EQAO Grade 6 Parent Information Night Welcome! We want to welcome you and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to help support our 6’s with the preparation for the EQAO assessment You’re here because we recognize that our board has a valuable resource and that is teachers with a wealth of knowledge that can bring personal experiences to these workshops which will help to improve teacher programming and improve student success.

EQAO-helping to track your child’s success! What's the importance of EQAO? Tracking your child's progress in Literacy

Agenda Overview of EQAO EQAO and My Child What Can I do to help My Child Prepare for EQAO? Classroom Supports Reading: What is EQAO looking for? Writing: What is EQAO looking for? Math: What is EQAO looking for? Wrap-up -changes to EQAO -still based on the three strands of learning

What is EQAO? It is a standardized test based on the Ministry Expectations that is administered by the Province in Grade 3 and Grade 6 The Grade 3 and 6 Assessments test READING, WRITING and MATHEMATICS It assesses a student’s learning up to their current grade level (for example- Grade 6 EQAO assesses the learning done between Grades 4-6) It is a way to check students’ preparedness for the Grade 9 Assessment in Mathematics and the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

A Message from EQAO- What is it? What is it for? What is EQAO? A message from the Ministry

Fast Facts about EQAO Assessments based on the Ontario Curriculum expectations in Language Arts and Mathematics window for testing is from the end of May to the beginning of June Students will be writing their tests during 3 days Students will be provided with snacks and breaks during the testing dates Students are able to have extra time to complete tests if needed -Refer to New for 2005 -Ministry Guide- A Guide To Effective instruction for Reading (ERS) -Metro Literacy videos -tests can be given back to the students therefore some publishing companies have compiled some of these tasks -hard copy is provided by Chapters- -see eqao website –caution with the first test sample”Pollution and recycling” -anchor booklets are useful for understanding the thinking behind the assessments of eqao

How does EQAO help your child EQAO’s Junior assessments of reading and writing and mathematics provide valuable information at a key stage of elementary education These results, along with the information your child’s teacher gathered through assessments and observation, can help identify your child’s strengths and areas that require work

CR Marchant’s EQAO Results for the past 3 Years 2007 2008 2009 Reading 53 66 47 Writing 57 56 Math 51 39

Differences Between a Classroom Assessment and EQAO Assessment assessment for learning based on where the student is with respect to the Ontario Curriculum expectations a variety of accommodations based on student needs - greater teacher support a variety of tools, strategies, approaches and formats EQAO Assessment assessment of learning based on the Grade 6 Ontario Curriculum expectations prescribed timed tasks limited accommodations based on EQAO criteria written responses only independent demonstration Discuss the difference between assessment for learning and assessment of learning -struggling students with IEPs -if student needs extra time, or directions read orally…these students need to be supported -must indicate if the student has an IEP to receive support -support for students would have difficulty with writing on demand…but given the right support…these students will succeed

Classroom Supports Encouraging students to use assistive technology and manipulatives if needed Using previous EQAO Student exemplars as examples and learning tools in the classroom Sharing and deconstructing the EQAO terms with the students Provide opportunities for students to practise answering multiple-choice questions and develop strategies such as eliminating answer choices. Learning Goals and Success Criteria in all classrooms

Classroom Supports Reading- Critical Learning Pathways which test the learning of reading strategies throughout the year -Main Idea Inferencing Point of View Modeled Reading, Guided Reading and Independent Reading Reading a Variety of Texts Direct teaching of skills- such as finding supportive evidence from a text and making relevant connections

Classroom Supports Writing- Teaching the Students to use the writing process Giving feedback for improvement during process Modeled Writing, Guided Writing and Independent Writing Exposure to a variety of forms and their respective conventions Exploring possible form, purpose and audience for each writing activity Direct teaching of skills, such as conventions and revising Inclusion of real-life writing tasks

Classroom Supports Mathematics- Providing students with opportunities to compare mathematical concepts to enhance their understanding Have students provide a variety of ways to justify their answers Provide opportunities for students to construct and deconstruct concepts Instruct students to make drawings when appropriate as part of their problem-solving process Continue to model appropriate problem-solving strategies Use of manipulatives to help with understanding

How can I support my child in writing the test? Let your child know that the assessment is important to you The best way to support your child in writing the test is by supporting his or her success at school throughout the year. Encourage them to share their thoughts and opinions about texts and experiences Encourage them to clearly explain their ideas and provide examples through conversations Discuss what your child is learning with them

How can I help them in the days before the test? Ensure they have plenty of sleep Ensure they have a healthy lunch and a good breakfast Talk with them about their pre-test feelings Remind them to be calm and to do their best Remind them to take their time answering their questions Remind them to review their work before handing it in

Students Need: to express what they know and how they know it; to investigate and problem-solve; to use appropriate resources and materials; to have test-taking skills and strategies; to have a calm, encouraging environment. Evidence to support response - text or connections Share strategies to solve problems daily - multiple solutions for one problem The one child that gets stuck on a question and inevitably stares at it as though if they stare long enough the answer will appear - move on and come back Time management

Types of EQAO Student Responses short answers extended responses multiple choice -more multiple choice…students need to know how to answer these kinds of questions -must give students the skills needed to be successful -your language of assessment should resemble EQAO language of assessment -your assessments as a teacher should start to resemble some of the kinds we see on EQAO

Students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) Students with IEPs will have access to accommodations for testing depending on their strengths and needs Your child’s accommodations for the test are located on the bottom of page 2 under the section titled “Accommodations for Standardized Assessments” Some Accommodations could include: Use of assistive technology Quiet setting Prompts to return student’s attention to task Verbatim scribing

Are EQAO tests based on the material taught in the classroom? Yes. EQAO tests are based on The Ontario Curriculum, which details the knowledge and skills that students are expected to develop in each subject at each grade level.

