Scoring and Considerations

for FSA : Middle School

Department of Secondary Curriculum

Agenda

Language Arts Florida Standards (LAFS)

Test Specifications for Florida Standards

Assessment (FSA) and FSA Writing

Scoring of Palm Beach Performance

Assessments and FSA Writing

Best Practices for Administrators

Language Arts Florida Standards

LA.6.1.6.3 The student will use context clues to determine meanings of unfamiliar words

LAFS.6.RL.2.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.

LAFS.68.RH.2.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.

MS Vocabulary Sample Question

Though this may assess one vocabulary standard, it also assesses reading comprehension, author’s purpose, and several writing standards.

LAFS: Literary Elements

LA.6.2.1.2 The student will locate and analyze the elements of plot structure, including exposition, setting, character development, rising/falling action, conflict/resolution, and theme in a variety of fiction

LAFS.6.RL.2.5 Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.

LAFS.6.RL.3.7 Compare and contrast the experience of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text, including contrasting what they “see” and “hear” when reading the text to what they perceive when they listen or watch.

Sample QuestionDrag and drop elements to order plot events

Sample QuestionPart A and Part B Questions- students have to explain how they determined the answer.

Sample QuestionQuestions might have more than one correct answer.

Writing FSA

Writing LAFS LA.6.4.3: The student develops and demonstrates

persuasive writing that is used for the purpose of influencing the reader.

LAFS.6.W.1.1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence. o Introduce claim(s) and organize the reasons and evidence

clearly.o Support claim(s) with clear reasons and relevant evidence,

using credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.

o Use words, phrases, and clauses to clarify the relationships among claim(s) and reasons.

o Establish and maintain a formal style.o Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the

argument presented.

Grade 8 FCAT 2.0 Writing

Writing to Persuade (Persuasive)

Writing Situation:Suppose you could convince a famous person to visit your town.

Directions for Writing:Think about why this person should visit your town.Now write to convince this person to visit your town.

MS FSA Writing

Test specifications: students will receive 2-4 texts with a combined word count of 1000-1600 words.

Preparing for the FSA: Literacy Rollout

The materials in the HMH (language arts classrooms) and Read 180 were designed to meet the rigor of the new standards and assessments.o It is imperative teachers adapt to the new resources and

materials. Doing what we’ve always done will not be successful.

Teaching and assessing benchmarks in isolation will not prepare students.

All forms of literacy will need to be taught.o Visual literacyo Speaking and listeningo Traditional and non-traditional text

Learning Village will be the portal for providing teachers with resources and lesson plans.

Professional development will be crucial.

Literacy Rollout Professional Development

With a few exceptions, professional development will be school-based.

Each school will be assigned a resource teacher and specialist who can provide modeling, small group PD (done during common planning, before or after school, etc.), full staff PD, etc.

District-wide professional development opportunities:

• HMH Day 1 (resources)• HMH Day 2 (best practices)• Read 180 (either conversion or new)• FSA Writing Scoring

Best Practices for Administrators

Have teachers review the training tests. Monitor Palm Beach Performance Assessments.

o The data is only as good as the scoring.o Provide time for teachers to collaborate to score and design

lessons. Create a school-wide policy for grammar.

o Non-negotiables may be use of complete sentences with capitals and end punctuation.

o Editing will be a portion of the reading/language exam. Look for an integration of literacy practices in all content

areas. Check for student-centered learning in addition to direct

instruction.o Study from SCOPE (Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in

Education) found that student-centered practices increase engagement and academic achievement (January 2014).