1.  Department of Elementary Education

2.  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

3.  LA.4.1.6.3 The student will use context clues to determine meanings of unfamiliar words.  LAFS.4.RL.2.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including those that allude to significant characters found in mythology (e.g., Herculean).  LAFS.5.RL.2.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.

4. Though this may assess one vocabulary standard, it also assesses reading comprehension, author’s purpose, and the concept of connotation.

5.  LA.4.2.1.2 The student will identify and explain the elements of plot structure, including exposition, setting, character development, problem/resolution, and theme in a variety of fiction.  LAFS.4.RL.2.5 Explain major differences between poems, drama, and prose, and refer to the structural elements of poems (e.g., verse, rhythm, meter) and drama (e.g., casts of characters, settings, descriptions, dialogue, stage directions) when writing or speaking about a text.  LAFS.4.RL.3.7 Make connections between the text of a story or drama and a visual or oral presentation of the text, identifying where each version reflects specific descriptions and directions in the text.

6. Students will have to write out answers in addition to multiple choice.

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

8. Questions might have more than one correct answer.

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10.  LA.4.4.3: The student develops and demonstrates persuasive writing that is used for the purpose of influencing the reader.  LAFS.4.W.1.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. o a. Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer’s purpose. o b. Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details. o c. Link opinion and reasons using words and phrases (e.g., for instance, in order to, in addition). o d. Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.

11. Writing to Tell a Story (Narrative) Directions for Writing: Suppose you won something special. Think about winning something special. Now write a story about what happened when you won something special.

12. Test specifications for grades 4 and 5: students will receive 2-4 texts with a combined word count of 800-1300 words.

13.  The Units of Study are designed to meet the rigor of the new standards and assessments.  Teaching and assessing benchmarks in isolation will not prepare students for the rigorous demands of the new expectations.  Visual and digital literacy will need to be an important element in instruction.  Learning Village will be the portal for providing teachers with resources and copies of all Units of Study.  Professional development will be crucial.

14.  Professional development will continue with planning cycle, cohort trainings, and school-based training by literacy cohort staff developers.  Each school is assigned a K-2 and a 3-5 staff developer who will schedule onsite professional development with the school administrator based on the needs of each school.  District-wide professional development opportunities: o Analyzing literacy data to drive instruction o Conferring o Small group work in reading o Informal reading assessments

15.  Have teachers review the training tests.training tests  Monitor student progress o Palm Beach Performance Assessments o Reading Running Records Teachers will now be required to administer reading running record in Grade 5 o Formative Assessments  Provide time for teachers to collaborate and plan their literacy instruction based on their students’ needs.  Look for an integration of literacy practices in all content areas.  The K-5 Literacy Guide, Continuum of Literacy Learning, and Writing Pathways are the resources to be used for guiding literacy instruction.

16.  Revised Scope and Sequence  Reading and Writing Units of Study updates  Unit One has been revised and is in Learning Village  Revised Literacy Guide (minimal revisions)  Language Arts Florida Standards (LAFS) will be ponied to schools for each teacher and administrator  Summer Professional Development  Preschool Training  K-5 implementation of RRR (5 th grade now required)  Palm Beach Performance Assessments (Grades 1-5)  FAIR/FLKRS  eLearning Management