1. 1 Preparing for the 3 rd Grade FCAT

2. 2 What is the FCAT? The Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test is part of Florida’s overall plan to increase student achievement by implementing high standards. The FCAT also measures student progress toward meeting the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) benchmarks. The Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test is part of Florida’s overall plan to increase student achievement by implementing high standards. The FCAT also measures student progress toward meeting the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) benchmarks.

3. 3 When will the FCAT test be given? This school year, the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test will be administered on: This school year, the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test will be administered on: April 14 – 24, 2014 In third grade, students will ONLY be taking the Reading and Mathematics portion of the FCAT. 1 st Week Monday and Tuesday (Reading), 2 nd Week Monday and Tuesday (Math). In third grade, students will ONLY be taking the Reading and Mathematics portion of the FCAT. 1 st Week Monday and Tuesday (Reading), 2 nd Week Monday and Tuesday (Math).

4. 4 What can my child score on the FCAT? Level 5 This student has success with the most challenging content of the Sunshine State Standards. A student scoring in Level 5 answers most of the test questions correctly, including the most challenging questions. Level 4 This student has success with the challenging content of the Sunshine State Standards. A student scoring in Level 4 answers most of the test questions correctly, but may have only some success with questions that reflect the most challenging content. Level 3 This student has partial success with the challenging content of the Sunshine State Standards, but performance is inconsistent. A student scoring in Level 3 answers many of the test questions correctly but is generally less successful with questions that are the most challenging. Level 2 This student has limited success with the challenging content of the Sunshine State Standards. Level 1 This student has little success with the challenging content of the Sunshine State Standards.

5. 5 FCAT READING

6. Reading FCAT 2.0 6

7. Words per passage Informational and Literary Passages are between 500-700 words Informational and Literary Passages are between 500-700 words Poems average 100 words Poems average 100 words 7

8. 8 What are the reading benchmarks my child will be tested on ? Main Idea Main Idea Relevant Supporting Details Relevant Supporting Details Chronological Order Chronological Order Author’s Purpose and Perspective Author’s Purpose and Perspective Cause and Effect Cause and Effect Compare and Contrast Compare and Contrast Informational Text Informational Text Text Structure/Organizational Patterns Text Structure/Organizational Patterns Descriptive, Idiomatic and Figurative language Descriptive, Idiomatic and Figurative language Theme and Topic Theme and Topic Elements of Story Structure Elements of Story Structure

9. 9 VOCABULARY EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: Read the sentence from the story. “I’m going to slip on a T-shirt, slop on the sunscreen, and slap on a hat. If I do, I will reduce my risk of getting skin cancer when I am an adult.” What is the meaning of the word reduce? A. make big B. make hot C. make less D. make safe

10. 10 Authors Purpose/Story Structure 1. Why did the author write “Close Friends”? A. to show how to make a snowman B. to explain why snowmen stand alone C. to teach readers to be nice to snowmen D. to tell a story about friendship 2. Which sentence BEST tells what the story is about? A. Bounce was not a good swimmer. B. Willie should not have been throwing rocks. C. Willie was smart to teach Bounce tricks. D. Bounce could not talk, but he was able to get help.

11. 11 Compare & Contrast Examples: 3. How are the star-nosed mole and a hot dog ALIKE? A. Their length and weight are alike. B. Their width and height are alike. C. Their color and thickness are alike. D. Their age and color are alike.

12. 12 Informational Text Example: 4.Look at the picture of the diver stepping on the stingray in Figure 3. What might happen AFTER the diver steps on the stingray by mistake ? A. The ray will chase the diver. A. The ray will chase the diver. B. The ray will swim with the diver. B. The ray will swim with the diver. C. The ray will sting the diver. C. The ray will sting the diver. D. The ray will hide from the diver. D. The ray will hide from the diver.

13. 13 How can I help my child at home? Read, Read, Read, Read, Read Read, Read, Read, Read, Read Set aside at least 30 minutes each night to read with your child, or for independent reading. Set aside at least 30 minutes each night to read with your child, or for independent reading. Ask your child questions about the story (see reading task cards) Ask your child questions about the story (see reading task cards)

14. 14 MATH FCAT

15. Mathematical Categories Tested Number: Operations, Problems, and Statistics 50% Geometry and Measurement 30 % Number: Fractions 20 %

16. Complexity of Questions Low complexity - items rely heavily on the recall and recognition of previously learned concepts and principles. Items typically specify what the student is to do, which is often to carry out some procedure that can be perform. Moderate complexity items involve more flexible thinking than low complexity items. Items require a response that goes beyond the habitual, is not explicitly specified in the text, and ordinarily has more than a single step. The student is expected to decide what to do—using informal methods of reasoning and problem-solving strategies—and to bring together skill and knowledge from various domains. High Complexity - items make heavy demands on student thinking. Students must engage in more abstract reasoning, planning, analysis, judgment, and creative thought. Items require that the student think in an abstract and sophisticated way.

