1. Doing My Best with Writing ELPA Test

2. Keyboard Reminders Do not use Caps Lock. Do not even touch that key! ;) Use Shift for capital letters, if needed. Use a space after a punctuation mark.

3. What is being tested? Your writing ability in terms of: Organization Mechanics (spelling, punctuation) Grammar

4. Take it all in before you write it out! Read the the whole prompt. Connect what you see in the picture with the task you are expected to do. Decide what you are supposed to write about.

5. Get ready! Check! Go! Write out your response on paper first. Whisper read it back to yourself! Does it make sense? Type it in. Check for spelling, capitalization, grammar, and typos. Read it back to yourself again.

6. Your writing is scored for Complete, complex and compound sentences. Use of conjunctions, such as “and, but, so, since” Number of mistakes you made

7. Review your notes. Reflect. Record. How often do you use these tips? I always _______________________. 100% I frequently/ often/ usually __________. 75% I sometimes ____________________.50% I seldom/ rarely _________________.25% I never ________________________. 0%

8. More often than not? I _________ (adverb of frequency) but I need to ____ (adverb of frequency). e.g. I often whisper read my writing back to myself but I need to do that always. e.g. I frequently check my spelling, however, I need to do that always.

9. Fill in the box:

11. Make a sentence that matches the picture: a book is Julie reading

12. She was _________ with her hands. a. paint b. painted c. painting d. paints

13. The ________________is dangerous. a. weather b. rain c. tornadoes d. sky

14. They _______ playing video games. a. is b. will c. did d. are

15. Extended response (describing): Grades 4-8 will have 4 questions of this type

16. Writing an extended answer (expressing needs and likes):

17. Writing an extended answer (explaining and persuading ):

18. Tell what is happening in this picture (describing):

19. Write a brief response: “Tell about a time you helped someone. How did you feel about it?” (describe an event)

20. Write a brief response: “If you could choose a place to go, where would it be? Explain your choice.” (describe a place)

21. Tell about your bedroom (explaining): What do you like the most about your bedroom? What do you like the least about your bedroom?

22. We ________ to a party last night. going Goes will go went

23. Best of luck!

24. Websites Picture a Story http://www.artofstorytelling.org/kiosk/ Dictation Exercises http:/www.rong- chang.com/eslread/eslread/dict/contents. htm Suessville Storybook Maker http://www.seussville.com/games_hb/sto rymaker/story_maker.html