Strategies for Success Integrating Test Preparation Into Reading Workshop.
-
Upload
tyrese-frisbey -
Category
Documents
-
view
216 -
download
1
Transcript of Strategies for Success Integrating Test Preparation Into Reading Workshop.
Strategies for Success
Integrating Test PreparationInto Reading Workshop
Three Beliefs
Successful test takers first have to be smart readers.
Successful test takers need to be able to translate the unique language of the test.
Learning how to be a successful test taker can be fun.
Hope is not a strategy
How can we help our students show what they know on standardized tests?We can create a purposeful, integrated test-taking curriculum.Students must learn the hyper-English that is part of test taking.
What is test talk?Test talk is the specific language needed to decode the test.
We often ask our students to practice, practice, practice without ever teaching.
“We as educators know that practice is not preparation. Skills must be taught in a concrete, meaningful way before they can be practiced.” page 9, Test Talk
What skills are needed?
Translate the test writers’ formal English (test talk) into kid talkRecognize and categorize questions into concepts taught in classUnderstand and successfully manipulate the format of the testUse test-taking strategies to be proactive test-takersStamina to sustain concentration
General Reading Strategy Lessons
Reading is thinking
Activating schema
Using the author’s clues to recognize important information
Identifying and following directions
Rereading saves the day
Reading and thinking stamina
Test-Specific Strategy Lessons
Navigating the structure of standardized testsEliminating answers that don’t matchActive listeningSmart test takers aren’t necessarily sure of every single answer, but they are sure to read each question carefully, use strategies, make the very best answer choice, and move on confidently.
Activating Schema
Warming-up the brain
Setting a purpose for reading
Alerting the brain to seek information
Turn the wondering brain on
Conversations in my head
Visualization
What’s It All About?Finding The Main Idea
Determining importance - finding the main idea can be tricky because it is not usually written right in the text. We must read, then use our schema with the text to infer the main ideas.
What is the text talk for main idea questions?
Anchor Chart - Main Idea
Synonyms– Passage– Text– Story
Main Idea Test Talk– Theme– Mostly about– Importance– Summarize
Motives in Messages:Identifying Author’s Intent
The author most likely wrote this passage to . . .The author both entertains and informs the reader by . . . What was the author’s main purpose for writing this article?The author included this last paragraph because it . . . In the last paragraph the author uses words that . . The reason the author uses the phrase “cool as a cucumber” is to . . .
Test Talk - Author’s Intent
Explain
Teach
Amuse
Persuade
Entertain
Compare
Demonstrate
Be humorousFrightenGive informationMake you laughDescribeProveWarn
Studying Words
Students must learn how to construct and deconstruct words - essentially know how words work.
Questions like ~ In which word does -ly mean the same as it does in lovely?
QAR
Teach Author and Me
Almost all passage related questions on the SOL test require students to use clues from the author and make inferences.
Reading Between the Lines:Inferring to Build Meaning
Text + Schema = Inference
To infer is to build meaning
Inference is a sophisticated intellectual process that occurs at the junction of a reader’s background knowledge and what is stated in the text or pictured in the illustrations
Inferring - Implicit vs. Explicit
Defining unknown words
Finding main ideas
Themes
Morals
Making predictions
Identifying characters feelings & traits
“Crunch Time” with Strategic and
Intensive Readers
Decoding is an issue, so accurate reading is an issue.
Words read per minute is often significantly below grade expectancy.
Comprehension is compromised when accuracy and fluency are areas of weakness.
Reading Research Helps . . .
If students feel successful and competent in their ability to read, they are more likely to persist in the face of challenges (Snow, Burns, & Griffin, 1998).
SO….
Decoding - daily practice reading and decoding text out loud. This must be supportive practice.
Reading must occur all day long - practice will lead to improvement.
Stamina is critical for the day of the test.
I have to read all these stories!
Fluency impacts stamina. The last passages may only be skimmed.Students are reluctant to re-read because the task is so labor and time intensive.
Relax!
School environments need to be positive.
Students need to believe in themselves. This happens when you believe in them.
Embracing the Testing Challenge
“I’m not scared because I know what it’s going to be like and I know what the words mean. I also know what to do if I get stuck. I feel excited instead of scared.”