Bonneville Elementary FCAT Writing and Your Fourth Grader

A Florida State

A+

School

FCAT Writing Test Schedule • March 1 (Tuesday) – Writing test day • March 3 (Thursday) – Make up test day

How are the parts weighted and scored?

• Essay= Score of a 1-6, weight 100%

• In the past, there have been two parts of the test multiple choice and essay. • However, the past few years, the state of Florida opted to omit the multiple choice portion.

Let’s find out more about… The Essay

What does the FCAT Essay Writing look like? FCAT Writing is designed to represent the writing skills that parents and teachers expect of good instruction. The test requires students to read a prompt and respond by writing an essay or story about that topic within a 45 minute timeframe. In fourth grade, ALL students receive either an Expository Prompt, requiring them to write an essay to explain a topic; or a Narrative Prompt that requires them to write a story.

Writing to a Prompt Types of Prompts Expository Writing is: A type of writing that gives information, explains why or how, clarifies a process, or defines a concept

Narrative Writing is: A type of writing that recounts a personal or fictional experience or tells a story based on a real or imagined event

What’s an Expository Prompt? Example of an Expository Prompt: Below is an example of an expository prompt. • The first component orients the student to the topicfavorite day of the week. • The second component suggests that the student think about various jobs or chores and then EXPLAIN WHY a particular day of the week is your favorite. Writing Situation:

Everyone has a favorite day of the week.

Directions for Writing:

Before you begin writing, think about why you enjoy this day the most. Now explain to the reader why you enjoy this day.

Expository Planning Page

A Recipe for Expository • Paragraph 1 – Hook/ Grabber Sentence – Three reason sentence – Feeling Sentence • Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 – Transition word (To begin with, In addition, Last but not least) with reason – Elaboration – story that illustrates/explains the reason – Sentence that ties back to the reason • Paragraph #5 – Terminal signal (In conclusion) with topic words – Restate reasons – Summarize, Simile, metaphor or additional feeling sentence

What’s a Narrative Prompt? Example of a Narrative Prompt: We have all had fun on a school field trip. Think about one field trip you had away from school.

Tell a story about what happened on your field trip away from school.

Narrative Planning Page

A Recipe for Narrative • All details in a Narrative have to work together in an

integrated way to give the impression of moving through time within a definite storyline (Chronology)

• Paragraph 1 – Use a grabber – Review and Answer the “W” Questions (When, Who, What, Where) – Incorporate the keywords of the prompt (topic) • Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 – Narrative Transition words (First, After, Then…) – Create a picture in the reader’s mind of the Event – Give supporting details • Paragraph #5 – Terminal signal (In conclusion) – Summarize, Reflect (Your personal feelings), or Quote

How are the essays scored? Holistic scoring is a method by which trained readers evaluate a piece of writing for its overall quality. The papers are scored on a 6-point scale (rubric) based on the overall quality of the writing with consideration given to the elements of focus, organization, support, and use of the conventions of standard written English. The holistic scoring used in Florida requires readers to evaluate the work as a whole, while considering four elements: focus organization support conventions This method is sometimes called focused holistic scoring. In this type of scoring, readers are trained not to become overly concerned with any one aspect of writing but to look at a response as a whole.

FCAT WRITING CONTENT

FOCUS

Demonstrates a main idea or theme and stays on topic

ORGANIZATION follows a plan that includes an

introduction, effective transitional devices, and a conclusion

SUPPORT

includes use of specific details and precise word choice to explain, clarify, or define meaning

CONVENTIONS demonstrates knowledge of the

basic skills of punctuation, capitalization, spelling, usage, and sentence structure

2010-2011 Writing Goal Our 2009-2010 Results – 82% of our Students Meeting the High Standards (FCAT Score of 3.5 and Above) Our 2010-2011 Goal - 85% of our Students will score a 4 and above! – Let’s all work together and encourage students to get “At least a four…maybe more!”

What can I do at home to help prepare my child for success? • Encourage your child to write a nightly journal • Show an active interest in what your child is doing at school and encourage elaborated conversation – Ask them about their day and make sure they answer the W and H questions (Who, What, Where, When, Why and How)

• Read daily to your child to strengthen vocabulary and reading skills – Show your child that reading is important

On a Daily Basis… Your child should… • • • •

Get plenty of sleep Eat balanced meals Arrive on time to school Do their best!!!!!!

Now you write! • Write a sample planning page for either narrative or expository • Here are your prompts! Everyone has a favorite animal. Think about what that animal would be. Imagine if you were to take care of that animal for one day. Tell a story about the day you took care of an animal for one day.

Think about a character you have read in a book. Think about what you like best about that character. Explain why you like that character.

Helpful Websites • Visit http://fcat.fldoe.org/fcatis01.asp for FCAT Writing+ Test Item Specifications

• Visit http://fcat.fldoe.org/fcatpub2.asp for past FCAT Writing+ Sample Tests • http://www.firn.edu/doe/sas/flwrites.htm • http://www.brainchild.com

Thank you for coming and have a fabulous night!!!

Go Bulldogs!!!