PREPARATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS ON THE PSSA Grades 6-8 PART 1

JENNIFER BLUM Instructional Supervisor

Our Purpose To make you comfortable and confident when taking the PSSA. We will prepare you to achieve the best possible results on the Reading PSSA.

KISS Method Provide two or three examples. Provide two or three similarities or differences to provide support Explain why Offer information to support your response Prompts (8 th & 11 th Grade) will require you to respond to the following Voice Tone Theme of a Passage To verify underline each example in the passage in your response

Know Your Reading Vocabulary Passage Similarities Difference Details Explain Response

Open-Ended Item Reading Test Taking Tips Read the questions prior to the passage Read the ENTIRE passage prior to answering the questions All questions will have more than one prompt Use details in your response

Open-Ended Item Example Using details from both passages, describe two similarities and one difference between the art projects.

Were Making AYP in 2013! READING TEST TAKING STRATEGIES – Reading a Passage – Labeling Paragraphs SAMPLE PROBLEM

Strategy #1 Reading a Passage

[Relax, strategy is just a fancy word for a plan.] WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? You will be asked to read a passage. This is a short story or a short part of a longer story. WHAT DO I DO NEXT? You are going to be asked questions about the passage. You should look over the questions first then read the passage in search of the answers. WHEN DO I DO IT? You have about an hour to read the questions, search for the answers and respond. You have plenty of time to finish. Dont forget that the questions come after the passage.

Most of the passages will have a clear beginning, middle, and end. You will see the following patterns: THE BEGINNING Answers about when and where the story takes place are often found at the beginning. THE MIDDLE Answers about a problem in the story are usually found in the middle. THE END Answers about how the problem was resolved are normally found at the end. Knowing where to look will save you time!

Strategy #2 Labeling Paragraphs

When you finish reading a paragraph, ask yourself, What did I just read? Then write a few descriptive words next to the paragraph. These paragraph labels will help to guide you back to important parts of the passage when you answer a question. Heres how you do it. 1.After you read each paragraph, write two or three words that describe what the paragraph is about. 2.When you have finished reading, use your paragraph labels to help you figure out the main idea of the passage. Ask yourself, What? What is the passage about? So What? Whats the author's point about this topic? What is he or she trying to tell me? 3.Based on your labels write a sentence what the passage is about.

There is still time… Study Island Math & Reading Challenge PSSA Math & Reading Prep Videos RAMP- Elementary Students School Spirit Week Being ON-PACE with Math and English courses Working together we will Make AYP!

STUDY ISLAND Go to: Complete each lesson Earn a Blue Ribbon

PREPARATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS ON THE PSSA GRADES 6-8 PART 2

JENNIFER BLUM Instructional Supervisor

Were Making AYP in 2013! READING TEST TAKING STRATEGIES – Titles & Special Print – Maps & Pictures – Finding the Main Idea – Context Clues – Reading between the Lines – Facts vs. Opinion – Process of Elimination – Filling in the Bubbles SAMPLE PROBLEM

Strategy #3 Titles & Special Print

Strategy #4 Maps & Pictures

Strategy #5 Finding the Main Idea

Strategy #6 Context Clues

Strategy #7 Reading between the Lines

Strategy #8 Fact vs. Opinion

Strategy #9 Process of Elimination

Strategy #10 Filling in the Bubbles

There is still time… Study Island Math & Reading Challenge PSSA Math & Reading Prep Videos RAMP- Elementary Students School Spirit Week Being ON-PACE with Math and English courses Working together we will Make AYP!

STUDY ISLAND Go to: Complete each lesson Earn a Blue Ribbon