WELCOME TO TITLE I
PARENT NIGHT
NJ ASK 2014
PRESENTERS
Ms. Barbara Lynch – Title I Reading Specialist
Mrs. Rose Griggs – Title I Language Arts Literacy
Mrs. Shannon Johnson – Title I Math
What is the NJ ASK?
 A state test designed to measure the common
core content standards
 Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 will be tested in
Language Arts Literacy and Mathematics
 Students in grade 8 will also be tested in
Science
 This year is a transitional year as the test moves
from the NJ ASK to PARCC
From: http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/es/njask/NJASKPres.pdf
WHY?
NCLB- “No Child Left Behind” –2002
• Every state must have an assessment for annual tests in reading/language
arts and math in grades 3-8 in place by the 2005-06 school year.
• Assess every student in science by 2007- 08 at least once in each of these
grade spans: 3-5, 6-9, 10-12.
• However, the New Jersey ASK is being phased/transitioned to the “new”
PARCC Assessment as part of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
Initiative.
From: http://www.northbergen.k12.nj.us/Page/2823 - NJ ASK 2014 Language Arts Literacy (Grades 6-8) POWERPOINT
WHO?
 All students enrolled in New Jersey public
schools must be tested.
 English Language Learner students and special
education students are included
From: http://www.northbergen.k12.nj.us/Page/2823 - NJ ASK 2014 Language Arts Literacy (Grades 6-8) POWERPOINT
TEST DATES
Grade 8 – April 28, 29, 30, and May 1, 2014
Grade 7 - April 28, 29, 30, and May 1, 2014
Grade 6 – May 5, 6, 7, and 8 2014
From: http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/es/njask/NJASKPres.pdf
WHY DO OUR STUDENTS NEED TO
PASS STANDARDIZED TESTS?
 Test taking is a life skill.
 Much of our students’ academic and professional
success throughout life will be based upon their
performance on tests.
 They will be facing these state tests throughout high
school, take the SAT to get into college, and then
take more standardized tests to enter graduate
school.
 Many would need to pass standardized tests to further
their careers; professions from restaurant employee to
CPA to teacher require success on tests just to get a foot in
the door.
From: http://www.northbergen.k12.nj.us/Page/2823 - NJ ASK 2014 Language Arts Literacy (Grades 6-8) POWERPOINT
THREE FUNDAMENTAL
BELIEFS ABOUT PREPARING
STUDENTS FOR TESTING:
(An authentic and meaningful way to prepare students for standardized testing)
1.
2.
3.
Successful test takers must first be smart readers and writers
(Standardized reading and writing tests are not a mystery: students can
succeed if they apply general and genre specific reading and writing
strategies.)
Successful test takers must be able to translate the unique language
of the test (In order to understand the directions, we must teach students
the “specific vocabulary” of the test.)
Learning to be a successful test taker can be fun! (Students need to
be actively engaged in the test-preparation process…we must make
learning a multi-sensory, engaging process.)
From: http://www.northbergen.k12.nj.us/Page/2823 - NJ ASK 2014 Language Arts Literacy (Grades 6-8) POWERPOINT
LANGUAGE ARTS LITERACY
Test
Types
Reading
Section
Multiple
Choice
Open
Ended
Writing
Task
Time on
Task
Total
Points
Writing: Persuasive or
Argumentative Task
1
45 minutes
12
Writing: Informative/
Explanatory or
Narrative Task
1
30 minutes
6
30 minutes
52
195
minutes
70
Reading Passage:
(Literature and
Informational Text)
4
36
4
Total
4
36
4
From: http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/es/njask/NJASKPres.pdf
2
Sample Argument Writing Prompt
Writing Situation
Educational researchers claim that student learning will improve if all
printed textbooks are replaced with electronic textbooks, known as etextbooks. Based on the researchers’ findings, students in your school
will be issued an e-textbook reader, which is a device that displays
electronic books.
Writing Task
Write an essay either supporting or opposing the claim that
student learning will improve if all student textbook are
replaced with electronic reading books. Use your knowledge of
books, history, science, movies, television, or your own experience
or observation to develop your essay. Be sure to include
reasons, facts, examples and other evidence to support your
position.
From: http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/es/njask/NJASKPres.pdf
Sample Persuasive Writing Prompt
Writing Situation
Your state is considering whether to charge a $2 fee for each person to
enter and use parks and community playgrounds. The money would be
used to maintain and improve buildings, fields, courts, and playground
equipment. This proposal is controversial, and many citizens have strong
opinions about the idea.
