Howard I. Berrent, PhD howard@berrent.com RALLY! Education 888-99-RALLY Common Core URL:

corestandards.org

NJ DOE: http://www.state.nj.us/education/sca

A Summary of Core Test Design and Administrative Features for Grades 3-8 From New Jersey Department of Education, Division of Academics, Office of Assessments

THE NEW TRANSITIONAL NJ ASK

•  The 2013 NJ ASK will measure the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) within the current NJ ASK blueprint.

•  The NJ ASK assessments are called “transitional” because NJ will not be able to measure the full range of the CCSS until the next generation assessments are developed and administered.

•  New Jersey is a Governing state in The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). PARCC is currently developing the next generation assessments to be administered in Spring 2015.

•  The NJ ASK math grades 6 through 8 will transition to the Common Core State Standards in 2013-2014.

THE TRANSITIONAL NJ ASK CONTINUED

•  Instruction must be aligned to the CCSS. •  Classroom instruction based on the NJCCCS or instruction

that is limited to the NJCCCS that are only aligned to the CCSS can result in students being introduced to unfamiliar content or topics during testing. (Exception: Math, Grades 6-8).

•  The Office of Assessments used the PARCC Model Content Frameworks as a guide.

•  In terms of shifts in NJ ASK content, mathematics has more obvious shifts than English Language Arts (ELA), but the nuances in ELA are important and must be reflected in classroom instruction.

COMMON CORE ANCHOR STANDARDS Key Ideas and Details 1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly & to make logical inferences from it; cite

specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text. 2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key

supporting details and ideas. 3. Analyze how and why individuals, events, & ideas develop and interact over the course of a text. Craft and Structure 4. Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical,

connotative, & figurative meanings, & analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone. 5. Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, & larger portions of

the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole. 6. Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content & style of a text. Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 7. Integrate & evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and

quantitatively, as well as in words. 8. Delineate & evaluate the argument & specific claims in a text, including the validity of the

reasoning as well as the relevance & sufficiency of the evidence. 9. Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to

compare the approaches the authors take. Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity 10. Read & comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.

CCS: Anchor Reading Standards Cluster 1: Key Ideas and Details

1-1 Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it, cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

1-2 Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

1-3 Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

ANCHOR STANDARDS VS 4TH GRADE STANDARDS

CCS 4th Grade Standards Cluster 1: Key Ideas & Details

4.1-1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. …………………… 4.1-2 Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text. …………………… 4.1-3 Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.

CCSS: 6 SHIFTS IN TRANSITIONAL NJ ASK LAL

•  Increase in text complexity •  Emphasis on academic vocabulary •  Building of knowledge through content-rich

informational text •  Text-dependent reading questions to elicit

responses grounded in specific evidence from the text

NJ ASK CCSS CONTENT SHIFTS AND THE ASK

•  NJ ASK blueprint has historically included text dependent constructed-response items in Reading and multiple writing prompts in every grade level making the ELA Shifts less apparent

•  Writing prompts: will become more text dependent during the transition, but not fully realized until the next generation (PARCC) assessments are implemented.

•  The narrative writing prompt will remain. •  Students will also respond to writing prompts based on a short text (two

to three sentences to one paragraph) and will supplement their responses by using facts from the text.

•  2013 NJ ASK writing section will not include a longer reading passage (multiple paragraphs) that students would read and draw evidence from to support their writing.

ELA TRANSITION TO THE CCSS

•  For both reading and writing tasks, students at all grade levels are expected to ground their responses in specific evidence and information from texts they have read, film or shows they have viewed, or facts they have learned in social studies or science.

•  Students are not to “invent” information except when they write narratives. Classroom instruction needs to be moving towards having students respond to text by citing evidence from text read, movies, television shows, digital sources, etc.

•  Expectations are that a student’s ability to use text-based information increases with each grade level, and that a student’s skills at any grade level will improve with an increased emphasis on text-based understanding in classroom instruction.

