New Blueprints for the Standards of Learning Reading Assessments based on the draft of March 2005

Third Grade Reading Previous tests Word analysis - 10 items Printed materials - 10 items Elements of literature - 5 items Plan, compose, revise - 13 items Grammar – 7 items Total – 45 items 2006 test Word analysis and information resources – 8 items Comprehension of printed materials – 27 items Total – 35 items

Major Changes and Emphasis No Writing Assessment Reference Tools Included Fiction/Informational Balanced Poetry Minimized

Included in Word Analysis third grade Prefixes/suffixes/multi-syllabic words Contractions/possessives Abbreviations Synonyms/antonyms/homophones Phonics/language structure/context

Included for Information Resources third grade Tables of Contents Pictures and charts Dictionary/index/glossary/thesaurus/ encyclopedia/on-line resources

Included for Comprehension both fiction and nonfiction third grade Previewing pictures, diagrams, titles, headings Characters,setting, problem,solution Finding the main idea/summarizing Setting purpose for reading Predicting/drawing conclusions Organizing information logically Asking and answering questions Plots of fairy tale, myths, folktales, legends, fables Characteristics of biography and autobiography Comparing/contrasting of setting, character, events

Subsumed Standards Consonants, blends, digraphs Vowels: short, long, r-controlled Sentence structure/story sequence Locating information to answer questions

Excluded from Assessment but still important for instruction Fluency and expression Self-correction Connecting to previous experience Author’s purpose Comparison/contrast of two people in biography and/or autobiography Technology

Fourth Grade Reading New test – two years of field testing 35 items: two reporting categories Word analysis and information resources – 8 items Comprehension of printed materials – 27 items

Included in Word Analysis and Information Resources fourth grade Use context to clarify unfamiliar words Explain multiple meanings of words Synonyms/antonyms/homophones Dictionary/glossary/thesaurus Online, print, and media resources in schools’ media center

Included for Comprehension of Fiction fourth grade Explain author’s purpose Choice of language Compare fact and fantasy in historic fiction with other genres Identify major events and details Identify sensory words

Included for Comprehension of Nonfiction fourth grade Use text organizers Ask and answer questions Explain author’s purpose Make inferences and draw conclusions based on explicit information in texts Summarize Distinguish cause/effect and fact/opinion Evaluate and synthesize information

Excluded from Assessment but still important for instruction Relationships to previously read materials Identifying new information gained Constructing questions

Fifth Grade Reading Previous tests Word analysis - 6 items Printed materials - 20 items Elements of literature - 16 items Total – 42 items 2006 test Word analysis and information resources – 10 items Comprehension of printed materials – 30 items Total – 40 items

Included in Word Analysis and Information Resources fifth grade Use context to clarify unfamiliar words Use roots, prefixes, suffixes Use dictionary/glossary/thesaurus/other Organize information from charts, maps, graphics

Included for Comprehension of Fiction fifth grade Describe character development Describe plot development Explain conflict resolution Describe author’s word choice and style

Included for Comprehension of Nonfiction fifth grade Use text organizers Identify structural patterns Locate information to support inferences, predictions, and conclusions Develop notes and summaries Identify cause/effect relationships Identify comparison/contrast relationships

Excluded from Assessment but still important for instruction Relationships to previously read materials Characteristics of poetry Skimming and scanning materials Identifying new information gained

Sixth Grade Reading New test – two years of field testing 45 items: two reporting categories Word analysis and information resources – 11 items Comprehension of printed materials – 34 items No standards excluded from the test

Included in Word Analysis and Information Resources sixth grade Identify word origins, derivations, inflections Identify analogies and figurative language Use context to determine meaning, including technical vocabulary Differentiate between multiple meanings Use word reference tools Select informational sources

Included for Comprehension of Narrative and Poetry sixth grade Identify narrative elements: setting, character, plot, conflict, theme Predict outcomes/draw conclusions/make inferences Describe how word choice and imagery contribute to meaning Describe cause/effect relationships in plot Explain plot and character development Paraphrase and summarize

Included for Comprehension of Informational Text sixth grade Ask and answer questions Make, confirm, and revise predictions Draw conclusions and make inferences Organize main ideas and details to summarize Compare and contrast

Seventh Grade Reading New test – two years of field testing 45 items: two reporting categories Word analysis and information resources – 11 items Comprehension of printed materials – 34 items

Included in Word Analysis and Information Resources seventh grade Use roots and affixes Recognize analogies and figurative language Use print and electronic sources Use graphic organizers Synthesize information from multiple sources

