Reviewing MCAS in History and Social Science Kevin M. Dwyer Student Assessment Services Massachusetts Department of Education 10/30/07 In the Elementary Grades

What do we expect?  Scope and Sequence Grade 3  History: Massachusetts from the Pilgrims to the present; prominent MA citizens  Geography: MA & its physical features; NE states  Civics: local government; prominent local landmarks; key national documents  Economics: role of taxes; role of specialization in businesses and industries

Scope and Sequence (cont)  Grade 4: North American Geography United States  50 states and capitals; five (5) regions  Physical characteristics, resources, landmarks Canada  Provinces, major cities, climate types  Major physical characteristics, resources Mexico  Major cities, topography, climate types  Major physical characteristics, resources

Scope and Sequence (cont)  Grade 5: Early American History Pre-Columbian  Incas, Aztecs, Maya—locations, political structures Age of Exploration and Settlement  Major explorers and their journeys  European colonization—Spain, Holland, France The English Colonies,  Founding of and life in the 13 colonies Revolution and the Early Republic,  Declaration, Constitution, major figures

How do we assess?  Each test assesses two years of content Gr 5 MCAS assesses Grade 4 & 5 standards Gr 7 MCAS assesses Grade 6 & 7 standards High School MCAS assesses US I & US II  MCAS assesses the learning of content and the demonstration of skills outlined in the Curriculum Framework  Every MCAS test item assesses a standard in the framework  Tactical info Multiple-choice items count for one point Open-response items are scored within a range (from one to four points) Open-response items are set within the context of a module (stimuli, 3 MC, 1 OR)

Test Structure Approximate Distribution of Test Items Per Form by Item Type (Grades 5 & 7) Multiple ChoiceOpen ResponseTotal #%#%#% Common Matrix Total

Reporting Categories Reporting CategoryPercentage North American Geography35% American History35% Civics and Government/ Economics 30% MCAS History and Social Science, Grade 5

How do districts align?  That’s a local issue Ideally, the real work of alignment occurs at the school and classroom level  Several approaches may be useful Embrace content literacy  Use content in History and Social Science to develop reading, writing, and vocabulary skills Emphasize thematic understanding  What big ideas drive the story?

Content Literacy: Cross-over As History  Who  What  When  Where  Why  How As Literature  Character  Plot  Setting  Theme  (Theory)

Useful Approaches  “Telescoping”— An ability to apply the appropriate level of focus to the most pertinent details  Thematic Understanding— Themes help to organize the narrative The framework suggests seven themes All open-response questions relate to at least one of these themes

Curriculum Framework Themes 1.The evolution of the concepts of personal freedom, individual responsibility, & respect for human dignity 2.The growth and impact of centralized state power 3.The influence of economic, political, religious, and cultural ideas as human societies move beyond regional, national, or geographic boundaries 4.The effects of geography on the history of civilization and nations 5.The growth and spread of free markets and industrial economies 6.The development of scientific reasoning, technology, and formal education over time and their effects (etc.) 7.The birth, growth, and decline of civilizations