Fast Facts Fast Facts About the Reading WASLAbout the Reading WASL

It’s all in the details!It’s all in the details!

Test-Taking Test-Taking StrategiesStrategies

With your pencil, you may With your pencil, you may •UnderlineUnderline•CircleCircle•BoxBox

key words and phrases in the key words and phrases in the directions, questions or story directions, questions or story

Test-Taking Test-Taking StrategiesStrategies

Be sure to read all the text Be sure to read all the text features such as features such as

chartschartsgraphsgraphspicturespicturescaptionscaptionsheadingsheadings

Test-Taking Test-Taking StrategiesStrategies

Check your response by:Check your response by:

• Going back to the questionGoing back to the question

• Be sure you have answeredBe sure you have answered ALL parts of the questionALL parts of the question

Test-Taking Test-Taking StrategiesStrategies

Other words used for ‘story’ Other words used for ‘story’

• PassagePassage

• SelectionSelection

• TextText

• PoemPoem

Multiple Choice Multiple Choice ResponsesResponses

Approximately _____ of theApproximately _____ of thereading test is multiple choice. reading test is multiple choice.

• 20%20%

• 50%50%

• 70%70%

Multiple-Choice Multiple-Choice StrategiesStrategies

• process of elimination

• refer back to the text

• double check answer choice

Use all THREE to attack Use all THREE to attack multiple choice itemsmultiple choice items

Written ResponsesWritten Responses

Using these phrases can help Using these phrases can help you write effective responses you write effective responses

““In the story it says . . .”In the story it says . . .”

““For example . . .”For example . . .”

Should your response include Should your response include details from the text?details from the text?

YesYes

NoNo

AbsolutelAbsolutely!y!

In fact, you should be able to put your finger on the words in the passage (text-based detail) you are using in your response.

In compare/contrast responses, you should use details that ______ you have read the text.

illustrateillustrate telltell proveprove

Which response would prove Which response would prove you have read the passage?you have read the passage?

• Both of the characters spend Both of the characters spend time with their grandparents time with their grandparents during the week. during the week.

• Both of the characters are Both of the characters are boys.boys.

What phrase(s) states What phrase(s) states author’s purpose? author’s purpose?

to informto inform to entertainto entertain to persuadeto persuade all of the aboveall of the above

But . . . that’s not enough! But . . . that’s not enough!

You should be able to You should be able to explain WHY a piece is explain WHY a piece is persuasive, informative, or persuasive, informative, or entertaining. AND be able to entertaining. AND be able to use details from the text to use details from the text to prove it.prove it.

It might sound like: It might sound like:

The author persuades The author persuades readers to recycle by telling readers to recycle by telling us that each person in the us that each person in the U.S. throws away 1,000 U.S. throws away 1,000 pounds of trash per year.pounds of trash per year.

And . . . on an “author’s And . . . on an “author’s purpose” multiple choice purpose” multiple choice

You need to carefully read You need to carefully read each answer option, from each answer option, from beginning to end.beginning to end.

It might look like this: It might look like this:

a. to persuade the reader a. to persuade the reader to recycleto recycle

their garbagetheir garbage

b. to entertain with a story b. to entertain with a story about about

friends recycling their cansfriends recycling their cans

c. to inform the reader c. to inform the reader about the about the amountamount

of garbage recycled per yearof garbage recycled per year

Which response uses details Which response uses details from the selection? from the selection?

Charles is adventurous because he Charles is adventurous because he has many adventures in the story.has many adventures in the story.

Charles is adventurous because he Charles is adventurous because he visits the Grand Canyon and rides a visits the Grand Canyon and rides a donkey to the bottom of the canyon.donkey to the bottom of the canyon.

When comparing two When comparing two selections, you should be selections, you should be sure to give:sure to give:

Two details Two details from passage from passage #1#1

Two details Two details from passage from passage #2#2

When the directions state, When the directions state, “use two details from “use two details from eacheach selection,…”selection,…”

A lot of students will give all A lot of students will give all their details from only one their details from only one of the selections.of the selections.

When asked to give two When asked to give two differences:differences:

You need to make sure you You need to make sure you give two differences . . .give two differences . . .

NOT two sides of one NOT two sides of one differencedifference

How many differences are in How many differences are in each of these student each of these student responses? responses?

Cats meow and dogs don’t. Cats meow and dogs don’t.

(1 difference)(1 difference)

Cats meow and dogs don’t. Cats meow and dogs don’t. Cats use their claws to climb Cats use their claws to climb trees. trees.

(2 differences)(2 differences)

We know you can do We know you can do it!!it!!

Be sure to:Be sure to:

•To get plenty of sleepTo get plenty of sleep

•Eat a good breakfast Eat a good breakfast

•Relax and do your bestRelax and do your best

RememberRemember

This presentationThis presentationwas prepared for you was prepared for you

By the Puyallup School DistrictBy the Puyallup School District

Literacy Team:Literacy Team:

Susan Templin K-1 Susan Templin K-1 Louis Tibbs 2-3Louis Tibbs 2-3Nancy Spane 4Nancy Spane 4Patti Nance 5Patti Nance 5

Kris Njos 6Kris Njos 6