Included for Comprehension of Narrative and Poetry seventh grade Describe setting, character development, plot structure, conflict, theme Draw conclusions/make inferences Describe impact of word choice, imagery, poetic devises Summarize

Included for Comprehension of Informational Text seventh grade Use text structure and signal words Describe how word choice and language structure convey viewpoint Distinguish fact from opinion Identify source, viewpoint, purpose Summarize Organize and synthesize

Excluded from Assessment but still important for instruction Connotations of words Poetic forms Comparison and contrast of genre Primary and secondary source citations

Eighth Grade Reading Previous tests Printed materials - 21 items Elements of literature - 21 items Total – 42 items 2006 test Word analysis– 11 items Comprehension of printed materials – 34 items Total – 45 items

Major Changes and Emphasis Reference Tools Excluded Propaganda Excluded Fiction/Informational Balanced Poetry Minimized This is the barrier test for the Modified Standard Diploma

Included in Word Analysis eighth grade Identify simile, metaphor, hyperbole, and analogy Use context, structure, and connotation to determine meaning of words and phrases

Included for Comprehension of Narrative and Poetry eighth grade Explain symbols and figurative language Describe inferred main ideas and themes, with evidence from text Describe how authors use characters, conflict, point of view and tone

Included for Comprehension of Informational Text eighth grade Follow instructions to complete tasks Analyze structure and word choice Analyze details for accuracy and relevance Summarize and critique Evaluate and synthesize information Draw conclusions and make inferences

Excluded from Assessment but still important for instruction Comparison and contrast of poetic elements Comparison and contrast of styles Analysis of author’s credentials, viewpoint, and impact Background knowledge and text structure

End of Course Reading Previous tests Printed materials - 12 items Elements of literature - 24 items Resource materials – 6 items Total – 42 items 2006 test Word analysis and information resources – 12 items Comprehension of printed materials – 38 items Total – 50 items

Included in Word Analysis and Information Resources end of course General, specialized and technical vocabulary Consequences of plagiarism Distinguish own ideas from those of others Reliable and questionable sources Manuals, textbooks, reports, catalogs, essays, speeches… Organize and verify information Credit quoted and paraphrased sources Develop a plan for research and narrow the topic Support a thesis

Included for Comprehension of Narrative end of course Identify text format, structure, organization and main idea/supporting details Distinguish literary forms Explain relationship between style and effect Explain historical influence on form, style, and point of view Make predictions, draw inferences, and connect prior knowledge Identify universal themes of different cultures Discuss American literature as it reflects themes, motifs, universal characters, and genre

Included for Comprehension of Drama end of course Describe how stage directions help readers understand setting, mood, characters, theme… Explain asides, soliloquies, monologues Describe dramatic conventions Compare and evaluate adaptations and interpretations of a script for stage, film, television Explain verbal, situational, and dramatic irony

Included for Comprehension of Informational Materials end of course Identify position/argument to be confirmed, disproved, or modified Analyze and apply warranties, contracts, technical descriptions, labels, warnings… Compare and contrast advertisements Follow directions to complete an application Generalize/make predictions/draw conclusions

Excluded from Assessment but still important for instruction Staging and scripting Comparison/contrast plays and character development in plays to other fiction Similarities and differences in different literature of cultures and eras Comparison of rhyme, rhythm, and sound elements and their use to elicit emotions Analysis and interpretation of poetry American literature in historical context Documentation in MLA or APA Identification of research tools and processes Oral presentations and technology

New Blueprints for the Standards of Learning Writing Assessments based on the draft of March 2005

Fifth Grade Writing Previous tests Plan, compose, revise - 10 items Editing - 10 items Total – 20 items 2006 test Plan, compose, revise - 6 items Editing - 14 items Total – 20 items Direct Writing will remain the same with 8 points in each domain

Eighth Grade Writing Previous tests Plan, compose, revise - 10 items Editing - 10 items Total – 20 items 2006 test Plan, compose, revise - 10 items Editing - 14 items Total – 24 items Direct Writing will remain the same with 8 points in each domain

EOC Grade Writing Previous tests Plan, compose, revise - 16 items Editing - 14 items Total – 30 items 2006 test Plan, compose, revise - 16 items Editing - 14 items Total – 30 items Direct Writing will remain the same with 8 points in each domain

Excluded from Assessment Technology Active and passive voice Sentence Diagramming MLA/APA citations Analysis of the works of others Poetry

Contact information Office of Assessment and Reporting