Secondary PARCC Practice Tests
Instructional Implications
Session Outcomes
Participants will:
• Explore the design and content of sample
PARCC items in ELA and Mathematics.
• Determine how the design and content of
the PARCC assessment will impact
classroom instruction.
Questions
• Please feel free to ask
questions at any time during the
session.
• If we are unsure about the
answer, we will put the question
in the PARKING LOT and
consult a MSDE representative.
http://msde.blackboard.com
Home Screen
Who are we?
• MS Teachers
• HS Teachers
• Support Teachers – Special Education,
Enrichment, etc…
• Principals/Assistant Principals
• Central Office Staff
• Other…
Assessment Tutorial
As you go through the tutorial, consider:
• How does the tutorial address UDL?
• How does the PARCC assessment differ
from MSA/HSA?
• What tools might teachers have to show
students how to use?
PARCC Tutorial
At your own pace,
go through the
PARCC tutorial to
familiarize yourself
with the available
tools.
http://practice.parcc.testnav.com
Click on TUTORIAL
PARCC Tutorial Debrief
• How does the tutorial address UDL?
• How does the PARCC assessment differ
from MSA/HSA?
• What tools might teachers have to show
students how to use?
Types of Accessibility Features and
Accommodations
Features for All
Students
Accessibility
Features*
Identified in advance
Accommodations**
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Accessibility Features for All Students on the
Computer-Based Test Mode
Accessibility Features for All Students Assigned the Computer-Based Test
Mode
Audio Amplification
Blank/Scratch Paper (provided by test administrator)
Eliminate Answer Choices
Flag Items for Review
General Administration Directions Clarified (by test administrator)
General Administration Directions Read Aloud and Repeated (by test
administrator)
Text Highlighter Tool
Headphones or Noise Buffers
Line Reader
Magnification/Enlargement Device
Pop-Up Glossary
Redirect Student to Test (by test administrator)
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Writing Tools
Accommodations Link
For more information go to the website:
http://www.parcconline.org/parccaccessibility-features-and-accommodationsmanual
Purpose of the Practice Tests
Why would you use the practice tests as a part of
instruction?
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Format
Types of Assessment Items
Message to Students
Professional Learning
MATHEMATICS
Thinking About Math
As we explore the content of the math items, think
about…
• Which mathematical practices would students apply
to each test item to reach proficiency?
• What are the implications for instruction?
• What kinds of instructional activities should be
implemented in the classroom before students take
the PARCC assessment?
What is available from PARCC for Math?
Sample Items – Includes items from Grades 6-8,
Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II with some
performance based tasks.
Practice Tests – Current tests are end of year (task
type 1 – machine scoreable) and available for
Grades 6-8, Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II
SAMPLE ITEMS
• Take a look at the available sample
math items for Grades 6-8 and/or
high school.
http://practice.parcc.testnav.com
Click on SAMPLE ITEMS
PRACTICE TEST
• Current practice tests are
end-of-year (EOY).
• Let’s take a look at some
examples from the practice
test.
– The examples represent
some of the focus clusters
Non-Calculator and Calculator
Grade 7 Sample Items
• What do you notice?
Non-calculator Example #1
Non-calculator Example #2
Non-calculator Example #3
Calculator Example#1
Calculator Example #2
Time to Explore
• Now, take a look at the available math
items in the practice tests for middle and/or
high school.
http://practice.parcc.testnav.com
Click on Practice Tests and choose Mathematics
Choose a grade level/course to view.
PARCC for Mathematics
• What are the implications for instruction?
• What kinds of instructional activities should
be implemented in the classroom before
students take the PARCC assessment?
ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS
ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS
ELA PBA Format
• http://ccssparcc.wordpress.com/
PBA Simulation
The example we will look at is from the tenth
grade Performance Based Assessment.
There are three sections: literary analysis,
research simulation, and a narrative task.
http://practice.parcc.testnav.com
Click on PRACTICE TESTS
The Test
• 1-7: Literary analysis
• 8-17: Research simulation
• 18-23: Narrative task
• Read/view the texts, and answer the questions.
• Discuss the skills and knowledge required by
students to respond to the questions and essay.
Focus Question – ELA
• What kinds of instructional activities should be
implemented in the classroom before students take
the PARCC assessment?
Consider this question as you preview the ELA
practice tests.
http://practice.parcc.testnav.com/#
Click on the Practice Test Tab and choose ELA.
Scroll down to find your grade level.
PARCC for ELA
As you analyze the knowledge and skills
required by these examples, what are the
implications for instruction how do they
differ from recent instructional practices?
Additional Resources
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Achieve the Core http://achievethecore.org/
Better Lesson http://betterlesson.com/
CAST http://www.cast.org
Educators Evaluating the Quality of Instructional Products
(EQuIP) http://achieve.org/
Great Public Schools (GPS) Network
http://www.gpsnetwork.org/
MSDE Blackboard Learn
https://msde.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp
ReadWorks http://www.readworks.org/
Teaching Channel https://www.teachingchannel.org/
Putting it all Together…
As you analyze the
knowledge and skills
required by the EOY and
PBA examples, what are the
implications for instruction
and how may it differ from
recent instructional
practices?
Talk About…
• Now that we have identified three
resources (the tutorial, sample
items, and practice tests) and
explored the PARCC website, how
can you share this information with
others at your school?
Thank you!
Questions?