17. 17 NUMBER SENSE EXAMPLE: Nathan paid $2 for each of the 3 books he bought at a bookstore. He can use the expression 3 x 2 to find the total amount he paid for the 3 books. Which of the following is equal to 3 x 2? A. 3 + 3 + 3 B. 2 + 2 + 2 C. 3 x 2 + 3 D. 2 + 3 x 3

18. Example A group of 24 people is getting on a roller coaster. Each car of the roller coaster can hold 4 people. Which equation could be used to find the number of roller coaster cars needed to hold all 24 people? A. 24 + 4 = __ B. 24 x 4 = __ C. __ + 4 = 24 D. __ x 4 = 24

19. 19 What Math skills will my child be tested on? MEASUREMENT Measurement Items will not assess weight/mass, capacity, or temperature in isolation. Time and linear measurement, including perimeter, will be assessed. Items may use customary and/or metric units.

20. 20 MEASURMENT EXAMPLE: Which of the following is the best estimate of the weight of a gerbil? A. 4 ounces B. 4 pounds C. 4 quarts D. 4 inches A. 4 ounces B. 4 pounds C. 4 quarts D. 4 inches

21. FCAT Mathematics Grades 3-10 Rulers will be provided for use on the second session of the Grades 3 and 4 tests.

22. 22 What Math skills will my child be tested on? ALGEBRA describes, analyzes, & generalizes patterns, relations, & functions describes, analyzes, & generalizes patterns, relations, & functions writes and uses expressions, equations, inequalities, graphs, & formulas writes and uses expressions, equations, inequalities, graphs, & formulas

23. 23 ALGEBRA EXAMPLE: Annette and her brother went fishing. Annette caught 2 more fish than her brother did. The represents the number of fish her brother caught. Which of the following could be used to find the number of fish Annette caught? Annette and her brother went fishing. Annette caught 2 more fish than her brother did. The represents the number of fish her brother caught. Which of the following could be used to find the number of fish Annette caught? A. + 2 B. - 2 C. x 2 D. ÷ 2

24. 24 What Math skills will my child tested on? GEOMETRY describes, draws, identifies, & analyzes two- dimensional shapes visualizes and illustrates changes in shape uses coordinate geometry

25. 25GEOMETRYEXAMPLE: Michèle bought the frame shown below for her sports picture. Which best describes the shape of the frame? A. parallelogram B. pentagon C. rhombus D. trapezoid A. parallelogram B. pentagon C. rhombus D. trapezoid

26. 26 What Math skills will my child tested on? DATA ANALYSIS organizes, interprets, & analyzes data organizes, interprets, & analyzes data identifies patterns & makes predictions, inferences, & valid conclusions identifies patterns & makes predictions, inferences, & valid conclusions uses probability & statistics uses probability & statistics

27. 27 DATA ANALYSIS EXAMPLE: The weight of each of Sabrina ’ s dogs is shown in the table above. Sabrina is planning to adopt another dog that weighs 70 pounds. Based on the information in the graph, how many cups of dog food can Sabrina expect the new dog to eat each week? A 12 cups B 18 cups C 28 cups D 42 cups

28. 28 When will I know my child’s performance on the FCAT? Test scores for students and summary scores for schools and districts are distributed late May or early June. Schools send the student reports home at the end of the school year. Test scores for students and summary scores for schools and districts are distributed late May or early June. Schools send the student reports home at the end of the school year. FCAT results for schools and districts are reported through the media and are available on fcat.fldoe.org FCAT results for schools and districts are reported through the media and are available on fcat.fldoe.org

29. 29 Where can I find more information about the FCAT? Florida Department of Education Website Florida Department of Education Website fcat.fldoe.org fcat.fldoe.org FCATexplorer.com FCATexplorer.com Justreadflorida.com Justreadflorida.com Information in Spanish (Español) Information in Spanish (Español) http://fcat.fldoe.org/aboutfcat/spanish/index.html

30. Day 1 – Monday, April 14, 2014 Grades 3 Session 1 - 70 minutes Day 2 – Tuesday, April 15, 2014 Grades 3 Reading Session 2 - 70 minutes Day 3 – Monday, April 21, 2014 Grades 3 Mathematics Session 3 70 minutes Day 4 – Tuesday, April 22, 2014 Grades 3 Mathematics Session 4 - 70 minutes Duration of Test

31. 31 How can I help my child be successful? Make sure your child attends school regularly. The more effort your child puts into learning, the more likely he or she will perform well on tests. Make sure your child attends school regularly. The more effort your child puts into learning, the more likely he or she will perform well on tests. Meet with your child’s teacher to discuss his or her progress. Ask teachers to suggest ways to help the child prepare for tests. Meet with your child’s teacher to discuss his or her progress. Ask teachers to suggest ways to help the child prepare for tests. Encourage your child, especially when he or she does well. A positive outlook helps children do their best. Encourage your child, especially when he or she does well. A positive outlook helps children do their best. Provide a quiet, comfortable place for studying at home. Provide a quiet, comfortable place for studying at home.

32. How can I help my child be successful? Make sure that your child is well rested on school days, especially on test days. Make sure that your child is well rested on school days, especially on test days. Give your child a well-rounded diet. This will help ensure a healthy body and a healthy, active mind. Give your child a well-rounded diet. This will help ensure a healthy body and a healthy, active mind. Provide books and magazines for your child. By reading new materials, your child will learn new words that might appear on tests. Provide books and magazines for your child. By reading new materials, your child will learn new words that might appear on tests. Don’t be too anxious about your child’s test scores. The best advice you can give your child is to “just relax and do your best.” Don’t be too anxious about your child’s test scores. The best advice you can give your child is to “just relax and do your best.” 32