Going Beyond Understanding Arkansas Reading Association “How Sweet It Is” November 21, 2013 Grades 4-6 Sponsored by Sundance/Newbridge Publishing Judy Smith, presenter jasmith@sundancepub.com Who Me? Worry? Last School Year, various schools volunteered to take different parts of PARCC as a practice run. Kentucky students took the entire ELA test. Results: 28% drop in proficiency So What Is Happening? Critical Thinking Comprehension Decoding Oral Language New Expectations Types of Questions Selected Response Constructed Response Performance Tasks Level of Questions Comprehension Analysis Inference Synthesis Evaluation The Confusion Between Complexity and Difficulty Which of the following questions would be most difficult for you/your group to answer? 1. List the 50 U.S. states in alphabetical order. 2. List the 50 U.S. states with their state capitals in alphabetical order. 3. List the 50 U.S. states with their state capitals in order of entry into the union. What level is each of these three questions? What is Selected Response? Assessments in which students will need to choose the best answer to the question. PARCC gives either four or five possible responses and has not used “All of the above” or “None of the above” as possibilities. Unlike traditional MC, the selected response questions trigger critical thinking. What Level of Questions Again? Analysis: The detailed examination of the parts of the whole. Comprehension: The ability to understand the meaning of a text. Evaluation: The ability to make a judgment based on criteria. Inference: The process of drawing a logical conclusion based on factual knowledge or evidence. Synthesis: The combining of parts into a whole. What Does That Look Like for a Selected Response Question? 1A. What is one main idea of “How Animals Live”? A. There are many types of animals on the planet. B. Animals need water to live. Synthesis C. There are many ways to sort different animals. D. Animals begin their life cycles in many different forms. 1B. Which sentence from the article best supports the answer to part 1A? A. “Animals get oxygen from air and water.” B. “Animals can be grouped by their traits.” C. “Worms are invertebrates.” Analysis D. “All animals grow and change over time.” E. “Almost all animals need water, food, oxygen, and shelter to live.” from Advances in the PARCC ELA/Literacy Assessment, August, 2012 More SR Examples, Please In the brochure Alignment to PARCC, look at Second grade examples on page 4 Fifth grade examples on page 5 Note that assessments should contain various levels of questions! Fifth Grade SR Example from “The Nelson Mandela Story” (pg. 20-21) 1. Of what significance was Mandela’s wearing a Springbok shirt? A. B. C. D. South Africa was hosting the games, and it was important that the president support rugby. Black men had never worn the shirt before, and the president needed to be the first. Mandela was giving the opening speech so he needed to look like the team. Mandela was telling South Africans that apartheid was over and everyone needed to unite as South Africans. Inference Your Turn To Write a Selected Response Using any section of the book “The Nelson Mandela Story” write a question and choices. Make sure you write a question that causes the students to Analyze Infer Synthesize Evaluate What is Constructed Response? Constructed Response Questions are assessments in which students must compose answers. Constructed responses address assessment targets and claims that are of greater complexity and require more analytical thinking [inference, analysis, synthesis, evaluation] and reasoning. What Does That Look Like for a Constructed Response Question? Drag the words from the word box into the correct location on the graphic to show the life cycle of a butterfly as described in How Animals Live. Advances in the PARCC ELA/Literacy Assessment, August, 2012 444 Pupa 1 Adult 4 Egg Larva frAdvanin the PARCC ELA/Literacy 2 Assessment, August 3 More CR Examples, Please In the brochure Alignment to PARCC, look at Second grade examples on page 8, 9 Fifth grade examples on page 8, 9 Note that assessments should contain various levels of questions! Fifth Grade CR Example from “The Nelson Mandela Story”(pg. 14-15) 1. Explain at least two ways by which Nelson Mandela improved prison life for himself and other prisoners. Synthesis Your Turn To Write a Constructed Response Using any section of the book “The Nelson Mandela Story”, ask the students to do a task. Make sure your task causes the students to: Analyze Infer Synthesize Evaluate What Is A Performance Task? Performance Tasks involve multiple steps which may include several readings, working with graphic organizers, and writing using details and proof from the materials. In testing, performance tasks are generally allotted up to two hours to complete. Generally, performance tasks at third grade will involve at least one video and at least one reading. Part of the discussion will be whole or small group. Students are allowed to use their notes and are not graded on the quality of the notes. Generally, performance tasks for fourth grade and up will involve at least one video and at least two readings. Part of the discussion will be whole or small group. Students are allowed to use their notes and are not graded on the quality of their notes. What Does That Look Like for a Performance Task? 1. View a video section about Nelson Mandela – e.g. Invictus 2. 3. 4. Read “The Nelson Mandela Story” and fill in graphic organizers his life and accomplishments. Read a newspaper or magazine article about Nelson Mandela. Ask the students to answer the question “Using information from your research, do you agree or disagree that Nelson Mandela deserved the Nobel Peace Prize?” Writing: Four Types of Sentences in Informative & Persuasive Writing 1. 2. 3. 4. Introductory sentence – using opinion words Text-based sentences in body. Thought-based sentences in body. Concluding sentence. Report to Informative & Persuasive: Introductory Sentence Topic sentence – gives an overview of the topic (expository); takes a side of the issue, tells what the writer is going to prove (persuasive) . 1. Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth president of the United States. (report) 2. Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest presidents, served in the 1860’s. (simple paragraph/essay – one area of proof)to 3. Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest presidents, served in the 1860’s which tore the country apart because of the Civil War. (more complex – two areas) Report to Informative & Persuasive: Fact-Based Sentences Text-Based What It Is Fact A statement that can be proven by observation, checking a valid reference, talking to an authority Statistic Information that involves numbers found in a valid reference Sensory Detail Use of specific detail to explain how something looks, sounds, smells, tastes, or feels – e.g. what damage a tornado does Example An instance of something that is valid and provable – e.g. a story of what a rainstorm did to houses in the neighborhood. Quote Exactly what an authority said about the topic Illustration An extended example – e.g. all the steps a student must take when they’ve missed school Report to Informative & Persuasive: Thought-Based Sentences Comes from putting the pieces together and drawing valid conclusions, opinions, analysis, evaluation. Help students find their thoughts by asking these questions about the facts: So what? Why is that important? Why did you use that fact? Your Turn! Use a fact you are currently teaching or one of the facts below, and answer one or more of the thought-based questions. “People from all over the world, including governments, artists, and sports teams, chose not to have links with South Africa.” “The Nelson Mandela Story” pg. 16 Report to Informative & Persuasive: Concluding Sentence Important phrase from introductory sentence Going Beyond Understanding Arkansas Reading Association “How Sweet It Is” November 21, 2013 Grades 4-6 Sponsored by Sundance/Newbridge Publishing Judy Smith, presenter jasmith@sundancepub.com