3 rd Grade FCAT Information

Bartram Springs Elementary 2013-2014

3rd GradeFCAT Information

The purpose of this PowerPoint is to share information about our upcoming FCAT 2.0 assessment and to provide you with specific details, tips, and examples of actual FCAT test items.

Purpose:

The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test® 2.0 is a criterion-referenced test that measures student achievement of the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards.

Third Grade students are only assessed in Reading and Math.

What is the FCAT?

FCAT Reading:

Monday, April 15th Session 1

70 minutes

Tuesday, April 16th Session 2

70 minutes

Wednesday, April 17th Session 1

70 minutes

Thursday, April 18th Session 2

70 minutes

When will the FCAT take place?FCAT Math:

FCAT levels are calculated by determining the # of questions answered correctly and also by complexity level of the questions.

A level 5 is the highest a student can earn.

A level 1 is the lowest score and indicates a student is performing a year below grade level.

Third Grade students must earn a Level 2 on the READING portion to pass the FCAT.

Students who earn a Level 1 in READING will fall under the mandatory retention rule.

FCAT levels range from 1-5

FCAT Levels:

All questions in reading and math are multiple choice.

Third grade students are allowed and encouraged to write in the test booklet. They may underline text in questions and in passages. Students may also use math strategies to solve problems.

FCAT 2.0 Format:

The number of words in reading passages ranges from 100 to 700 words, with an average of 500 words.

In third grade 60% of the passages are literary text and 40% are informational text.

There will be a total of 50 – 55 reading questions divided into the two days.

FCAT Reading

Percentage of Points by Cognitive Complexity Level for FCAT 2.0:

Low-complexity items rely heavily on recall and recognition.

Moderate-complexity items require more flexible thinking and may require informal reasoning or problem solving.

High-complexity items are written to elicit analysis and abstract reasoning.

FCAT Reading

Low Moderate High25 – 35% 50 – 70% 5 – 15%

Read these sentences from the story. With one more powerful swish of her tail and a snap of her jaws, the wet blackbird would be hers—feet, feathers, and all! But just as the bass was about to lunge for the bird, an otter came streaking through the water.

What is the meaning of the word lunge as used in the sentences above? A. to dive down and swim under him B. to move quickly forward and grab him C. to jump out of the pond and splash him D. to turn around and swim away from him

Sample reading items…Using context clues:

How do the parents change from BEFORE the baby bird falls into the pond to AFTER he lands on the shore?

A. First they are calm; then they are anxious. B. First they are peaceful; then they are restless. C. First they are protective; then they are relaxed. D. First they are nervous; then they are frightened.

Character development:

An example of informational text on the FCAT

Based on the flier, what is the purpose for the twigs, grass, and moss listed in the Materials you will need section? A. to make the birdhouse stronger B. to make the birdhouse look larger C. to make the birdhouse more beautiful D. to make the birdhouse look more natural

Text features:

Read this sentence from the article “Birds Do It! RECYCLE!”

Yarn is big on an oriole’s shopping list when nest building. What is the author comparing an oriole to in the sentence above?

A. a bird that can write B. a bird that collects paper C. a person who lives in a house D. a person who buys things at a store

Comparing:

Third grade content categories:FCAT Math

Category: Percentage:

Operations, Problems, and Statistics

• Combinations; Rate model; Repeated addition• Commutative property; Identity property; Zero

property• Checking solutions • Numeric patterns; Relations/functions • Adding/subtracting whole numbers; Estimating

sums/differences; • Place value of whole numbers • Lists; Non-routine problems • Bar graphs; Frequency tables; Pictographs

50

Third grade content categories:FCAT Math

Category: Percentage:

Fractions

• Representing fractions; Representing mixed numbers• Comparing fractions; Comparing mixed numbers; • Ordering fractions; Ordering mixed numbers Equivalent fractions

20

Geometry and Measurement

• Attributes of polygons; Classifying polygons • Composing polygons; Decomposing polygons • Congruency; Symmetry • Calculating perimeter; Measuring perimeter • Customary measurement; Metric measurement • Elapsed time; Time

30

Applying number properties:Isabella cannot remember the product of 9 X 8. Which of the following is another expression that Isabella could use to find the product of 9 X 8?

A. (9 X 5) + (9 X 3) B. (9 X 4) + (9 X 2) C. (9 X 1) + (4 X 2) D. (9 X 2) + (8 X 6)

Sample math items…

Allison is making lemonade for a party. The table below shows the number of lemons she will need to make several pitchers of lemonade.

LEMONS NEEDED FOR LEMONADE

A. 5 B. 15 C. 45 D. 65

Analyzing a table:

Number of Pitchers

Number of Lemons

2 10

5 25

8 40

9 ?

According to the relationship shown in the table, how many lemons will Allison need to make 9 pitchers of lemonade?

Kalia noticed a figure like the one shown below in her math book.

Which of the shapes could be put together, without overlapping, to make a figure that looks exactly the same as Kalia’s figure?

Composing and decomposing polygons:

The perimeter of a flower garden is 20 feet, as shown below.

If the width of the flower garden is 3 feet, what is its length, x ?

A. 17 feet B. 10 feet C. 7 feet D. 6 feet

Perimeter:

Elapsed time:Trina went to see a play. The clock below shows the time Trina arrived at the theater.

If the play started at 8:00, how many minutes did Trina wait at the theater before the play started? A. 45 minutes B. 30 minutes C. 15 minutes D. 5 minutes

Alan's mother works part time at an elementary school. She begins workat 7:45 A.M. and leaves work at 11:15 A.M. How long does Alan's motherwork every day?

A. 3 hours 30 minutesB. 3 hours 20 minutesC. 3 hours 15 minutesD. 2 hours 30 minutes

Read all directions, text, and questions carefully.

Eliminate answer choices that are silly or wrong, then you are left with 2 possible choices instead of 4. (think yes, no, or maybe)

Look for key words in the questions to help you: Least to greatest, opposite, similar, before, after…

Go back into the story to find your answers and underline any clues you found.

Write down your math thinking and strategies. This will help you later when you check!

Make sure you bubble in only one answer and your bubbles are filled in correctly.

Check, check, check your work. Check to make sure each question has a bubbled answer and check to make sure your answers are correct. This is very important!!!!

Test Taking Strategies We Use at School

On the Florida Department of Education’s website you can find a sample reading and math test. Feel free to print this test at home and have your student take the test. The answers are also provided.

How to access sample tests: Go to

http://fcat.fldoe.org/fcat2/fcatitem.asp You will find other useful information

about FCAT at www.fldoe.org. Look to the right sidebar for more

FCAT information.

FCAT Practice

Encourage your child to read often.

Take advantage of real world text: fliers, maps, articles, recipes, charts, etc. are excellent examples of informational text.

Check over daily math homework and talk about it together.

Encourage your child and help to build confidence.

What you can do at home…

Use suggested online programs for practice.

FCAT Explorer- www.fcatexplorer.com

Study Island - www.studyisland.com

Destination Success- https://success.duvalschools.org

What you can do at home…

Supporting your child the week of FCAT:A good night of sleep

before each test day

A healthy breakfast each morning

Coming to school on time

Students who are tardy will not be allowed to enter the classroom late. They will have to take the test at another time.

Students are encouraged to bring in water for test days.

If your child is sick, please keep them home. If they start the test and need to leave school, they won’t be able to finish it.

Do something fun and non-stressful the night before and try not to focus on the test!

Please contact your teacher with any additional information you may need.

Thank you for taking the time

to look over this!