WelcomeWelcome

EJMSEJMS

88thth Grade Grade Parent/Curriculum Parent/Curriculum

NightNight

March 22, 2010March 22, 2010

Who takes the CRCT?Who takes the CRCT?

Georgia law, as amended by the A+ Georgia law, as amended by the A+ Education Reform Act of 2000, requires that Education Reform Act of 2000, requires that all students in grades one through eight take all students in grades one through eight take the CRCT in the content areas of reading, the CRCT in the content areas of reading, English/language arts, and mathematics. English/language arts, and mathematics. Students in grades three through eight are Students in grades three through eight are also assessed in science and social studies. also assessed in science and social studies. The CRCT only assesses the content The CRCT only assesses the content standards outlined in the GPS. standards outlined in the GPS.

General Testing Info.General Testing Info.

April 20-28 is the April 20-28 is the testing window for testing window for EJMSEJMS

Testing begins at 8:15 Testing begins at 8:15 and lasts for and lasts for approximately 90 approximately 90 minutes with breaks minutes with breaks between sub-sectionsbetween sub-sections

What can I do to make my child a What can I do to make my child a successful test taker?successful test taker?

A full night’s sleepA full night’s sleep A breakfast that has protein (eggs, A breakfast that has protein (eggs,

cheese, peanut butter, meat, milk) cheese, peanut butter, meat, milk) and complex carbohydrates (whole and complex carbohydrates (whole grain breads, cereal, nuts)grain breads, cereal, nuts)

Comfortable clothing and shoes Comfortable clothing and shoes (layers)(layers)

Stress-free morningsStress-free mornings

MathematicsMathematicsMathematicsMathematics

Each week students have been given 20 questions for Each week students have been given 20 questions for homework. These homework problems are the skills homework. These homework problems are the skills that students will need to take the CRCT. Students can that students will need to take the CRCT. Students can study past homework problems to help them prepare for study past homework problems to help them prepare for the test.the test.

We will finish with all of our standards next week. We will finish with all of our standards next week. Students have a checklist of all the standards for 8th Students have a checklist of all the standards for 8th grade mathematics.grade mathematics.

After spring break, we will be working from the CRCT After spring break, we will be working from the CRCT Practice books in order to prepare for the test.Practice books in order to prepare for the test.

Helpful Math WebsitesHelpful Math WebsitesHelpful Math WebsitesHelpful Math Websites

www.studyisland.comwww.studyisland.com

www.georgiaoas.orgwww.georgiaoas.org

http://www.gadoe.org/ci_testing.aspx?http://www.gadoe.org/ci_testing.aspx?folderID=14730&m=links&ft=Student%20Guides folderID=14730&m=links&ft=Student%20Guides

Reading CRCTReading CRCT

Topics Tested:Topics Tested: ComprehensionComprehension

– Elements of PlotElements of Plot– CharacterizationCharacterization– Figurative LanguageFigurative Language– Organizational StructuresOrganizational Structures– Author’s PurposeAuthor’s Purpose– ThemeTheme– Identification of Main Idea and Identification of Main Idea and

Supporting DetailsSupporting Details VocabularyVocabulary

– Dictionary and Thesaurus UseDictionary and Thesaurus Use– Context CluesContext Clues– Prefixes, Suffixes, Root WordsPrefixes, Suffixes, Root Words

How to Prepare:How to Prepare: Read nightly (I recommend 30 Read nightly (I recommend 30

minutes/night)minutes/night) Reading Practice on Reading Practice on

StudyIsland StudyIsland – Login: lunch#@jcssLogin: lunch#@jcss– Password: lunch#Password: lunch#

Take review/ warm-ups in Take review/ warm-ups in class seriously.class seriously.

Language Arts CRCTLanguage Arts CRCT

Topics Tested:Topics Tested: ConventionsConventions

– Parts of SpeechParts of Speech– Sentence TypesSentence Types– Sentence StructuresSentence Structures– Fragments and Run-onsFragments and Run-ons– Subject and Verb Subject and Verb

AgreementAgreement– Punctuation, Capitalization, Punctuation, Capitalization,

Etc.Etc.

How to Prepare:How to Prepare: Language Arts Practice Language Arts Practice

on StudyIslandon StudyIsland– Login: lunch#@jcssLogin: lunch#@jcss– Password: lunch#Password: lunch#

In-class ReviewIn-class Review For extra help, see me For extra help, see me

during connections or during connections or meet with me after school meet with me after school on Tuesdays or on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.Wednesdays.

Promotion Criteria for 8Promotion Criteria for 8thth Grade Grade StudentsStudents

Score at least an 800 on the Reading AND Math portions of the Score at least an 800 on the Reading AND Math portions of the CRCT.CRCT.

