Monitor Palm Beach Performance Assessments. o The data is only as good as the scoring. o Provide time for teachers to collaborate to score and design lessons.  Create a school-wide policy for grammar. o Non-negotiables may be use of complete sentences with capitals and end punctuation. o Editing will be a portion of the reading/language exam.  Look for an integration of literacy practices in all content areas.  Check for student-centered learning in addition to direct instruction. o Study from SCOPE (Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education) found that student-centered practices increase engagement and academic achievement (January 2014).