Elementary Science
Coaches
January 28, 2011
Engage
Science CRISS Strategies
Carousel Activity Strategy
Check the back of your agenda for your color coded group
assignment.
Topic Question:
“What would you look for in an ideal science classroom
environment?”
3 minutes at each station.
2010-2011 FCAT Science
• These tests are aligned to the 1996 Standards.
• Performance tasks are not included in FCAT Science
tests at any grade.
• Multiple-choice test items continue at grades 5, 8,
and 11. (60 – 65 at grade 5, 53-61 at grades 8 and
11)
• Grades 8 and 11 tests have 4–7 gridded-response
(GR) items. No changes were made to the science
grids.
2010-2011 FCAT Science
• The number of raw points on the tests approximates
those of prior years.
• Content representation and difficulty also
approximate those of prior years.
• Scores will be reported in the same manner as in
previous years.
2010-2011 FCAT Science Sample
Test Materials
• Sample Test Materials (without performance task
items) are available electronically on the FL DOE
website.
• 2012 Sample Test Materials will have test items
written to the new standards.
Assessments FOR Learning
Assessments FOR Learning are designed to measure
achievement targets that underpin standards. They
promote more learning because they inform students
about their own progress. They focus on improvement
and involving students in their own learning.
Assessments FOR Learning are administered during the
instructional process.
Resources
• Florida Achieves – online mini-assessments for
reading, math, and science. For each benchmark in
science, Focus offers a 5-item test and a 5-item
retest.
• FCAT Explorer
• Comprehension Checks (Grades 3 – 5)
• Essential Questions (Grade 5) & Key Questions
• CORE K12 – Palm Beach Minis (Grade 5 only)
Action Plan
Recommendations for preparing grades 5, 8, and 11 for FCAT Science
this spring:
•Use Bellringers that align to the annually assessed benchmarks.
•Provide hands-on science labs and activities that align to annually assessed
benchmarks. Ensure vocabulary is utilized in laboratory experiments.
•Implement CRISS and other content area reading strategies in all classes.
•Encourage Gizmo and FCAT Explorer usage to supplement lessons.
•Emphasize student involvement in SECME and Science Fair.
•Ensure proficient students are involved in continual science enrichment.
•Incorporate science across all content areas.
•Use texts/passages within classrooms based on annually assessed science
benchmarks.
Action Plan
Recommendations for preparing grades 5, 8, and 11 for FCAT
Science this spring:
•Revisit weak benchmarks identified by data analysis.
•Provide students with descriptive feedback on their work.
•Have students self-analyze their work to determine
strengths/weaknesses and to develop strategies for improvement.
•Promote conversations and written responses with students that will
help them learn how to explain, reason, and draw conclusions based on
sound scientific practices.
Learning Support
• Family Involvement – Science Night
• Science Competitions (Science Fair & SECME)
• Community Resources
Technology
• Science Apps available on Learning Village
• Interwrite Pads (Mobi)
• Resources on Learning Tools
– VoiceThread
– Glogster.com
– Prezi
– BrainPOP en Espanol