Reading Instruction for the FCAT

1
Reading Instruction for the FCAT

• For the non-reading teacher

2
Basic Background

• Most students already know what they need to know
  to succeed on the FCAT Reading test.
• You will be able to guide them.

3
First Things First

• When reading critically, students need to know
• WHAT they are reading (type of writing to be
  read),
• WHY they are reading (purpose),
• HOW to categorize and make sense of the reading
  in their heads.

4
Basic Purpose

• To Inform
• To Entertain
• To Express an opinion
• To Describe something
• To Persuade

5
Test Taking Tips

• What should my child do before, during, and after
  reading a passage?
• How can I help reinforce these strategies at home?

6
Before Reading

• Look at the pictures or graphics.
• Once you determine what type of reading it is,
  have the child think about which class he/she has
  that might relate to this reading

• Look at questions and answer choices.
• Determine what type of writing it is by looking
  at the title and where the piece is from.

7
Before Reading at Home

• Take a picture walk.
• Read the titles of the chapters.
• Make predications.
• Summarize what you have already read.

8
While Reading

• Underline, circle, or star parts that seem
  important.
• Make lists or charts

• THINK - relate the new information to things that
  they already know.
• Decide what about the reading makes sense, what
  doesnt, and re-read parts to clarify.

9
While Reading at Home

• Summarize at the end of each page.
• Discuss the characters and their feelings.
• Ask questions.
• WHO?
• WHAT?
• WHERE?
• WHEN?
• WHY?
• HOW
• Find the specific details that support the answer.

10
After Reading

• Begin re-reading questions, keeping in mind that
• (a) Most answers can be directly related back
  to the text.
• (b) There will be more than one answer that
  seems right.
• (c) The student must figure out what the
  question is asking in order to answer it.

11
After Reading at Home

• Summarize everything you have read that night.
• Compare what you have read to previous events in
  the story.
• Answer a few questions from the question sheet
  provided.

12
About Written Responses

• Written responses need to answer the actual
  question. Students get carried away with
  explaining a concept, and sometimes do not go
  back and answer the original question.
• Responses must be legible, in the given box, and
  should follow grammar rules.

13
Helping with Written Responses at Home

• Have your child restate questions as statements
  aloud to you.
• Have your child show you the specific detail in
  the story that supports their answer.

14
Just the Facts!

• Find evidence and/or support for the answer
  within the passage/article
• Outside knowledge or background experiences are
  not included
• No opinions

15
Details, Details, Details

• Must be text-based and relevant to the answer
• Examples How, why, when, where, who, etc.
• Paraphrase as much as possible instead of copying
  word for word
• Copying does not demonstrate the highest level of
  comprehension

16
Act Like You Dont Know Anything

• Even if you know a particular answer act like you
  dont. Tell the child that you arent sure why,
  and ask if they can explain it to you.
• Be 2 years old again. Why, Why, Why?

17
Question at a Higher Level of Thinking

• Low order questions require memory, or the recall
  of facts only
• What are the school rules?
• Whose speech was entitled I Have a Dream?
• High order questions require recall and reasoning
  skills
• Why do you think schools have rules?
• How would American culture be different if
  Martin Luther King did not give his famous
  speech?

18
Reading Questions

• If you were able to change the ending in the
  story what would you do?
• How does the main character change throughout
  the story?
• What would you have done if you had to solve the
  problem the main character had?
• Why do you think the main character acted that
  way?

REMEMBER TO ASK FOR SUPPORTING DETAILS!!!
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Math Questions

• Interpret this graph in the newspaper
• How far can we get on this tank of gas?
• Would either a two-liter bottle of Pepsi at
  1.00 before more cost effective than a twelve
  pack of cans for 3.00?
• How much change will be get back from our
  purchase?
• Help me measure this for the cooking recipe

20
Science Questions

• What is the trend in the weather in Nashville?
  Predict what it will be like tomorrow?
• Classify the planets by their size
• In what was are dogs and cats alike and how are
  they different?
• Why is my cake not rising?
• What would happen if I did this?
• Help me grow a garden and chart the growth!

21
Having Trouble Ungluing Your Child from the TV?

• Whats going to happen next and why do you think
  that?
• Which character do you seem to enjoy the most
  and why?
• What should the character do to solve the
  problem?
• Would you have done what they just did and why?

22
Having Trouble Getting Your Child to Put Down the
Video Games?

• What do I need to do to win at this game?
• Why did you just do that?
• What makes this game so interesting?
• If you could make school like a video game what
  would you do?
• So which one of these players are the best and
  why?