Quality Teaching - Preparing for the Meitzav

QUALITY TEACHINGAND THE “MEITZAV”

Prepared by Judy MutzariBased on

What Can We Learn from the Item Analysis of the Meitzav Exams?Recommendations for Teachers

“BEE” AWARE, “BEE” PREPARED AND YOU’LL “BEE” HAPPY

Make the students partners.

• Each text gives us some kind of information.• What information can this text give us?• Elicit from - or call to the student’s attention -

the particularities, characteristics and difficulties each text type provides

Listening Texts - Difficulties• With speech - the words disappear…evaporate – nothing is

left• Students get overwhelmed: what are they talking about???• Students forget the text• Texts are too long - too many words to hear• Students don’t understand the accent of the speaker• The speaker reads too quickly• In dialogues – students have difficulty understanding who says

what

How to Prepare

• Make sure you devote class time to speaking and listening activities (student to student!)

• Spoken texts should be prepared like reading texts with:

• Pre- tasks• While Listening Tasks

• Post tasks

Spoken Texts – General PreparationStudents should begin to learn for the Meitzav form Grade 3!Get students used to listening tasks from Grade 3!• Always use the CD from the course book, download Meitzav

spoken texts from RAMA site, or Internet sites • Get the students used to different accents and quick speech • Check the table of specifications 2013 and practice on each

type of text. Discuss the particularities ,demands and what to notice – for each text type– Table Grade 5– Table grade 8

Pre - tasks for spoken texts

• Pictures: Look at the pictures.– Students say to themselves as many words as you

can in English that you see in the picture (prepare a word bank; map out where everything is on the page – it saves time later)

– Write sentences about the pictures– Predict what the text will be about according to

the pictures: topic, place, time, characters, text type

• Texts (questions): Read the questions before listening• What kind of information is being asked?

– A chart to fill in?– A flow chart?– An open question? (Students do not need to write full sentences!)– A list?– A MC question?

• If so – read the options first

– Matching?– True/ False Questions?

• Find the words you know first• Decide on the key words of the question: make sure (try to!)

understand the question: what information do I need?• Predict what the text will be about from the questions:

– what kind of a text will it be – a conversation? A story? A telephone conversation?

Pre - tasks for spoken texts

ALWAYS READ THE INSTRUCTIONS

While listening tasks

Put text in context:• Listen to background noises:

– where is the text being spoken: at school?– Who is speaking – children? a teacher in a classroom?– Are these messages left on an answering system? A telephone conversation?

Who says what?• Listen to tone of voice:

– identify the tone of voice of the speaker. Play “Change your Voice –Tone games in the classroom”

• Listen for connectors of sequence (text organization)– first, second, third, finally, at the the end

• Comparisons:– therefore, as a result of, like, in contrast to, instead of

While listening tasks in class• 1st listening:

– Don’t write/mark – focus on the key words. Raise your hand when you hear an answer or a key word.

– Make sure to listen to the end before you answer:– Pay attention that the key word can come with negation: e.g., “I don’t

want pizza”• 2nd listening:

– Answer the questions…if you “missed” – go ahead –listen for next question – what’s gone is gone…

• 3rd listening:– Check answers with the students.

*Remember – in the Meitzav there are only 2 repetitions

While listening tasks in class - continued

• For a weak classroom or weaker students:– Break listening texts up into smaller parts; get

used to listening to the text sequentially– Start with very short texts. Ask one question.

Gradually lengthen texts and add questions

Post Listening

• Check answers• Discuss with your students what was difficult

and how they solved the problems.• Listen to other suggestions for solving the

problems

Spoken Texts - Grade 5 - 2013

Text Types• advertisement• announcement• conversation• excerpt from a• lesson• instructions• message• news / weather• report• oral presentation• riddles• story

Item Types

• carrying out instructions

• chart / table• matching• multiple-choice• open-ended (e.g.• wh-questions and• sentence completion)• sequencing

• Literal (LOTS)• Integration (L&H)• Inference (HOTS)

Categories of Comprehension:

Spoken Texts - Grade 8 - 2013

Text Types• advertisement• announcement• broadcast• conversation• excerpt from a• lesson• interview• message• news / weather• report• oral presentation• speech• radio program• report• story

Item Types

• filling in a chart /• table• graphic organizer• matching• multiple-choice• open-ended (e.g.• wh-questions and• sentence completion)• sequencing

• Literal (LOTS)• Integration (L&H)• Inference (HOTS)• Personal

response(HOTS)

Categories of Comprehension:

Written Texts - Difficulties• Text is too – long…text appears overwhelming at first• Text contains vocabulary students haven’t learned• Students don’t understand main idea

How to Prepare for the Written Word

• Preparing for reading comprehension begins the minute a student receives a text – even a sentence (in grade 3)

• Emphasize teaching vocabulary and lexical chunks explicitly

• Vocabulary: Expose, Repeat, Review, Recycle and Re-entry!

