October 7, 2014
Gould Media Center
Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Bosse, Mrs. Cox, Mrs. DeVoe and Dr. Stein






Introduction
Discuss GMAS
Sample Test Items
How students are preparing in school
What can parents do from home
Resources
 SRI-
Reading
 MAP- Math
 GA-Milestone

Scholastic Reading Inventory
◦ Score to meet Standards- 825
◦ Skills tested- Inferences in Reading
 Example
 Mrs. DeVoe is putting on boots and a water proof jacket.
She grabs the umbrella by the door.
 Based on this reading you can determine that




A. It is cold outside
B. It is sunny outside
C. It is raining outside
D. It is warm outside.
Testing Dates:
Late August- already completed- ask you child’s teacher for
the score
January 6- February 27
March 23- May 15

Measures of Academic Progress
 Score to meet Standard- 225
 Skills tested





Operations and Algebraic Thinking
Number and Operations
Measurement and Data
Geometry
Example
◦ Choose the expression(s) that equal 35
 7 * 5=
 (30 * 1) +5=
 2+3*6 =
4*10-5=
7*8-9=
175/5=
Testing Dates:
Late August- already completed- ask you child’s teacher for the
score
January 6- February 27
March 23- May 15
Georgia Milestones Assessment System
 Assess Knowledge and Skills in the following
areas:
I.
Language Arts
II.
Mathematics
III. Science
IV. Social Studies


open-ended (constructed-response) items in
language arts and mathematics
Open-ended questions are ones that require more than one
word answers. The answers could come in the form of a list, a
few sentences or something longer such as a speech, paragraph
or essay.

a writing component (in response to passages
read by students)
Designed to:
 assess how well students are mastering
content
 Provide students with a better understanding
of their own achievements
“If you can think it, you can explain it. If you
can explain it, you can do it.”

ELA:

MATH:
http://practice.parcc.testnav.com/#
http://practice.parcc.testnav.com/#

Learning and USING appropriate vocabulary in
all subject areas

Writing in complete sentences

Using correct punctuation

Answering all questions using the R.A.C.E.
method
How to Sound Smart Answering
Constructed Response Questions
• Address assessment targets and claims that are of
greater complexity
• Require more analytical thinking and reasoning
than a selected response can elicit
• Prepare students for the Georgia Milestone
Assessment
Restate, Answer,
Cite evidence,
Explain
4-part strategy that
TRAINS YOUR BRAIN
to think about the most important steps in
answering a question!



Most constructed response items take between
3 and 5 minutes to complete.
Some more complex items may take up to 10
minutes to complete.
Response must include support from the text.
Before Beginning:



Read the entire question.
Identify and underline key words in the
question, such as: explain, name, provide
examples.
Define any key terms needed for
understanding.



Don’t start your answer off with “Yes,”
“No,” “I believe,” or “I think.”
Don’t use the words They, He, She, It, or We
in your first sentence.
The response should make sense even
WITHOUT the prompt.
Restate
Answer
Cite evidence
Explain


You will find that writing good mathematical
explanations will improve your knowledge
and understanding of the mathematical
ideas you encounter.
Putting an idea on paper requires careful
thought and attention.
http://www.cwu.edu/~glasbys/wri
ting.pdf


Hence, mathematics which is written clearly
and carefully is more likely to be correct.
The process of writing will help you learn
and retain the concepts which you will be
exploring in your math class
http://www.cwu.edu/~glasbys/wri
ting.pdf



Keeping journals / logs (chronological log of
learning)
Solving a problem (allows students to
monitor and reflect)
Explaining mathematical ideas (may or may
not be about a math process / ex: write
about what make a good problem solving
partner, write about your least or most
favorite task in a unit, etc.)



You should not confuse writing mathematics
with “showing your work”
A list of calculations without any
explanation demonstrates that you’ve spent
some time doing computations
When writing in math the goal will be to
communicate mathematical reasoning and
ideas clearly to another person
http://www.cwu.edu/~glasbys/wri
ting.pdf
Restate, Answer,
Cite evidence, Explain
4-part strategy that
TRAINS YOUR BRAIN
to think about the most important steps in
answering a question!







www.newsela.com
www.sascurriculumpathways.com
www.beyondthebubble.com
http://mdk12.org/assessments/k_8/items/cr_g
rade3_reading.html (change the grade in the
hyperlink to your specific grade level)
Word Generation SERP
Periodicals related to your content
Passages or graphs and charts in your
textbooks
• Require students to speak in complete
sentences
• Request that they are specific when referring to
people, places, things, events, etc. in lieu of
using words such as “it” “he” “she” .
• Ask them about their day and do not just accept
“nothing” and have them be specific.
Symbaloo- a webmix that allows students to
access a variety of websites where they can
practice skills in every subject.
http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/parentresources1
22