Ontario Curriculum Overview The Achievement Chart from the Ontario Curriculum Documents in Language Art and Mathematics identify four categories of knowledge and skills: Knowledge and Understanding Thinking Communication Application The EQAO test will be looking at these categories in both the way the questions are presented to the students and the assessment practices post-test.

Language Arts Assessment- the Curriculum and EQAO Understanding form and features Use of processing skills i.e.: analyzing, integrating, synthesizing, evaluating, and forming conclusions Expression and organization of ideas and information with effective use of mechanics Transfer of knowledge and skills and making connections Knowledge and Understanding Thinking Communication Application Give participants a moment to match left column with right. Take it up together. Ask if there are any questions?

What is EQAO Looking for in Reading? higher-order thinking comprehension of details and main ideas justification - finding proof think and search - locating information drawing conclusions and making inferences Making relevant connections-text to text, text to self, text to world developing supported opinions critical thinking and analysis understanding author’s intentions vocabulary and meaningful substitutions Big Idea and Life Lessons -find proof: what is the story is about? How do you know? (must justify the answer) -change the language when asking students the same question -see thinking skills handout-the 3rs Junior presenters make connections to CASI assessment and how can CASI used throughout the school year help teachers prepare students for EQAO!

EQAO Reading Example Freeze –Up By: Raymond Souster I wonder at what exact moment (I wish I’d been there) Something or someone said “That’s the very last drop going over.” And the startled waterfall suddenly couldn’t budge And knew it was so. Question: What conclusions can be made about the speaker in the poem “FREEZE-UP”? Use specific details from the poem and your own ideas to support your answer.

What EQAO is Looking for in WRITING thorough planning; complexity of ideas; flow, sequence; level of detail/description; sense of audience, voice, purpose, form; vocabulary, sentence structures; conventions, paragraphs Students work should reveal that they worked from an outline or followed a framework or template for a particular form. Reasoning includes the logical sequence of events and the complexity of ideas. Does the student’s writing make sense? Can the reader follow and identify the writer’s intent? Does the student’s writing reveal that the student had a clear sense of audience and purpose? Is the student’s writing organized and are conventions appropriately applied? Take a moment to reflect: Ask yourself, what do I do as a parent to support my child as they become effective writers?

What is being assessed in Writing? 1. Content: well-developed responses with sufficient clear, specific and relevant ideas and information Effective organization response has a thorough relationship to the assigned form, purpose and audience 2. Topic Development: clear focused, well-developed response with sufficient specific and relevant ideas and supporting details logical and coherent organization of writing with effective links between ideas Response has a thorough relationship between the form, purpose and audience 3. Conventions: grammar, usage, spelling and punctuation

Writing Question Examples STORY WRITING “One day my friends and I went on a walk.” Write a story describing your adventure. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS Write an announcement that you would read at a school assembly to convince everyone in your school that recycling is important. DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPHS You have been named principal for the day. Describe what you would do during your day as the principal.

What EQAO is Looking for in MATH Justify answers using logical reasoning Communication through pictures, numbers and words Apply learned knowledge to solve multi-step problems Demonstrate understanding in a variety of forms

Example Mathematics Question Carmen wants to install a fence. Each section of fence is 2.4 metres long and costs $6.00 per metre. Carmen will need 16 sections of fence. How much change should he receive from $250?

Example Mathematics Question Keenan places 3 green marbles, 4 yellow marbles and 1 blue marble in a bag. Keenan then adds 1 green marble and 1 yellow marble to the bag. Does the probability that Keenan will randomly choose a yellow marble increase, decrease or stay the same? Circle one: Increases Decreases Stays the same Justify (explain with evidence) your answer below.

Where can I get more information? Education Quality and Accountability Office 2 Carlton Street, Suite 1200, Toronto ON M5B 2M9 Telephone: 1-888-327-7377 Web site: www.eqao.com

The information was found on the EQAO website. References: The information was found on the EQAO website. “6 Questions to Ask When Looking at Your School’s Results.” Education Quality and Accountability Office website-Parents. http://www.eqao.com/pdf/parent_questions/Cprrbq_PJe_0909_web.pdf. March 23,2010 “A Parent’s Guide to EQAO Tests.” Education Quality and Accountability Office website-Parents. http://www.eqao.com/pdf_e/09/Cpbweb_36e_0909.pdf. March 2 2010 “Questions and Answers for Parents.” Education Quality and Accountability Office website-Parents.http://www.eqao.com/Parents/FAQ.aspx?Lang=E&gr=036. March 23, 2010 “Rubrics.” Education Quality and Accountability Office website-Educators. http://www.eqao.com/Educators/Elementary/036/036.aspx?Lang=E&gr=036. March 23, 2010 “CR Marchant EQAO Results.” Education Quality and Accountability Office website-Board and School Results. https://eqaoweb.eqao.com/pbs/Listing.aspx. . March 23, 2010