• Use a variety of text types: texts need to include 95% of familiar vocabulary

Written Texts - General Preparation

• Students should become acquainted with as many different text types as they can:

• Map out your course book for text types and download Meitzav spoken texts from RAMA site

• Check the table of specifications 2013 and practice on each type of text. Discuss the particularities ,demands and what to notice – for each text type– Table Grade 5– Table grade 8

Written Texts -Grade 5 - 2013

Text Types• advertisement• blurb• book cover• caption• comic strip• diary entry• email• informative text• interview• letter• list• message• news report• newspaper item• note• notice• postcard• poster• questionnaire• recipe• riddles• story• timetable / schedule• Webpage

Item Types

• chart / table• matching• multiple-choice• open-ended (including• wh-questions and• sentence completion)• sequencing• true / false

• Literal (LOTS)• Integration (L&H)• Inference (HOTS)• Personal

Response(HOTS)

Categories of Comprehension:

Written Texts -Grade 8 - 2013Text Types• advertisement• article / report• biography• book cover• brochure• comic strip• diary entry• flyer• graph• interview• letter / email• message• notice• postcard• review• short expository• text• story• timetable / schedule• travel guide• web page

Item Types

• chart / table• graphic organizer• matching• multiple-choice• open-ended (e.g.• wh-questions and• sentence completion)• sequencing

• Literal (LOTS)• Integration (L&H)• Inference (HOTS)• Personal

Response(HOTS)

Categories of Comprehension:

“Bee” Aware – Prepare!

• Practice “wh” questions:• Make sure students can match types of answer to question: Where:

place; When – time/date, Who – name/person; What – noun; Why – because…

• Practice yes/no questions by “yes/no” statements• Practice finding reference words that support understanding e.g. it, this,

that these, those, his, hers, ours, their; Pay attention if it is singular or plural. Go back to the text and ask: “What does ‘x’ refer to?

Teachers should model the think aloud process for finding answers.• Notice special punctuation marks and text “glossing” - i.e. what the

symbol * next to a word means – students have the translation at the bottom of the text

Read Extensively

• Encourage students to read extensively:The more you read – the better you become!• Grade 3: If you eat with your students – why

not read them a Big Book during their eating break?

“Bee” Aware – Prepare!

• Prepare all your reading texts:• Pre- tasks

• While Listening Tasks• Post tasks

Pre - tasks for written texts

LOOK AT - DON’T READ - THE TEXT:• Text Format: Look at the format. What kind of a text is it?

What kinds of information will appear in this type of text?• What types of questions will you asked?• Pictures: Look at the pictures. Predict what text will be about• Read the title. Predict what text will be about• Find special punctuation marks and text glossing:(*sign = words are translated underneath in the text)

READ THE QUESTIONS• What kind of information is being asked?

– A chart to fill in? A flow chart? An open question? (Students do not need to write full sentences!) A list? A MC question? (If so – read the options first) Matching?

– True/ False Questions?• Find the words you know first• Decide on the key words of the question: make sure (try to!)

understand the question: what information do I need?• Return to the text: make sure to read the entire paragraph before

responding!• Inferring and reading between the lines:

– Does this question require reading between the lines? – Synonyms and Antonyms: Does the same meaning appear using different words?

Does the opposite of the key word appear?

Teachers should model the think aloud process for finding answers

Pre - tasks for written texts

ALWAYS READ THE INSTRUCTIONS

While Reading in the classroom• Break a long text into paragraphs• Work with a “Stopper”: Give the students 5 minutes to cope alone…

gradually expand the time students’ working alone time• After each paragraph, discuss the main idea and the supporting

details: the examples.• Students ask themselves: What did I read? What did I understand?

What is the main idea? How can I say it in my own words?• Find and highlight the key words in the paragraph. Notice if the key

words appear with negation! Make sure the students read the entire paragraph before marking key words and answering the questions

• Vocabulary students don’t know – try to elicit from the context!

While Reading in the Classroom – continuedFind Markers!

• Become acquainted with the characteristics ,formats and general features of books: title, author, summary, recommendations

• Where can you find what?– Books - on the spine, back cover, title page;– Letters: date, salutations, greetings, closure, signature, introduction,

body, end• Recognize markers that supply information about texts • in a book, ‘by’ would signal the author.

– In a letter, ‘Dear’ would signal the person being addressed – ‘Yours’ or ‘Love’ would signal the sender– In an email, ‘To’ would signal the person addressed – ‘From’ would signal the writer or sender– ‘ subject’ would signal the main idea.

Written Texts – Find organizational clues

• Find connectors that signal organization :– first, second, third, finally, therefore, as a result of.

• Find cause and effect words:– for this reason, consequently, on that account, hence, because, made

• Explicitly teach the skill of inference.– Play riddle games and word games– Use TLC – Activities for Teaching Inference– Use Pictures – TLC on Inference – Pictures

While Reading in the classroom

• Provide all the different types of questions for every text you present.

• Open Questions: make sure students realize they don’t have to write complete sentences!

• If you need to spell a word – look for them in the text

Post Tasks

• Discuss which strategies the students used to answer which questions.

• Ask for other ideas.• Make the students your partners!

Presentation - Difficulties

How do I begin?How do I write a sentence? What criteria are used to check me?

