Preparing for the 4th
Grade FCAT
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What is the FCAT 2.0?
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The Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test
is part of Florida’s overall plan to increase
student achievement by implementing higher
standards. The FCAT 2.0 also measures student
progress toward meeting the Next Generation
Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) benchmarks.
Common Core Standards implemented 20142015 school year.=
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When will the FCAT test be given?
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FCAT Writes
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FCAT Reading and Math
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February 26, 2013
April 15-26, 2013
Assessment schedule has been posted at:
http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document5063/fcatscheduleb.pdf
Rubric can be found on:
languageartsreading.dadeschools.net
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FCAT Writing
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What can my child score on the FCAT Writes?
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Has focus, organization, higher end vocabulary used appropriately,
plenty of support and conventions. Variety of sentence structure
adds fluency and enhances understanding.
5
Writing is focused, has organization, precise vocabulary, plenty of
support and proper use of conventions. Writer builds suspense in a wellcrafted story.
4
Generally focused based on topic/prompt, has organization, transitions
connect within and between paragraphs, higher end vocabulary used
appropriately, plenty of support and mostly proper use of conventions.
3
Generally focused based on topic, organization attempted, lacking
supporting details and elaboration. Some transitions move the action
through time. Few minor errors in spelling, capitalization, and
punctuation. Demonstration of knowledge of conventions.
2
Slightly related to topic/prompt, incomplete organization, some details,
unrelated information shifts the topic, word choice limited or immature,
missing punctuation resulting on run-on sentences.
1
Minimally addresses topic/Lists multiple responses/prompt, has
extraneous information, frequent errors in all areas of conventions
Unscorable
Did not write to the topic/prompt
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Types of Topics/Prompts
 Expository
 Explain
 Beginning,
Middle, End
 60 minutes
 Rough Draft
 Narrative
 Tell
a story
 Beginning,
Middle, End
 60 minutes
 Rough Draft
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FAQ
Who scores the test?
 How are the scores calculated?
 What is the passing score?
 Can fourth grade students be retained for
not passing this test?
 Can students use visual aids, dictionaries,
and notes?
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What are the Scorers looking
for?
How can you help your child???
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The better the reader, the better the writer
Journal Writing
Review their writing home learning using rubric
Encourage mature vocabulary
Correct grammar, spelling, and capitalization on
all assignments.
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Example- Reading Log
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FCAT READING
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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.
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How the Test is Designed
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FCAT DESIGN (90 min/ with short stretch break)
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Multiple Choice (MC) = 1pt. - 1 min each
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Combination of Fiction (fables), Non-Fiction and
Poetry (compared)
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Reference research (graphs, pictures, maps, charts,
captions, footnotes)
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Identify, understand and apply the use of figurative
language.
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Meet the Benchmarks
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Cause/Effect
Main Idea/Relevant Supporting Details
Text Features
Vocabulary
Compare/Contrast (Similarities/Differences)
Author’s Perspective/Point of View
Chronological Order
Theme/Topic *
Elements of Story Structure
Text Structure/Organizational Patterns
Descriptive, Idiomatic & Figurative Language *
Informational Text
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Figurative Language
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How can you help your child???
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Read books with your child aloud
Ask questions of the 5 W’s and How
Monitor student book choice ( AR level and
genres)
Assign activities that will have your child
graphing, classifying, predict, estimating,
comparing, identifying patterns, interpreting,
and summarizing material
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FCAT MATH
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How the Test is Designed?
Multiple Choice
 Diagrams
 Conversions
 Rulers
 No calculators
 Gridded Responses
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Gridded-response items appear in
Grade 4 for the first time
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Gridded Response
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%
Rulers will be provided for use on
the second session
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Megan’s father won first place in a bicycle race. The race was
divided into equal sections, each measuring exactly 7 miles in
length. Which number could be the total number of miles of
the race?
A.
B.
C.
D.
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Meet the Strands
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Number Sense, Concepts and Operations
Measurement
Geometry and Spatial Sense
Algebraic Thinking
Multi-Step Word Problems
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Number Sense
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Geometry and Spatial Sense
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Geometry and Spatial Sense
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Algebraic Thinking
Michèle is paid $2.00 for each hour she watches her younger
brother. She then spends $3.00 of her total earnings.
Let h represent the number of hours Michèle watched her
brother.
Which expression below could be used to show how much
money she will have left?
A. h - 3
B. h ÷ 2
C. 2 – 3b
D. (2h) - 3
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How can you help your child???
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Review multiplication facts
Bake with your child (use metric units and
customary)
Incorporate estimation when shopping with
your child
Use the online E*text book Go Math!
Have students underline and circle key words
and concepts when completing assignments
Always show work
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Parent/Student Resources
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http://www.fldoe.org
http://oada.dadeschools.net/TestingCalendar/
TestingCalendar.asp
http://www.infoplease.com/homework/
http://www.riverdeep.dadeschools.net
http://www.explorelearning.com
http://www.aplusmath.com
http://www.tickettoread.com
http://www.fcatexplorer.com
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Questions and Comments
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