1. Preparing for the 4th Grade FCAT

2. What is the FCAT 2.0?
The Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test is part of Florida’s overall plan to increase student achievement by implementing higher standards. The FCAT 2.0 also measures student progress toward meeting the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) benchmarks.
Common Core Standards implemented school year.=

3. When will the FCAT test be given?
FCAT Writes
February 26, 2013
FCAT Reading and Math
April 15-26, 2013
Assessment schedule has been posted at:
Rubric can be found on:
languageartsreading.dadeschools.net

4. FCAT Writing

5. What can my child score on the FCAT Writes?6
Has focus, organization, higher end vocabulary used appropriately, plenty of support and conventions. Variety of sentence structure adds fluency and enhances understanding. 5
Writing is focused, has organization, precise vocabulary, plenty of support and proper use of conventions. Writer builds suspense in a well-crafted story. 4
Generally focused based on topic/prompt, has organization, transitions connect within and between paragraphs, higher end vocabulary used appropriately, plenty of support and mostly proper use of conventions. 3
Generally focused based on topic, organization attempted, lacking supporting details and elaboration. Some transitions move the action through time. Few minor errors in spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Demonstration of knowledge of conventions. 2
Slightly related to topic/prompt, incomplete organization, some details, unrelated information shifts the topic, word choice limited or immature, missing punctuation resulting on run-on sentences. 1
Minimally addresses topic/Lists multiple responses/prompt, has extraneous information, frequent errors in all areas of conventions
Unscorable
Did not write to the topic/prompt

6. Types of Topics/Prompts
Expository
Explain
Beginning, Middle, End
60 minutes
Rough Draft
Narrative
Tell a story
Beginning, Middle, End
60 minutes
Rough Draft

7. FAQ Who scores the test? How are the scores calculated?
What is the passing score?
Can fourth grade students be retained for not passing this test?
Can students use visual aids, dictionaries, and notes?

8. What are the Scorers looking for?

9. How can you help your child???
The better the reader, the better the writer
Journal Writing
Review their writing home learning using rubric
Encourage mature vocabulary
Correct grammar, spelling, and capitalization on all assignments.
Example- Reading Log

10. FCAT READING

11. What can my child score on the FCAT?
Level 5
This student has success with the most challenging content of the Sunshine State Standards. A student scoring in Level 5 answers most of the test questions correctly, including the most challenging questions.
Level 4
This student has success with the challenging content of the Sunshine State Standards. A student scoring in Level 4 answers most of the test questions correctly, but may have only some success with questions that reflect the most challenging content.
Level 3
This student has partial success with the challenging content of the Sunshine State Standards, but performance is inconsistent. A student scoring in Level 3 answers many of the test questions correctly but is generally less successful with questions that are the most challenging.
Level 2
This student has limited success with the challenging content of the Sunshine State Standards.
Level 1
This student has little success with the challenging content of the Sunshine State Standards.

12. How the Test is Designed
FCAT DESIGN (90 min/ with short stretch break)
Multiple Choice (MC) = 1pt. - 1 min each
Combination of Fiction (fables), Non-Fiction and Poetry (compared)
Reference research (graphs, pictures, maps, charts, captions, footnotes)
Identify, understand and apply the use of figurative language.

13. Meet the Benchmarks Cause/Effect Main Idea/Relevant Supporting Details
Text Features
Vocabulary
Compare/Contrast (Similarities/Differences)
Author’s Perspective/Point of View
Chronological Order
Theme/Topic *
Elements of Story Structure
Text Structure/Organizational Patterns
Descriptive, Idiomatic & Figurative Language *
Informational Text

14. Figurative Language

15. How can you help your child???
Read books with your child aloud
Ask questions of the 5 W’s and How
Monitor student book choice ( AR level and genres)
Assign activities that will have your child graphing, classifying, predict, estimating, comparing, identifying patterns, interpreting, and summarizing material

16. FCAT MATH

17. How the Test is Designed?
Multiple Choice
Diagrams
Conversions
Rulers
No calculators
Gridded Responses

18. Gridded-response items appear in Grade 4 for the first time

19. Gridded Response

20. %

21. Rulers will be provided for use on the second session

22. Megan’s father won first place in a bicycle race
Megan’s father won first place in a bicycle race. The race was divided into equal sections, each measuring exactly 7 miles in length. Which number could be the total number of miles of the race?
A. 17
B. 28
C. 43
D. 54

24. Meet the Strands Number Sense, Concepts and Operations Measurement
Geometry and Spatial Sense
Algebraic Thinking
Multi-Step Word Problems

25. Number Sense

26. Geometry and Spatial Sense

27. Geometry and Spatial Sense

28. Algebraic Thinking
Michèle is paid $2.00 for each hour she watches her younger brother. She then spends $3.00 of her total earnings.
Let h represent the number of hours Michèle watched her brother.
Which expression below could be used to show how much money she will have left?
h - 3
h ÷ 2
2 – 3b
(2h) - 3

29. How can you help your child???
Review multiplication facts
Bake with your child (use metric units and customary)
Incorporate estimation when shopping with your child
Use the online E*text book Go Math!
Have students underline and circle key words and concepts when completing assignments
Always show work

30. Parent/Student Resources

31. Questions and Comments