January 28, 2011 Elementary Science Coaches

Engage Science CRISS Strategies Carousel Activity Strategy Check the back of your agenda for your color coded group assignment. Topic Question: “What would you look for in an ideal science classroom environment?” 3 minutes at each station.

FCAT Science These tests are aligned to the 1996 Standards. Performance tasks are not included in FCAT Science tests at any grade. Multiple-choice test items continue at grades 5, 8, and 11. (60 – 65 at grade 5, at grades 8 and 11) Grades 8 and 11 tests have 4–7 gridded-response (GR) items. No changes were made to the science grids.

FCAT Science The number of raw points on the tests approximates those of prior years. Content representation and difficulty also approximate those of prior years. Scores will be reported in the same manner as in previous years.

FCAT Science Sample Test Materials Sample Test Materials (without performance task items) are available electronically on the FL DOE website.FL DOE website 2012 Sample Test Materials will have test items written to the new standards.

Assessments FOR Learning are designed to measure achievement targets that underpin standards. They promote more learning because they inform students about their own progress. They focus on improvement and involving students in their own learning. Assessments FOR Learning are administered during the instructional process. Assessments FOR Learning

Florida Achieves – online mini-assessments for reading, math, and science. For each benchmark in science, Focus offers a 5-item test and a 5-item retest. Florida Achieves FCAT Explorer Comprehension Checks (Grades 3 – 5) Essential Questions (Grade 5) & Key Questions CORE K12 – Palm Beach Minis (Grade 5 only) CORE K12 Resources

Action Plan Recommendations for preparing grades 5, 8, and 11 for FCAT Science this spring: Use Bellringers that align to the annually assessed benchmarks. Provide hands-on science labs and activities that align to annually assessed benchmarks. Ensure vocabulary is utilized in laboratory experiments. Implement CRISS and other content area reading strategies in all classes. Encourage Gizmo and FCAT Explorer usage to supplement lessons. Emphasize student involvement in SECME and Science Fair. Ensure proficient students are involved in continual science enrichment. Incorporate science across all content areas. Use texts/passages within classrooms based on annually assessed science benchmarks.

Action Plan Recommendations for preparing grades 5, 8, and 11 for FCAT Science this spring: Revisit weak benchmarks identified by data analysis. Provide students with descriptive feedback on their work. Have students self-analyze their work to determine strengths/weaknesses and to develop strategies for improvement. Promote conversations and written responses with students that will help them learn how to explain, reason, and draw conclusions based on sound scientific practices.

Family Involvement – Science Night Science Competitions (Science Fair & SECME) Community Resources Learning Support

Science Apps available on Learning Village Interwrite Pads (Mobi) Resources on Learning ToolsLearning Tools – VoiceThread – Glogster.com Glogster.com – Prezi Prezi – BrainPOP en Espanol Technology