FCAT Test- taking Strategies

FCAT Testing is quickly approaching. Please take some time to talk with your child about being confident and using their reading, math, and science test taking strategies. 

Reading

*Underline the title and make a prediction about what you think the text will be about
*Read the text
*While reading the text, underline any words, phrases, or sentences you think are important to the meaning of the text
*Put a check mark in the margin across from any key phrases or figurative language
*Pay close attention to all text features
*Read the questions carefully, noting special words in all CAPS
*Circle your key words
*Go back into the text to find and underline your answer 
*Eliminate the obviously wrong answers.
*Do not spend too much time on one problem. Choose the best answer and move on. Keep in mind that you may return to it later at the end of the test.

Mathematics

* Ask "What am I being asked to do?" and "What do I know?"
*Circle details that are important in helping you answer the question 
*Eliminate the obviously wrong answers.
*Make sure you show your work in your test booklet (Grades 3-4) or on your scratch paper (Grades 5)
*Do not spend too much time on one problem. Choose the best answer and move on. Keep in mind that you may return to it later at the end of the test.

Science 

* Ask "What am I being asked to do?" and "What do I know?"
*Circle details that are important in helping you answer the question 
*Eliminate the obviously wrong answers.
*Do not spend too much time on one problem. Choose the best answer and move on. Keep in mind that you may return to it later at the end of the test.

Read Daily

READ!!! READ!!! READ!!!

Common Core State Standards

Teachers, parents and community leaders have all weighed in to help create the Common Core State Standards. The standards clearly communicate what is expected of students at each grade level. This will allow our teachers to be better equipped to know exactly what they need to help students learn and establish individualized benchmarks for them. The Common Core State Standards focus on core conceptual understandings and procedures starting in the early grades, thus enabling teachers to take the time needed to teach core concepts and procedures well—and to give students the opportunity to master them.


Common COre Parent Guide
http://www.pta.org/4446.htm

Common Core State Standards
http://www.corestandards.org/

Summer Reading

Read! Read! Read!

The summer is here and this is the perfect opportunity to dive into a new book. Please ask your parents to take you to the library or to the book store.

Happy Reading,

Mrs. Bridges

Successmaker Challenge

Dear Parents and Students,

I have a new challenge for all of Biltmore's 4th grade students. The student that has the most hours on Successmaker Reading and Mathematics will earn $20.00 in cash. Yes, that's right 20 smacker-roos! The challenge begins on March 28, 2012 through April 15, 2012.

Successmaker is an educational software program that was purchased by the district to promote reading and mathematical gains among Duval county students. The students go to the computer lab daily to work on their individualized sessions. Successmaker website can be accessed at any computer that has internet.

So let's get logged on and win!

Thanks,
Mrs. Bridges

Saturday School: Writing Camp

Saturday School: Writing Camp will be held on January 14, 2012 and January 21, 2012. Writing Camp is from 8:30 to 12:00. Please arrive on time and pick your child up on time.

We will cover several writer's crafts to assist your child in creating beautiful stories. Florida Department of Education has increased the proficient score from an Achievement Level 3 to an Achievement Level 4. This means that your child must score a 4 or higher on the FCAT Writing Test in order for them to be proficient (on grade level) in writing.

Please make sure that your child attends both sessions. One session will cover Narrative writing and the other session will cover Expository writing.

Thank You!

Successmaker: Reading and Math Online Support

We have a new version of Successmaker. All of the students have their username and password. Click on the link above. Successmaker is a unique, educational software program that teaches children lessons to build their skills and prepare them for success. Please allow your child to complete at least one reading and one math activity daily.

Please Note: Students must complete the lessons without interruptions. Please allow them to use the restroom, drink water, or to complete any other task prior to beginning the lessons on the computer.

Thank you for all that you do!

Online Technology Support

Please allow your child to visit the websites that we use in the classroom. They are located on the left side of the blog. This will reinforce many of the online activities that they do in class.

Thank You!

Dear Parents:

At the end of February, your child will be taking the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) Writing assessment.  FCAT Writing is a statewide assessment that measures students’ writing skills in grades 4, 8, and 10.

The FCAT Writing testing date is February 28, 2012 for all students in grades 4, 8, and 10.  It is important for your child to be present for the testing session.  Therefore, this notice is being sent home so that you can note this date and avoid making appointments for your child that might conflict with testing.

I know we are all working together towards the same goal of seeing your child succeed.  I am asking for your continued help and support at home to ensure we reach our goal for FCAT Writes.  Attached is a rubric used to score the FCAT Writes papers.  Your child is very familiar with this rubric, as we use it often in class.  Please look over the rubric when you are helping/reviewing your child’s writing with them.  This tool can assist you in providing effective feedback to your child.

It is also important you encourage your child to write.  The main objective is to encourage your child to write as often as possible. Try to help them see the fun in writing.  Here are some ways they can write on a daily basis:

Make it real. Your child needs to do real writing. It's more important for the child to write a letter to a relative than it is to write a one-line note on a greeting card. Encourage the child to write to relatives and friends. Perhaps your child would enjoy corresponding with a pen pal.

