What’s all of the
“fuss” about the
ARMT+ Reading ?
Objectives
• To provide an overview of ARMT+ Reading,
including item difficulty, new item formats,
and sample test questions.
• To suggest strategies to improve reading
comprehension instruction across the
curriculum.
Blueprints
ARMT
Types of Reading Assessed
Literary/recreational
stories and poetry
Textual/informational
subject texts
Functional
manuals, brochures, etc.
Item Types
ARMT
Multiple Choice Questions
• Stand-alone questions
• Passage-based questions
– Key words underlined
(Grade 3)
– Key words italicized
(Grades 4-8)
Item Types
ARMT
Open-ended Questions
Scoring Guidelines
ARMT Multiple Choice Questions
Valued at one point each
Scoring Guidelines
ARMT Open-ended Responses
• Open-ended
Responses
– Valued at 3 points each
• Score point 3demonstrates a
thorough
understanding
• Score point 2demonstrates a
general
understanding
• Score point 1demonstrates a
limited understanding
• Score point 0- no
attempt to address
the prompt
Scoring Guidelines
ARMT
• Open-ended Responses must…
– Address the question by including
details and examples from the
passage for support.
– Be legible.
– Stay within the confines of the
box.
Item Format
Item Format
ARMT+
• Passages may be 1-2
pages in length.
• All multiple choice
questions have four
choices.
• All open-ended
response questions
have consistent
wording.
RIGOR
What is Rigor?
• “Challenging all students with high expectations”(Gates
Foundation Web site)
• Active, deep, and engaging learning (Small Schools Project)
• “Academic rigor is based on expectations established for
students and staff that ensure that students demonstrate a
thorough, in-depth mastery of challenging and complex
curricular concepts. In every subject, at every grade level,
instruction must include commitment to a knowledge core and
the application of that knowledge core to solve complex realworld problems.” (North Carolina State Board of Education,
2005)
(Edmunds 2006)
Rigor
Evaluation
Creating
Synthesis
Evaluating
Analysis
Analyzing
Application
Applying
Comprehension
Knowledge
Understanding
Remembering
Rigor
• Increased vocabulary
• Use of words such as mainly, most likely, probably,
and best
• Answer choices ( words, examples, or excerpts from
passages and poems)
• Comparisons (poem/poem, poem /passage,
passage/passage, or chart [table, graph,
etc.]/passage)
• Previously used formats in upper grades may
appear in lower grades.
Rigor
Open-ended Responses
•
Thorough
– Specific
– Multiple examples and support (list, portions of a conversation, line(s)
from a poem(s), etc.)
– All steps provided within a sequence of steps or events
•
General
– Basic
– Few examples and limited support (2 of 4 ideas listed, a word from a
line in a poem, etc.)
– Some steps provided within a sequence of steps or events
•
Limited
– Vague or incomplete
– One incomplete part of a two part question (compare, but does not
contrast; a cause with no effect)
– Random step(s) provided within a sequence of steps or events
– Glimmer
•
No attempt to address the prompt
Provide Opportunities to
Talk/Write
Everyday is a great day to allow your child to talk &
write about their experiences.
Types of Writing
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Freewriting
Journals
Notetaking
Questions
Explanations
Summaries
Definitions
Memos
Letters
Reviews
Editorials
Books
Stories
Poems
Reports/
Research
papers
• Essays
• Plays
•
•
•
•
•
•
Global Tested Skills
Non-exhaustive List
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Drawing conclusions
Sequence of events/information
Making inferences
Fiction/nonfiction
Fact/opinion
Previewing/predicting
Following directions
Vocabulary
Grade 4
• Vocabulary- Standards 2 and 3
• Comparing and Contrasting
• Genres- novels, short stories, poetry, and trade
books
• Literary elements and devices- identify characters,
similes, main idea, and author’s purpose
• Using text features- titles, headings, glossary,
boldface, index, table of contents, and tables
• Use of bias/recognizing persuasive techniques
• Notetaking
Grade 4
ARMT Sample
Grade 4
ARMT Sample
Grade 4
ARMT+ Sample
+
Compare and contrast the Sun and the Moon.
Use specific details from the story to support your answer.
Write your answer in the answer document.
Grade 5
• Vocabulary- Standards 1, 2, and 4
• Literary elements and devices- Recognize setting,
character traits, stated purpose, metaphors,
personification, and implied purpose(identify)
• Tables and charts
• Reference materials
Grade 5
ARMT+ Sample
Dreams
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Langston Hughes
Grade 5
ARMT+ Samples
Which line from the poem is an
example of a metaphor?
A. “Hold fast to dreams”
B. “Life is a broken winged bird”
C. “For when dreams go”
D. “Frozen with snow.”
What is the effect of the
author’s use of images?
Use details from the poem
to support your answer.
Write your answer in the
answer document.
Grade 5
ARMT+ Sample
Which sentence shows possession?
A. Johnny can’t reach the box on the top shelf.
B. Jafaar’s books are in the brown backpack.
C. Kenyatta didn’t call me last night.
D. I’ve always combed my hair to one side.
Prepare to Plan
• Before anything else, preparation is
the key to success.
-Alexander Graham Bell
• There are no secrets to success. It is the
result of preparation, hard work, and
learning from failure.
-Colin Powell
Contact
If there are any questions feel free to contact me @
warren4reading@gmail.com 231- 5273