1. Maximize Your PSSA Scores by Using…
Magic
Words

2. Objectives
Students will carefully read and follow the directions for open-ended items.
Students will explain their work using “magic Words.”

3. Many Problem Solving Questions will have the following directions…
Show all your work.
Explain why you did each step.
Read the directions carefully. Some say “Show.” Some say “Explain.” Some say “Show and Explain.” Some say “Show or Explain.”
Whenever it says “Explain,” use Magic Words.

4. Using Magic Words… Magic words
Will help you to explain and not just describe your work.
Example of Describing: I added 2 plus 2 and got 4 for my answer.
Example of Explaining: I added the number of apples Jack had to the number of apples Jill had to find out how many they had all together.
Magic words

5. What are the Magic Words?
To find
To get
To see
To figure out
To show
Because
Since
Therefore…….

6. Highlight the Magic Words in Each Statement
I added the number of fish to the number of birds to find the total number of animals.
I multiplied the number of hours Ella worked each day by the number of days she worked to get the total number of hours.
I compared the total number of animals from each pet shop to see which was the biggest.
I divided the total number of gummy worms by the number of students to figure out how many each student would get.

7. I drew a circle with a line across the middle to show the diameter.
I subtracted three from the total numbers of days because it said he was sick for three days.
Since Jesse had more marbles than Alan, I subtracted the number of marbles Alan had from the number of marbles Jesse had to find out how many more Jesse had than Alan.
Esther’s number was even therefore it didn’t fit the pattern because all of the numbers in the pattern were odd.

8. Be specific…. Say: Instead of:
Since each student owned two pairs of shoes and there are two shoes in a pair, I multiplied two times two to find out how many shoes each student had.
Instead of:
I multiplied two times two to find the answer.

9. Let’s Give it a try…
Show your work. Explain how your got your answer.

10. Show your work. Explain how you got your answer.

11. PSSA Open Ended Item. Read the directions
PSSA Open Ended Item *Read the directions. What, specifically are you being asked to do for each step?

13. PSSA Open Ended Item. Read the directions
PSSA Open Ended Item *Read the directions. What, specifically are you being asked to do for each step?

15. Use “Magic Words” to explain and not just describe what you did.
Summary…
Read the open-ended items carefully and do exactly what the directions tell you to do.
Use “Magic Words” to explain and not just describe what you did.
The work and explanation are here… click two more times.

16. Great Job Today!!
Any questions???