Suggest note-taking. Encourage your child to take notes on trips or outings and to describe what (s)he saw. This could include a description of nature walks, a boat ride, a car trip, or other events that lend themselves to note-taking.

Brainstorm. Talk with your child as much as possible about his/her impressions and encourage the child to describe people and events to you. If the child's description is especially accurate and colorful, say so.

Encourage keeping a journal. This is excellent writing practice as well as a good outlet for venting feelings. Encourage your child to write about things that happen at home and school, about people (s)he likes or dislikes and why, things to remember or things the child wants to do. Especially encourage your child to write about personal feelings--pleasures as well as disappointments. If the child wants to share the journal with you, read the entries and discuss them--especially the child's ideas and perceptions.

Write together. Have your child help you with letters, even such routine ones as ordering items from an advertisement or writing to a business firm. This helps the child to see firsthand that writing is important to adults and truly useful.

Use games. There are numerous games and puzzles that help a child to increase vocabulary and make the child more fluent in speaking and writing. Remember, building a vocabulary builds confidence. Many of these educational games can be .

Suggest making lists. Most children like to make lists just as they like to count. Encourage this. Making lists is good practice and helps a child to become more organized. Boys and girls might make lists of their records, tapes, baseball cards, dolls, furniture in a room, etc. They could include items they want. It's also good practice to make lists of things to do, schoolwork, dates for tests, social events, and other reminders

I understand it can sometimes be challenging to explain the areas of writing to our children. I have attached other ways to help guide your child to better writing using the Six Trait Writing Model. You will also be reinforcing what they are learning at school.

Working together, we can ensure your child experiences success!

Six Trait Writing Model

Ideas and Content

• Know your topic, and when someone else reads it, they'll find out some information.
• Show what was happening ("The wildly spiraling tornado aimed straight for our barn") rather than telling what happened. ("It was scary”).  We refer to this as “Show, Don’t Tell in the classroom.
• Fill the paper with interesting information that make reading it fun and lively. Can you easily answer the question, "What is the point of this paper?"

Organization

• Get the reader's attention and give clues about what is coming.
• Add details to build on the main idea or story.
• Put details in the right place; everything fits like a puzzle.
• End at a good spot and don't drag on too long. Leave your reader with something to think about.

Word Choice

• The words are appropriate for the paper and each one seems just right.
• Try to use colorful, snappy, vital, brisk, and fresh words. 
• Don't over do your words. 
• Use energetic/strong verbs. 
• Some of the words and phrases are so vivid that the reader won't be able to forget them.

Sentence Fluency

• Keep your paper easy to read. You should love the sound of it.
• Sentence beginnings vary; they show how ideas connect.
• Try to use good "sentence sense" by letting your paper flow.
• Cut all the excess baggage.

Voice

• Use your personal stamp in your writing. It should sound like you.
• Write with confidence and sincerity.
• Fill your paper full of feelings and let your reader feel what you feel.
• You can tell that you wrote this. No one else sounds like this.

Conventions

• Use capitals correctly.
• Periods, commas, exclamation marks, and quotation marks are in the right places.
• Spelling is accurate. (Use spell check, dictionary, etc...)
• Every paragraph is indented to show where a new ideas begins.
• Grammar/usage is consistent and shows control.

November 14-18

Reading:

We are reading Tanya's Reunion by Stephen Currie this week.  This story can be found on pages 187 - 211 in your Houghton Mifflin reading books.   As we read this story, we will be working on evaluating how the author helps us understand how Tanya is feeling.

Our Focus Skill for this week is LA.4.1.7.2 - Author's Purpose.  The student will identify the authors purpose (e.g., to inform, entertain, explain) in text and how an author's perspective influences text. 

FCAT Reading Specifications pages 66-67

Writing:

This week in Language Arts we are working on incorporating metaphors and idioms into our writing to make it come alive.  We have some fun activities planned this week and are looking forward to seeing our young writers adapt what we are doing in the classroom to their own writing!

November 7-11

Our Focus Skill for this week is LA.4.1.7.4 Cause and Effect.  The student will identify cause and effect relationships in text.  Information on this topic can be found on our blog under FCAT Benchmark Websites and also in the FCAT Specifications on pages 71-72.

This week we are continuing to strengthen our writing skills by focusing on using strong verbs and transition words.  I can really start to see some improvements in the students writing, which is very encouraging!

Parents, please continue to work with your children on their homework.  We are all working together towards the same goal of seeing your child succeed!

October 31 - November 4

Reading:

We are reading Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora this week.  This story can be found on pages 159 - 175 in the Houghton Mifflin reading books. 



This story is about the childhood experiences of Tomas Rivera, who was a famous writer of stories, poems and a book.  He later became a teacher and  head of a university.  In addition, he traveled around the world to talk about Mexican American writers in the United States. The strategy we are going to work on to guide our comprehension through this story is drawing conclusions.

Our Focus Skill is LA.4.1.7.3 Main Idea The student will determine explicit ideas and information in grade-level text, including but not limited to main idea, relevant supporting details, implied message, inferences, chronological order of events, summarizing, and paraphrasing.