ELA TRANSITION TO THE CCSS

•  All passages will require students to read and to comprehend at the higher end of text complexity for their grade level.

•  Students will be expected to comprehend and accurately use grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in their reading and writing.

•  The scoring of student-constructed responses in both reading and writing will reflect the degree to which students refer to or incorporate pertinent text-based ideas and information into their work.

2013 TRANSITIONAL NJ ASK LAL, GR 3-8

•  NJ ASK 3-5 operational tests include three reading passages at each grade level.

•  NJ ASK 6-8 operational tests include four reading passages per grade level.

•  Reading passages will include informational reading selections as well as literature from a wide array of authentic sources.

•  Fifty percent or more of the reading passages are informational.

2013 TRANSITIONAL NJ ASK LAL, GR 3-8

•  All reading items will present questions that address the Common Core State Standards strands: •  Key Ideas and Details •  Craft and Structure

•  All reading constructed-response items will continue to be scored using the Open-Ended Reading rubric, 0-4 points.

•  The reading comprehension constructed-response questions measure the Common Core State Standards for Literature and Informational texts.

•  Additional field-test passages and items will be included. They will not be counted in the student score.

ELA: WRITING GRADES 3 – 5

•  ELA writing tasks require students to respond for a variety of purposes (e.g., informative/explanatory, opinion, and narrative).

•  All writing prompt responses will continue to be scored using the modified NJ Registered Holistic Scoring Rubric (a 5-point scale).

•  Additional field-test writing prompts will be included. They will not be included in the students’ scores.

ELA: WRITING GRADES 3 – 5

•  TWO formats for assessing informative/explanatory writing: 1.  one format introduces a topic in a brief prompt and asks students to write a

piece about that topic;

2.  the second format uses a poem to introduce a topic. That topic is elaborated further by a brief prompt that students use as a basis for writing. •  Common Core State Standards: W.3.2, W.4.2, W.5.2

•  Informative/explanatory prompts are based on topics familiar to students •  ask them to describe, discuss, explain, or analyze some aspect of the topic. •  Students are able to draw on their own experience or opinions and what they

know to develop ideas for their writing. •  Common Core State Standards: W.3.2, W.4.2, W.5.2

•  Narrative prompt presents a brief scenario which students use as a springboard for writing a story, drawing on stories they have read as well as on their own experiences to develop ideas. •  Common Core State Standards: W.3.3, W.4.3, W.5.3

ELA: WRITING GRADES 3 – 5: SAMPLES Explanatory Writing Prompt Grades 3-5 CCSS: W.3.2, W.4.2, W.5.2

Scientists report that gray squirrels find hundreds of nuts each week that they bury in different places. Then the squirrels dig up all those nuts and bury them again in new spots. They also dig some holes that they don’t ever use for storing nuts. What problems could these actions cause for a gray squirrel?

Write a composition discussing the problems squirrels could have because of the way they bury their nuts. Explain why you think they bury and rebury their nuts. Analyze or explain why squirrels might dig holes they do not want to use.

ELA: WRITING GRADES 3 – 5: SAMPLES Explanatory Writing Prompt Grades 3-5 CCSS: W.3.2, W.4.2, W.5.2

(Students first read the Holly Davis poem, “Lucky Grandma!”.)

The child in the poem “Lucky Grandma!” helps her grandmother with many things. Think about a time when you helped someone. Write a composition about that time.

In your composition, be sure to: • Explain who the person was. • Describe what you did to help. • Explain why you liked helping this person.

ELA: WRITING GRADES 3 – 5: SAMPLES Narrative Writing Prompt Grades 3-5 CCSS: W.3.3, W.4.3, W.5.3

When Tony arrived home after school, the large package was there waiting for him on the kitchen table. He had been waiting for days for it to arrive, and now he had it in his hands. Quickly, he tore open the package and examined the contents. Write a story about the reason for Tony’s excitement.

