Education | Educación
FCAT 2.0 and How We Can Help our Kids By Dominique Barba Conference sponsored by The Parent Academy
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DORAL family journal • December 04, 2011
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he results of the recent 2011-2012 The Parent Academy survey held in JIS K-8 center indicated that the main concern that parents have concerning the institution is how they can help their kids obtain positive results in the state exams. In response to that, Mrs. Jenny Miranda Gonzales offered an interesting conference that we present to you. Definition: The FCAT 2.0 measures student achievement of the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. The transition from the FCAT to the FCAT 2.0 will be phased in, with 2011 FCAT 2.0 Reading and Mathematics being the first assessments to begin this transition. FCAT 2.0 Science will be administered to students for the first time in the spring of 2012, and the writing assessment will continue to be administered through 2014. The skills and competencies outlined in the Standards were embedded in the material of the student’s core classes. Students now receive instruction on the content of the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards, and like the FCAT, the FCAT 2.0 measures achievement of these educational standards. The best understanding of a student’s academic achievement comes from looking at multiple pieces of evidence collected over time. How are the FCAT and FCAT 2.0 different? The FCAT measures student achievement of the Sunshine State Standards, while the FCAT 2.0 measures student achievement of the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards, which are more rigorous grade-level expectations. The major differences between the FCAT 2.0 and FCAT are listed below: • Some test items in Session 2 of the Grades 3 and 4 FCAT 2.0 Mathematics assessments require the use of the provided ruler to answer questions. These test items may include measurements in either metric or customary units. • The 4th Grade FCAT 2.0 Mathematics assessment includes not only multiple-choice test items, but also gridded-response test items. • The gridded-response test items in FCAT 2.0 Mathematics for grades 5th through 8th have different grids than those on the FCAT. Additionally, the option for negative answers for griddedresponse items is now included for grades 7th and 8th . • For the 5th Grade FCAT 2.0 Mathematics assessment, students are provided a reference
sheet that contains information and formulas they may need to complete some test items. • The FCAT 2.0 Reading assessments in grades 3rd through 10th include a greater number of reading passages from the public domain, such as historical documents and works by classical authors. • The FCAT 2.0 Reading assessments in grades 3rd through 10th include a greater number of test items that require reasonable inferences and reasonable prior knowledge. • Reference sheets are not provided for the Grades 5th and 8th FCAT 2.0 Science assessments, but 8th Grade students will receive a Periodic Table of the Elements. • FCAT Mathematics was administered at grades 9th and 10th , but there are no FCAT 2.0 Mathematics assessments for grades 9th and 10th . The Algebra 1 and Geometry End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments have replaced these tests as the high-school-level mathematics assessments. • FCAT Science was administered at 11th grace, but there is no 11th Grade FCAT 2.0 Science assessment. The Biology
1 EOC Assessment has replaced the 11th grade test as the high-school-level science assessment. FCAT 2.0 tests do not have any performance task items. How to help out kids 1.Seek all possible tools - Libraries - Online educational programs - Mandatory daily reading - Information sessions -T eacher recommendations 2.Foster healthy study habits - Sleep early and plenty - Eat right - Have an adequate place to study - Have discipline and dedicate time for schoolwork 3. Know your child’s type of intelligence Dr. Howard Gardner and his work were discussed during the presentation, specifically in regards to the different types of intellect among children; visual/spatial, musical, kinetic, intrapersonal, interpersonal, linguistic, and mathematical logic. Being able to see which one of the seven best describe your child allows you to create a tailored environment for optimal studying. You will be able to know if music or other distractions should be allowed or whether more space is needed, etc. This was the challenge left for us as parents, to study our kinds and finally decided how we can best help them to study at 100% of their potential.