FCAT Reading Specifications pages 68-70

October 10 - 14

Reading:

In Reading this week, we are reading Chester Cricket's Pigeon Ride by George Selden on pages 134B-134H. This fictional selection is about a cricket's amazing journey through New York City, riding on a pigeon. The strategies to revisit while reading are Predict & Infer and Monitor & Clarify.

We're also reading The Parcel Post Kid by Michael O. Tunnell on pages 134I-134L. This nonfiction text is a true story about a girl who makes an incredible trip to visit her grandmother-- as a package! The strategy to revisit while reading are Questioning and Summarizing.

Our Focus Skill is Text Structure, pages 73-74 on FCAT Reading Specifications.
LA.4.1.7.5 The student will identify the text structure an author uses (e.g., comparison/contrast, cause/effect, sequence of events) and explain how it impacts meaning in text.

Social Studies:In Social Studies this week we continued studying the geography of Florida. We finished working in chapter one lesson one and completed the accompanying workbook pages. We also, reviewed our map skills studied in previous weeks.

Writing:

In Writing this week, we continued working with narrative stories with a focus on precise word choice.

Every student is going to receive the opportunity to publish their own book. The students will work through the process of writing a book, visiting all stages of writing: planning, prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading/editing, publishing, and illustrating and their stories. The books the students are writing can be on any topic and in any format. We began planning for the book writing this week. The students created writing folders with pages similar to that of the final draft. Every student published masterpiece will be available for purchase.

Lesson of the Week October 3 - 7

Story of the Week Oct 3 - Oct 7 

The story of the week is By the Shores of Silver Lake. This story is on pages 110-126 in the reading textbook. The strategy focus of the week is questioning. As students read, they should ask questions about what they see and think to help them better understand the story. The comprehension skill for the week is noting details. Understanding the major and minor details of a story allows the reader to better understand the theme or main idea of a story or selection.

October 3-14, 2011

Focus Calendar Standard: LA.4.1.7.5 Text Structure/ Organizational Patterns

Parents and students, you can go to the FCAT Reading Specifiations to learn more about this standard. You will also have the opportunity to view similar styled questions that will asked on the FCAT Reading Assessment. Please, contact me if you need further assistance.

Lesson of the Week - September 26 - 30, 2011

This week we will be reading the story Finding the Titanic. This story can be found on pages 82-101 in the reading textbook. The strategy focus throughout the story is monitory/carify. As the students read the story they should monitor their understanding by re-reading and carification of events and ideas. The comprehension skill of the week is text organization. We will focus on the use of outlines to help organize facts and events from the story to increase student understanding of the story structure.



Week of 9/12 - 9/16

Reading Story 9/12 - 9/16

This week in reading class we will be reading the story, Grandfather's Journey. The story can be found in the reading textbook on pages 63-74. Parents can check out a reading book from the media center to keep at home. There will be a reading test on Friday 9/16/11.

August 22-26

Reading & Writing:

Students were taught the rituals and routines of Readers and WritersWorkshop.

Opening: (reading) Teachers teach a reading skill or a strategy. Students are actively listening and participating in discussions. (writing) The teacher teaches a particular writer's craft utilizing authentic literature and other resources.

Work Time: (reading) The teacher is observing students, conferencing, and doing guided reading with a small group of students. The students are practicing the skill or strategy that was taught by the teacher, at learning centers, or on computer interactive learning sites. (writing) The students utilizing the writer'scraft in their writing.

Closing: The teacher is actively listening to the students and clarifying any misconceptions the students may have. The students are sharing what they've learned verbally as well as in their reflection response journal.

Welcome to 4th Grade

I'm so proud of all of you. This week has been awesome. I look forward to numerous adventurous events and learning activities throughout the year. Please, remember to study hard, read and write daily.

Love,
Mrs. Bridges

Math & Reading Assistance

Students: Please don't forget to log onto IXL.com and FCATexplorer.com. I can see that only four students has logged on since Spring Break. Remember, you should exercise your brain by doing daily academic instruction whether it be online interactive activities or your FCAT Spring Ramp Up package.

You are headed for success. Just stay on the right path!

Mrs. Bridges

Spring Break & FCAT Ramp Up

Hello Everyone!

I hope that you all are enjoying your break and relaxing from the day to day school activities. However, let's keep in mind that FCAT Reading and Mathematics are only five school days away. We begin testing on April 11-14, 2011. Therefore, you must exercise your brain daily so that you will retain all of the standards that you've been taught. Please work on completing your FCAT RAMP UP package daily. There is no work assigned for next Saturday or Sunday. Remember that you must do your part in order for you to achieve success.

If you need further assistance, be sure to ask your parents for help. Ask them to give you samples of the problems so that you will understand what to do. YOU CAN DO IT! You can also call me if you need more assistance.

NEW FCAT Materials:

I have added new FCAT materials. To add on, I've posted online FCAT-Like tests that you can take. You will get your score right after you take the test. You can take it online or someone can print it for you. GOOD LUCK! Also, there are several new reading links added. Check them out! Leave me a comment to let me know what you think of the new items.

Love always,
Mrs. Bridges