Presenter: Lindsey Cermak, Minnesota Literacy Council
lcermak@mnliteracy.org
Objectives

 To walk away with resources, ideas, and examples of
teaching strategies for preparing learners for 2014
 To learn about the key instructional shifts
 NOT to spend the whole time talking about the
content of the new test
Format/Content Basics

Development of Modern Liberties
and Democracy
Civics and
Government
Dynamic Responses in Societal
Systems

United States
History
20%
Geography and
the World
Civics and
Government
15%
15%
Economics
50%
U.S. History
Economics
Geography
and the World
80%

Item Types

65 Minutes
 Multiple Choice (approximately 50%)
 Fill-in-the-blank
 Hot Spot
 Drag and Drop
25 Minutes
 Extended Response
90 minutes
35 items
44 raw points
Critical Thinking Skills
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Understand Central Ideas and Supporting Information
Summarize Ideas
Make Inferences
Make Generalizations Based on Evidence
Follow a Sequence
Interpret Cause and Effect
Draw Conclusions
Analyze Author’s Point of View
Compare and Contrast Ideas
Differentiate Facts from Opinion and Speculation
Evaluate Relevance and Sufficiency of Information
Determine the Purpose of a Text
Data and Graphic Skills

 Interpret Charts and Tables
 Use Bar Graphs to Make Comparisons
 See Trends in Line Graphs
 Relate Parts of a Whole in Circle Graphs
 Work with Data and Probability
 Figure Out Diagrams
 Interpret Maps for Meaning
 Analyze Editorial Cartoons
Math Skills

Find Range, Mean, Median, Mode
Determine the Probability of Single Event
Determine the Probability of Dependent
Events
Use the Calculator with Data Problems
Writing Skills

Analyze Arguments and Supporting
Ideas
Counter arguments
Develop an Idea or Argument
Develop a Progression of Ideas
Maintain Focus
Strategies and Resources

Free, Online Instructional Videos

Good tips on how to use online,
instructional videos in the classroom.
Steck-Vaughn:
Building Strategies for GED Success

Read passages aloud in partners, partner up
to answer questions, complete an exit slip
after each class/unit.
Compare Reading
Passages

Find two passages on a similar subject
and have students compare/contrast
them using a Venn Diagram
Reading
#1
Reading
#2
History on the Net

Good resource for primary and
secondary sources.
Library of Congress

 This is an amazing resource of primary source
documents. There are great lessons plans teachers
can use as is, or modify as needed.
 Idea: Practice “translating” documents
Literacy Design
Collaborative

Great resource bank of
different modules.
Digital Wish

 Although this is a K-12 site, there are some lessons
and ideas that ABE teachers could take and modify
for their own classrooms. The focus is on digital
literacy in the classroom and well, that is what the
GED 2014 is about. You have to sign up for this, but
it is free and so far, I have not been attached with
email solicitations.
Change Agent

Good resource for relevant
reading material.
What are some examples of enduring
issues that will be covered on the new
Social Studies exam?

 Extended Response items on the 2014 GED® Social
Studies test come from the civics and government
domain and are focused on the theme Development of
Modern Liberties and Democracy.
 As a result, most of the enduring issues will fall into four
categories:
 1. Citizens’ rights in conflict with some other societal
interest
 2. Separation of powers
 3. Checks and balances
 4. States' rights versus federal power
Example Prompt

Is there a common value and belief
system in America, or has the concept
of American unity simply always been
a myth? Use specific details from the
passage as well as examples from your
personal life and knowledge of
American society to support your
answer.
Suggested Plan of Attack

 5 minutes: Establish a focus and generate ideas
 10-15 minutes: First draft
 5-10 minutes: Review, edit, revise
Instructional Shifts

Instructional Shifts

Brainstorm in small groups:
1. What
are you already doing?
2. What is one thing you want to
start implementing when you
return to the classroom?
Wrap-Up
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