Grades 1-8: The student's classroom teacher (for grades 1-5) or Grades 1-8: The student's classroom teacher (for grades 1-5) or middle school team (for grades 6-8) shall review the student's middle school team (for grades 6-8) shall review the student's overall academic achievement, including results on the overall academic achievement, including results on the applicable CRCT(s), and make a recommendation as to whether applicable CRCT(s), and make a recommendation as to whether a student who does not achieve grade level on the applicable a student who does not achieve grade level on the applicable CRCT or meet the local promotion criteria should be promoted CRCT or meet the local promotion criteria should be promoted or retained based on a determination that as a result of such or retained based on a determination that as a result of such promotion or retention, the student is likely to perform at grade promotion or retention, the student is likely to perform at grade level by the conclusion of the next school year. The decision as level by the conclusion of the next school year. The decision as to whether the student will be promoted, retained or placed will to whether the student will be promoted, retained or placed will be made in accordance with the regulations described above be made in accordance with the regulations described above and as required by state law and State Board Rule. and as required by state law and State Board Rule.

What are the minimum achievement What are the minimum achievement standards for each subject area?standards for each subject area?

Reading 800Reading 800 Language ArtsLanguage Arts 800800 MathematicsMathematics 800800 Social StudiesSocial Studies 800800 ScienceScience 800800

What does the number 800 mean?What does the number 800 mean?

The score from 800-849 indicates that The score from 800-849 indicates that the student the student MEETSMEETS standard standard

A score above 849 indicates that the A score above 849 indicates that the student student EXCEEDSEXCEEDS standard standard

A score 799 and below indicates that A score 799 and below indicates that the student the student APPROACHESAPPROACHES standard standard

What is a gateway test?What is a gateway test?

For 8For 8thth grade students, the gateway tests are grade students, the gateway tests are Reading and Math.Reading and Math.

The gateway test is designed to indicate which The gateway test is designed to indicate which students need additional support in Reading students need additional support in Reading and Math. If a child does not meet standard, and Math. If a child does not meet standard, then there are steps taken to remediate and then there are steps taken to remediate and possibly retain the student.possibly retain the student.

What if my child doesn’t meet What if my child doesn’t meet standard on a gateway test?standard on a gateway test?

Parents and guardians are notified in Parents and guardians are notified in writing and by a phonecallwriting and by a phonecall

88thth grade students are offered grade students are offered remediation based on their area of remediation based on their area of difficultydifficulty

At the end of the tutoring period, At the end of the tutoring period, students re-take only the test they did students re-take only the test they did not passnot pass

What happens if my child doesn’t What happens if my child doesn’t score an 800?score an 800?

Once score results are returned they will be Once score results are returned they will be carefully analyzed. Students who did not carefully analyzed. Students who did not score 800 will receive intense support and score 800 will receive intense support and remediation throughout the school day until remediation throughout the school day until the end of the school year in the area(s) of the end of the school year in the area(s) of deficiencydeficiency

Your child will be retested in the area Your child will be retested in the area (reading or math) where 800 was not met(reading or math) where 800 was not met

If you think your child might not If you think your child might not score 800 on the math and reading score 800 on the math and reading

sections. . . sections. . .

DODO NOTNOT make plans for June 8 or 9!! make plans for June 8 or 9!!

Retest for Retest for readingreading is June 8 is June 8

Retest for Retest for mathmath is June 9 is June 9

Students who do not score 800 Students who do not score 800 MUSTMUST take take the retest or face retention!!the retest or face retention!!

What happens if my child scores 800 What happens if my child scores 800 or above on the test?or above on the test?

Students who score 800 or above will Students who score 800 or above will be accelerated and introduced to be accelerated and introduced to concepts that they will be exposed to concepts that they will be exposed to in 9in 9thth grade grade

IMPORTANT CRCT DATESIMPORTANT CRCT DATES

TUESDAY 4/20/2010=TUESDAY 4/20/2010= ENGLISHENGLISH WEDNESDAY 4/21/2010 = LANGUAGE WEDNESDAY 4/21/2010 = LANGUAGE

ARTSARTS THURSDAY 4/22/2010 = MATHTHURSDAY 4/22/2010 = MATH FRIDAY 4/23/2010 = MAKE-UP SESSIONFRIDAY 4/23/2010 = MAKE-UP SESSION MONDAY 4/26/2010 = MAKE-UP SESSIONMONDAY 4/26/2010 = MAKE-UP SESSION TUESDAY 4/27/2010 = SCIENCETUESDAY 4/27/2010 = SCIENCE WEDNESDAY 4/28/2010 = SOCIAL STUDIESWEDNESDAY 4/28/2010 = SOCIAL STUDIES THURSDAY 4/29/2010 = MAKE-UP SESSIONTHURSDAY 4/29/2010 = MAKE-UP SESSION

HELPFUL WEBSITESHELPFUL WEBSITES

STUDY ISLANDSTUDY ISLAND

www.studyisland.comwww.studyisland.com

Log in: lunch number @jcsLog in: lunch number @jcs

Password: lunch numberPassword: lunch number

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/index.html http://www2.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/index.html

http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ci_testing.aspx?http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ci_testing.aspx?PageReq=CI_TESTING_CRCT PageReq=CI_TESTING_CRCT

Questions??Questions??