1. Welcome to our 6th Grade Parent Breakfast
Topics of discussion:
-Learn various ways to support your child at home for the upcoming Ela & Math State Exams
-How to create a calm environment during State Exams

2. Ela State Exam
March 28th, 29th & 30th
Math State Exam
May 2nd, 3rd, & 4th
Day 1:
5 Reading Passages &
35 Multiple Choice Questions
26 Multiple Choice Questions
Day 2:
1 reading passage followed by
7 multiple choice questions
2 reading passages followed by
2 short responses questions
1 extended response question
25 Multiple Choice Questions
Day 3:
3 reading passages followed by
5 short responses questions
6 short responses questions
4 extended response questions

3. What will students have to do? What can parents do to help?
Working with the ELA "Shifts": Expectations for Students & Ideas for Parents
What’s the shift?
What will students have to do?
What can parents do to help?
Read as much fiction as non-fiction
-Read more non-fiction
-Understand how non-fiction is written and put together
-Enjoy and discuss the details of non-fiction
-Supply more non-fiction texts
-Read non-fiction books aloud or -with your child Have fun with --non-fiction in front of your child
Learn about the world by reading
-Learn more about science and social studies through reading
-Use “primary source” documents
-Get smarter through the use of texts
-Supply series of texts on topics that interest your child
-Find books that explain how things work and why -Discuss non-fiction texts and their ideas
Read more challenging material
-Re-read until they understand
-Read books both at and above their comfort level
-Know what is grade-level appropriate
-Provide challenging texts as well as books they can read easily
Talk about reading using evidence
-Find evidence to support their arguments
-Form judgments and opinions -Discuss what the author is thinking
-Talk about texts
-Demand evidence in everyday discussions and disagreements
-Read aloud or read the same book as your child and discuss
Write about text using evidence
-Make arguments in writing using evidence
-Learn to write well
-Encourage writing at home
-Review samples of exemplar student writing
Know more vocab words
-Learn the words they will need to use in college and career
-Read often and constantly with children
-Read multiple books on the same topic

4. What will students have to do? What can parents do to help?
Working with the Math "Shifts“: Expectations for Students & Ideas for Parents
What’s the shift?
What will students have to do?
What can parents do to help?
Build skills across grade levels
-Keep building on learning year after year
-Be aware of what your child struggled with last year and how that will effect ongoing learning
Learn more about less
-Spend more time on fewer concepts
-Know what the priority work is for your child at their grade level
Use math facts easily
-Go more in-depth on each concept
-Spend time with your child on priority work
-Ask your child’s teacher for reports on your child’s progress on priority work
Think fast AND solve problems
-Spend time practicing by doing lots of problems on the same idea
-Push children to know, understand and memorize basic math facts
-Know all of the fluencies your child should have
-Prioritize learning the fluencies your child finds most difficult
Really know it, really do it
-Make the math work, and understand why it does
-Talk about why the math works --Prove that they know why and how the math works
-Ask questions and review homework to see whether your child understands why as well as what the answer is.
-Advocate for the time your child needs to learn key math skills
-Provide time for your child to work on math skills at home
Use math in the real world
-Apply math in real world situations
-Know which math skills to use for which situation
-Ask your child to do the math that comes up in daily life

5. Supporting your Child in Coping with Text Anxiety
Remain Calm - Remember it’s not you, it’s them!! It’s perfectly normal to become anxious and worry for your kids in the lead up to exams. The best way you can help your child is to remain calm yourself! It’s very important not to transfer any additional anxiety onto your kids. Be calm and supportive.
Try to keep a normal household- Exams can bring stress that can have a ripple effect on everyone in the house. Being practical - keeping noise and distractions to a minimum during study time is very useful. Keeping regular sleep patterns is essential during this period.
Look & Listen- Observe how your child is coping and managing their stress. If you notice they are behaving ‘out of character’ or seem to be finding the whole process difficult, ask how you can help them or suggest taking a walk, or have a bath to relax. Sometimes it is just enough for your child to talk things through with you, they may not be asking for directive actions. By listening and supporting your child you are helping them.
Keep perspective- Remember exams are not the “Be All & End All”. This exam is only 1 measure of student progress. Your child is not defined by these results.. Helping your child stay positive is part of your job – for this to happen – you too must be positive. Recognize the strengths and weaknesses of your child. Keep the encouragement going! Encourage. Encourage. Encourage
Community Meetings- On March 23rd, students will take part in a Community Meeting focused on “Don’t Stress the Test”

6. Testing Procedures
-Students will be placed in classes different than their daily scheduled classes for testing. -Students are to come prepared for the day with their book bags and with THREE #2 pencils. -As per New York State Testing Regulations: All students are prohibited from bringing cell phones and other electronic devices into a classroom or other location where a State test is being administered. Test proctors & school officials shall retain the right to collect and hold any prohibited electronic devices prior to the start of the test administration. Any student observed with any prohibited device while taking a State test must be directed to turn it over to the proctor immediately.