ELA: WRITING GRADES 6 – 8

•  ELA writing tasks require students to respond for a variety purposes (e.g., informative/explanatory, argument or persuasion, and narrative).

•  All writing prompt responses will continue to be scored using the NJ Registered Holistic Scoring Rubric (a 6-point scale).

•  Additional field-test writing prompts will be included. They will not be included in the students’ score.

ELA: WRITING GRADES 6 – 8

•  The writing tasks for argument ask the student to support or oppose a claim or position on a given issue arising from interpersonal, school/community, or social contexts. Common Core State Standards: W.6.1, W.7.1, W.8.1; W.6.4, W.7.4, W. 8.4.

•  The persuasive writing tasks elicit the student’s point of view or opinion regarding a given controversy arising in interpersonal, school/community, or societal contexts. Common Core State Standards: W.6.4, W.7.4, W. 8.4.

•  The informative/explanatory prompt presents students with a topic based on a quotation or adage, or based on a familiar subject. Each is a springboard for the student to write an essay. Explanatory writing is used to share knowledge and to convey ideas and experiences. Explanatory writing may be based on the writer’s personal knowledge or on information presented to the writer. Common Core State Standards: W.6.2, W.7.2, W.8.2; W.6.4, W.7.4, W. 8.4.

•  The narrative prompt presents a brief scenario which students use as a springboard for writing a story, drawing on literature they have read as well as their own experiences and imagination to develop ideas. Common Core State Standards: W.6.3, W.7.3, W.8.3; W.6.4, W.7.4, W. 8.4.

Argument Writing Prompt Gr 6-8 CCSS: W.6.1, W.7.1, W. 8.1; W.6.4, W.7.4, W. 8.4

WRITING SITUATION Educational researchers claim that student learning will improve if all printed textbooks are replaced with electronic textbooks, known as e-textbooks. Based on the researchers’ findings, students in your school will be issued an e-textbook reader, which is a device that displays electronic books.

WRITING TASK Write an essay either supporting or opposing the claim that student learning will improve if all student textbooks are replaced with electronic reading books. Use your knowledge and your own experience or observation to develop your essay. Use reasons, facts, examples and/or other evidence to support your position.

ELA: WRITING SAMPLE GRADES 6 – 8

Persuasive Writing Prompt Grades 6-8 CCSS: W.6.4, W.7.4, W. 8.4

WRITING SITUATION Your state is considering whether to charge a $2 fee for each person to enter and use parks and community playgrounds. The money would be used to maintain and improve buildings, fields, courts, and playground equipment. This proposal is controversial, and many citizens have strong opinions about the idea. You decide to write an editorial for the local newspaper expressing your opinion about whether to charge a $2 fee for each person to enter and use parks and community playgrounds.

WRITING TASK Write an editorial for the local newspaper expressing your opinion about whether to charge a $2 fee for each person to enter and use parks and community playgrounds. Be sure to include reasons, facts, examples, and/or other evidence to support your position.

ELA: WRITING SAMPLE GRADES 6 – 8

Informative/Explanatory Writing Prompt Grades 6-8 CCSS: W.6.2, W.7.2, W. 8.2; W.6.4, W.7.4, W. 8.4

Anne Frank once said, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Think about what Anne Frank is saying regarding how people can improve the world around them. Write an essay about how people can improve the world around them. Use your knowledge and your own experience or observation to develop your essay. Use details, reasons, and examples in your explanation.

ELA: WRITING SAMPLE GRADES 6 – 8

Narrative Writing Prompt Grades 6-8 CCSS: W.6.3, W.7.3, W. 8.3; W.6.4,W.7.4,W.8.4

Think what it would be like to live one day in the setting of your favorite book or short story. What would happen to you in this place? What would you do? Use your knowledge of the setting of a book or short story along with your imagination to write a story about your experience in this place.

