February 28, 2012 Hosted by the 3 rd grade team

3 rd grade students will take the FCAT 2.0 READING & MATH. Both tests will be scored on a level 1 (lowest) to a level 5 (highest).

2012 Passing Score Requirements for FCAT 2.0 The Levels range from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Students in grade 3 must achieve a Level 2 or higher in Reading, or show good cause, to be eligible for promotion.

FCAT Dates to Remember: Monday, April 16 th – Reading Session 1 Tuesday, April 17 th – Reading Session 2 Wednesday, April 18 th – Math Session 1 Thursday, April 19 th – Math Session 2 Friday, April 20 th - Makeups Each Session lasts 70 minutes * April 26 – NRT Reading /Math

FCAT is just weeks away…what can I do to help my child prepare? Have your child get onto FCAT Explorer as much as you can Talk to your child about what they are doing in school and follow through at home Have your child read every night Expose your child to a variety of texts Be sure that they are well rested and their routine is the same as usual

Fldoe.org The Florida department of education website has released FCAT tests for you to print out. Get your child familiar with the format of the test. Build reading endurance by implementing reading routines at home. Take advantage of fcatexplorer.com!

Sample Test Materials You can visit for sample FCAT test materials. View the Test Item Specifications to identify the content and format of the information tested.

Helpful Hints… Make sure your child is well rested on school days. Children who are tired are less likely to pay attention in class or to handle the demands of class work and tests.

Important Reminders for Parents Have you child to school by 8:00 am Schedule all appointments after noon. Have your child dress comfortably and bring a jacket/sweatshirt

Test Taking Tips Remind students to read all directions carefully. Titles of stories and captions are very important- no skipping! Help your child understand that testing is part of the instructional process, and is something not to fear!

Encourage and Stay Positive! Try not to be overly anxious about test scores. Too much emphasis on test scores can be upsetting to children. Give your child encouragement. Praise him/her for the things done well throughout the year. A child who is afraid of failing is more likely to make a mistake.

FCAT Reading Content

FCAT 2.0 Mathematics

FCAT 2.0 Mathematics Reporting Categories

Question Everything… FCAT asks two types of questions: Low and High Order Thinking (HOT) Questions. HOT Questions are asked more often! Low Order Questions typically are factual in nature or “right there” in the text. For example: What was the boy’s favorite food?

Question Everything… HOT Questions require thinking and reasoning beyond what is stated in the text, where students compare, infer and evaluate their reading. Question stems: Why do you think…? What if…? How would ___ differ from ___...? Predict…