Presentation - How to Prepare

• Provide opportunities for writing in every lesson –on the sentence or paragraph level

• Start with simple sentence structure (grade 5)• Teach and practice lexical chunks: I can see; There is/are; The

… is…the…;• Teach paragraph starters: In my opinion; I think that; I agree; I

don’t agree with…• Have students write sentences/paragraphs that are

meaningful to them• Suggestion: Use the Bank of Performance Based Tasks from

RAMA

How to Prepare - continued

• Practice writing opening sentences that use the words from the question

• Encourage guided (structured) and free writing• Provide opportunities to write and present the students’

writing – in the English corner or on the English site:

Make writing a meaningful activityBe Proud to Be Published

Writing accurately – grades 5 & 8

• Pupils must read the instructions in Hebrew carefully and pay attention to what tense is required.

• Pupils must read the instructions in Hebrew carefully and pay attention to what is being asked of them.

• Share the rubrics from the Meitzav exam with your pupils to enable them to understand how their work is evaluated.

MAKE YOUR STUDENTS PARTNERS!

Writing AccuratelyGrade 5

• Check: capital letters at the beginning and a period at the end of the sentence

• Emphasize simple sentence structure and use “formulas”

• Skim the test for vocabulary: ideas and correct spelling

Grade 8• Check: capital letters at the

beginning and a period at the end of the sentence

• What is the writing task? Make sure what you write is:– relevant to the topic– message is clear and organized – vocabulary is varied and appropriate

• Work on compound sentences:– subject-verb agreement,

tense, pronouns, articles, prepositions, spelling, punctuation and capitalization

Example - Meitzav 2012 grade 5/B

General Guidelines1. Evaluate each of the four sentences separately .Each criterion is given a different number of points.

2. A sentence must include at least a subject, a verb, and an object when necessary.Example: People eat (ice cream).3. If the content of the sentence is incomprehensible or irrelevant to the topic (“At the Beach”), give0 for all criteria.4. Sentence must be relevant to the question.5. If the pupil writes a compound sentence, grade the first part of the sentence according to thefollowing criteria. Do not grade the second part of the sentence.Example: Kids swim in the sea and plays bol (instead of “and play ball”).

Example Continued Grade 5/ 2012/B

Criteria for Assessment Possiblee. Correct spelling of high frequency words2 = Spelling of high frequency words is correct.0 = Spelling of high frequency words is incorrect.

f. Correct capitalization2 = Capitalization is correct at the beginning of a sentence and/or in proper nouns.0 = Capitalization is incorrect at the beginning of a sentence and/or in propernouns.g. Correct use of full stops1 = The use of full stops is correct.0 = The use of full stops is incorrect or the full stop has been omitted.

Spoken Texts - Grade 5 - 2013

Text Types• advertisement• announcement• conversation• excerpt from a• lesson• instructions• message• news / weather• report• oral presentation• riddles• story

Item Types

• carrying out instructions

• chart / table• matching• multiple-choice• open-ended (e.g.• wh-questions and• sentence completion)• sequencing

• Literal (LOTS)• Integration (L&H)• Inference (HOTS)

Categories of Comprehension:

Presentation- Grade 5 - 2013Text Types

• description• friendly letter• invitation• label• list• note• questionnaire• report• speech bubble• story

Assessment Criteria

• A sentence must include a subject and a verb and an object when necessary.

Content / Vocabulary• comprehensibility• relevanceAccuracy• articles• capitalization• full stops• prepositions• pronouns• sentence structure• spelling• subject-verb agreement• verb forms• word order

Presentation- Grade 8 - 2013Text Types

• article (e.g. for• school newspaper)• description• email• extended form• forum• friendly letter• opinion• short composition• story

Assessment Criteria

Communicative Ability• relevance• clarity of messageVocabulary• varied• appropriateAccuracy• use of basic syntactical and• grammatical structures (word• order and verb form)• spelling• basic punctuation and• capitalizationLength• at least 70 words

Bee – Happy:Prepare to Be Aware:

• Every text (spoken , oral or written) demands the student to supply some kind of information.

• The information can be explicit (LOTS questions – who, what, where, when, why, which..)

• The information can be implicit: (HOTS questions – reading between the lines; inferring feelings; synonyms; antonyms; identifying opinions or giving your own opinion: ask – is the answer in the text or did you come to a conclusion?

Bottom Line:

Credits

• This PPT is based on “What can We Learn From Item Analysis – Recommendations for Teachers”http://cms.education.gov.il/educationcms/units/mazkirut_pedagogit/english/inspectoratesdesk/whatsnew.htmTLC on Inference: http://tlc.cet.ac.il/ShowItem.aspx?ItemID=cc091d34-b0c9-4da2-805f-4025e3d203a0&lang=ENTLC – Inference by pictureshttp://tlc.cet.ac.il/ShowItem.aspx?ItemID=19a5b020-9b84-4d70-a48a-f05c33951b0e&lang=ENScoring Key for the English Test – Grade 5 2012/Bhttp://cms.education.gov.il/NR/rdonlyres/6FE34B74-6425-4D73-988F-1555CDA20C35/149044/28ENG0125BSOFpnet_mehvan.pdf