ELA: WRITING SAMPLE GRADES 6 – 8

CCS: MATH STANDARDS K-8 DOMAINS • CLUSTERS • STANDARDS

Math Standards K-2 Domains: 1.  Operations & Algebraic Thinking 2.  Number & Operations: Base Ten 3.  Measurement & Data 4.  Geometry

Math Standards 3-5 Domains: 1.  Operations & Algebraic Thinking 2.  Number & Operations: Base Ten 3.  Number & Operations: Fractions 4.  Measurement & Data 5.  Geometry

Math Standards 6-7 Domains: 1.  Ratios & Proportional Relationships 2.  The Number System 3.  Expressions & Equations 4.  Geometry 5.  Statistics &Probability

Math Standards 8 Domains: 1.  The Number System 2.  Expressions & Equations 3.  Functions 4.  Geometry 5.  Statistics &Probability

NJ ASK SHIFTS IN MATHEMATICS

•  In Mathematics, the CCSS shifts are significant because new content will appear per grade level.

•  During the transitional years, mathematical instruction should begin to connect the content standards with the mathematical practices.

CONNECTING NJ CONTENT STANDARDS AND NJ MATHEMATICAL PRACTICES

1.  Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. 2.  Reason abstractly and quantitatively. 3.  Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of

others. 4.  Model with mathematics. 5.  Use appropriate tools strategically 6.  Attend to precision 7.  Look for and make use of structure 8.  Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning. 9.  Assessment is moving toward measuring mathematical

practices and will be assessed by PARCC in spring 2015.

EMPHASES IN COMMON CORE STANDARDS FOR MATHEMATICAL CONTENT Kindergarten – Grade 8 (March 12, 2012)

Major clusters – areas of intensive focus, where students need fluent understanding and application of the core concepts (approximately 70%).

Supporting clusters – rethinking and linking; areas where some material is being covered, but in a way that applies core understandings (approximately 20%).

Additional Clusters – expose students to other subjects, though at a distinct, level of depth and intensity (approximately 10%).

Breakdown of the instructional emphasis as written in the PARCC Frameworks can be found at http://www.parcconline.org/parcc-content-frameworks. However, no material in the standards should be excluded.

NJ ASK Mathematics Sample Item Grade 3 SCR (non-calculator)

Find the number that belongs in the box. 5 = ∆ ÷ 4

Place your answer here:__________ Standard Assessed: 3.OA.4

NJ ASK Mathematics Sample Item Grade 5 SCR (non-calculator)

A gallon contains 128 ounces. Paul wants to divide 3 gallons of apple cider equally among the 2 dozen friends at his party. How many ounces of apple cider will each friend receive? Standard Assessed: 5.NBT.6

NJ ASK Mathematics Sample Item Grade 3 Multiple Choice

NJ ASK Mathematics Sample Item Grade 4 Multiple Choice

NJ ASK Mathematics Sample Item Grade 3 ECR

NJ ASK Mathematics Sample Item Grades 5 ECR

Mathematics (Grades 6-8) MC- multiple choice, 1 raw score point SCR- short constructed-response, 1 raw score point ECR- extended constructed-response, 3 raw score points

Mathematics: Points by Standard

COMMON CORE STANDARDS: MORE THAN JUST STANDARDS

Specific Standards ELA

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

Content Areas for ELA: History, Science, Mathematics

MATH 4 or 5 Domains Clusters Standards

Strategies & Implications ELA

•  Complex Reading •  Longer Selections •  Multiple Selections •  Close & Careful Reading •  Rereading •  Passage-Dependent Questions •  Different Genres

•  Informational Texts •  Literary Texts

•  Stories •  Poetry •  Drama

•  Persuasive Texts •  Writing

•  Argumentative Writing •  Summarizing

MATH •  Open-Ended Problems •  Complex Math Problems •  Multi-Step Problems •  Real World Math Problems

This chart has significant implications for instruction.

It’s about the standards and the skills & strategies needed to reach the standards.

