FCATFCATFlorida ComprehensiveFlorida Comprehensive

Assessment Test Assessment Test

What is it????What is it????

General InformationGeneral Information

Dates: April 22-26, 2014Dates: April 22-26, 2014 Reading: 2 days of passages of up to Reading: 2 days of passages of up to

700 words from various genres (fiction, 700 words from various genres (fiction, non-fiction, informational, instructional, non-fiction, informational, instructional, poetry, reference and research, etc.)poetry, reference and research, etc.)

A third grade student A third grade student MUSTMUST obtain a obtain a Level 2 or higher to be promoted to Level 2 or higher to be promoted to fourth grade. This is based on law (No fourth grade. This is based on law (No Child Left Behind)Child Left Behind)

What Will be Tested?What Will be Tested?

There are reading standards that There are reading standards that are determined by the Florida are determined by the Florida Department of Education to be Department of Education to be included in the FCAT. They are included in the FCAT. They are called the Reading Benchmarks.called the Reading Benchmarks.

What are the Reading What are the Reading Benchmarks?Benchmarks?

The Reading The Reading BenchmarksBenchmarks

VocabularyVocabulary AuthorAuthor’’s Purpose and Perspectives Purpose and Perspective Main IdeaMain Idea Chronological OrderChronological Order Cause and EffectCause and Effect Relevant Supporting DetailsRelevant Supporting Details Text Structures/ Organizational Text Structures/ Organizational

PatternsPatterns Theme/ TopicTheme/ Topic

The Reading The Reading Benchmarks (Benchmarks (continuedcontinued))

Compare and ContrastCompare and Contrast Elements of Story StructureElements of Story Structure Figurative LanguageFigurative Language Text FeaturesText Features Informational TextInformational Text

How Can You Help How Can You Help Your Child?Your Child?

Consistent attendance and arriving on Consistent attendance and arriving on time to school is EXTREMELY time to school is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!!IMPORTANT!!!

Supervise home learning.Supervise home learning. Teach your child best practice test Teach your child best practice test

taking strategies. *(underlining, etc)taking strategies. *(underlining, etc) Be involved in your childBe involved in your child’’s reading s reading

habits. habits. (This includes library visits, guided reading, (This includes library visits, guided reading, visiting suggested reading websites.)visiting suggested reading websites.)

Suggested WebsitesSuggested Websites& Tools& Tools

FCAT Explorer/Focus FCAT Explorer/Focus www.fcatexplorer.com Ticket to Read Ticket to Read www.tickettoread.com (Must be (Must be

purchased)purchased) Florida Achieves is a link on Florida Achieves is a link on www.fcatexplorer.com Florida Department of Education Florida Department of Education

http://fcat.fldoe.org/fcat/ has retired FCAT passages has retired FCAT passages A direct link to FCAT questions is A direct link to FCAT questions is

http://fcat.flodoe.org/fcatsmpl.asp Successmaker is an in-school reading computer Successmaker is an in-school reading computer

program program Google "reading comprehension + third grade Google "reading comprehension + third grade

reading passagesreading passages”” Purchase reading comprehension practice Purchase reading comprehension practice

materials at Teacher Tools, Ace Educational and on materials at Teacher Tools, Ace Educational and on the Internetthe Internet

33rdrd Grade Grade Mathematics Mathematics

Measures- Assess students performance of grade-level benchmarks in form of multiple choice questions ranging from low, moderate, and high complexity.

Duration of test -Administered on two days for a total of 140 minutes.

Length of test- Ranges between 50-55 items. Items needed- School will provide each student

with a ruler and pencil(s). Number: Operations, Problems and Statistics are

50 %; Geometry and Measurements, 30%; and fractions, 20% of the total FCAT Math Test.

How can you help your childHow can you help your child

Go to http://fcat.fldoe.org/fcatsmpl.asp for 3rd grade sample problems.

Provide your child with a quiet working area and supplies to complete home learning assignments.

Allow your child to use the computer to complete RiverDeep, TenMarks, Reflex Math (for multiplication) and other fun math websites.

Monitor and allow your child to sign on to their student portal to access Mega Math from their online math textbook.

Thank you for coming!!Thank you for coming!!