You decide to write an editorial for the local newspaper expressing your
opinion about whether to charge a $2 fee for each person to enter and
use parks and community playground.
Writing Task
Write an editorial for the local newspaper expressing your opinion
about whether to charge a $2 fee for each person to enter and use
parks and community playgrounds. Be sure to include reasons,
facts, examples, and/or other evidence to support your position.
From: http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/es/njask/NJASKPres.pdf
Sample Informative/Explanatory Writing Prompt
Writing Situation
Anne Frank once said, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a
single moment before starting to improve the world.” Think about
what Anne Frank is saying regarding how people can improve the
world around them.
Writing Task
Write an essay about how people can improve the world around
them. Use your knowledge of books, history, science, movies,
television, or your own experience or observation to develop your
essay. Be sure to include reasons, facts, examples, and other
evidence to support your position.
From: http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/es/njask/NJASKPres.pdf
Sample Narrative Writing Prompt
Writing Situation
Think what it would be like to live one day in the setting of your
favorite book or short story. What would happen to you in this place?
What would you do?
Writing Task
Use your knowledge of the setting of a book or short story along
with your imagination to write a story about your experience in
this place.
From: http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/es/njask/NJASKPres.pdf
Sample Open Ended Question
Irony in a story can occur when something surprising
happens or when something happens other than what we
expect.
• Describe an event in the story that is ironic.
• Explain how the irony of this event affects the outcome
of the story.
Use specific information from the selection and any
additional insight to support your response. Write your
answer in your answer folder
From: https://www.measinc.com/nj/Downloads/NJASK/NJ_ASK_6_8_Parent_Student_Teacher_Guide_%202012.pdf
From: https://sites.google.com/site/njaskwritingprep678/open-ended/rubric
From: https://sites.google.com/site/njaskwritingprep678/speculative-explanatory/rubric
MATHEMATICS
Point Breakdown
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Ratios and
Proportional
Relationships
8
8
0
The Number System
14
12
6
Expressions and
Equations
14
15
14
Functions
0
0
10
Geometry
7
7
13
Statistics and
Probability
6
7
6
Total Points
49
49
49
From: http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/es/njask/NJASKPres.pdf
Item
count by
type
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
MC
32
32
32
SCR
8
8
8
ECR
3
3
3
49
49
49
133 minutes
133 minutes
133 minutes
Total raw score points
possible
Approximate testing time
(including field test
content)
From: http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/es/njask/NJASKPres.pdf
Multiple Choice
Which of the following expressions is NOT equivalent to
15x+9?
A. 15x+8+1
B. 10x+5x+9
C. 3(5x+9)
D. 3(5x+3)
From: http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/es/njask/NJASKPres.pdf
Short Constructed Response
A middle school choir consists of 10 sixth grade students,
8 seventh grade students, and 6 eighth grade students. The
choir director selects a member of the choir at random.
What is the probability the director selects a member who
is in the eighth grade?
Hand scoring of SCR items allow 6/24, ¼, .25, or any
equivalent to be scored.
From: http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/es/njask/NJASKPres.pdf
Extended Constructive Response
Shown below are two functions
Function #1
Function #2
2x-y = -5
x
y
1
-2
3
4
4
7
7
16
• What is the rate of change of function #2? Show your work or
explain your answer. (Correct answer 3)
• Which function has the greater rate of change? Show your work or
explain your answer. (Correct answer function #2)
• Express function #2 as an equation. Explain your answer. (Correct
answer y = 3x-5)
From: http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/es/njask/NJASKPres.pdf
HOW CAN I HELP?
At School……
 Completing assignments and
reviewing teacher suggested
materials
 Attend after school tutorial
program for extra help and
review
At home…..
 Keep reading and writing
 Use internet based programs for
practice such as:
* Study Island
* IXL
During testing:
 Get a good nights sleep
 Eat breakfast
 Arrive at school on time
WEBSITES FOR REFERENCE
http://www.parcconline.org/
http://www.state.nj.us/education/sca/
http://www.corestandards.com
http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/es/njask/NJASKPres.pdf
https://sites.google.com/site/njaskwritingprep678/home
http://www.nj.gov/education/assessment/ms/njask_info_guide.pdf
http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testitems.html