21 days till the FSA's!!! The Math FSA's that is. The FSA is this year's equivalent to last year's FCAT. It is the way the state is going to measure student proficiency this year. There are many differences in the 2 tests.
First, this year's test is more performance based with the expectation for some written answers in math. This is something students have not been asked to do before in school. For example, they may have to write an equation in a box to represent how they would solve a word problem.
Another difference is that students will have to select multiple correct answers for one question. Not just one of the multiple choice ansewers will be correct, there may be 2 or 3 or more answers correct for the one problem.
Lastly, one way to explain the difference between the tests are that last year's FCAT was a more answer driven test. Students were posed a problem, they had to solve it and then choose the answer from a multiple choice selection of answers. This year is looks like a more "why" or "how" did you get your answer. Which equation would you use to solve the problem. It questions their thinking as well as answers.
We will be practicing problems in class using a countdown packet. I have broken it into a homework packet as well. You should see your child working on the packets beginning this week. Packet one will be due March 9th and packet 2 will be due when they return from Spring Break on March 23. Students will most likely need to work on it during Spring Break.
Please review the packet with your child as well as multiplication facts. Many students are still adding on, skip counting or counting on their fingers to get answers. This not only slows them down on a timed test but it also hinders them when working with division, factors and multiples. Which this in turn hurts them when working on fractions. So many of the standards they are working on require a firm knowledge of multiplication facts.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask!!
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
No comments:
Post a Comment