MEASURING TEXT COMPLEXITY: THREE FACTORS

Qualitative evaluation of the text: Levels of meaning, structure, language conventionality and clarity, and knowledge demands

Quantitative evaluation of the text: Readability measures and other scores of text complexity

Matching reader to text and task: Reader variables (such as motivation, knowledge, and experiences) and task variables (such as purpose and the complexity generated by the task assigned and the questions posed)

MEASURES OF COMPLEXITY

QUALITATIVE EVALUATION: Literary Texts

TEXT STRUCTURE

QUALITATIVE EVALUATION: Informational Texts

TEXT STRUCTURE

SAMPLE CCSS QUESTIONS: 1. According to the article, NASA studies Antarctica for all of the following reasons EXCEPT A Antarctica helps us understand ice. B Antarctica helps us understand important rare plants. C Antarctica is a good place to find meteorites. D Antarctica is a good place to test robots.

2. Read these two sentences from paragraph 3: “In winter, Antarctica is on the side of the Earth tilted away from the sun. Then, the continent is always dark.” Which of the following describes the relationship between these two sentences? A The sentences contrast two events. B The sentences describe two steps in the same process. C The first sentence explains the reason for the second. D The second sentence gives the cause of the first.

SAMPLE CCSS QUESTIONS: ELA 4TH GR

In the myth called “Why the Evergreen Trees Never Lose Their Leaves,” why does the little bird begin talking to the trees? Use two details from the myth to support your answer. Write your answer in complete sentences. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SAMPLE CCSS QUESTIONS: ELA 4TH GR

Read this sentence from paragraph 32 of the story. At once the Father Hawk flew to the Lion.

How does Father Hawk’s action lead to the ending of the story?

A Mother Hawk asked Father Hawk to approach the Lion for help. B The Lion asked Father Hawk why he had come to visit. C The Lion told Father Hawk to go back and comfort his family. D The Lion came to help the hawks, chasing away the hunters.

SAMPLE CCSS QUESTIONS: ELA additional comments

1) Multiple-choice Question "Based on your answer to question #1, what text supports your answer?" Each answer supports the answers (both correct and incorrect) from the preceding question.

2) Short-Response Question "Go back to the quote (or words) in question #3 and

what text evidence supports your answer?" Short-Response question.

SAMPLE CCSS QUESTIONS: MATH 4TH GR OPERATIONS AND ALGEBRAIC THINKING

Students from three classes at Hudson Valley Elementary School are planning a boat trip. On the trip, there will be 20 students from each class, along with 11 teachers and 13 parents. Part A: Write an equation that can be used to determine the number of boats, b, they will need on their trip if 10 people ride in each boat. Equation: b =______________________________________ Part B: How many boats will be needed for the trip if 10 people ride in each boat? Show your work.

SAMPLE CCSS QUESTIONS: MATH 4TH GR NUMBERS & OPERATIONS: FRACTIONS

Elena, Matthew, and Kevin painted a wall. Elena painted 5/9 of the wall and Matthew painted 3/9 of the wall. Kevin painted the rest of the wall. Part A: Use the box below to represent the wall. Show the fraction of the wall that Kevin painted. Part B: What fraction of the wall did Kevin paint? ____________________

SAMPLE CCSS QUESTIONS: MATH 4TH GR MEASUREMENT & DATA

The area of Ken’s rectangular garden is 480 square feet. The garden is 24 feet wide. What is the length of fencing Ken will need to buy in order to fence in the garden completely on all four sides? Show your work.

SUMMARY: THE NEW 2013 NY TESTS

ELA

•  Complexity of the passage •  Length of the passage •  Complexity of the question •  Multi-step questions •  Genres of passage •  Questions

• Why was this phrase used? • How does this sentence support the main theme? • Language/Vocabulary in Context • Text dependent

Math •  Complexity of the problem •  Multi-step questions •  Problem covers more than

one standard Questions • Real World • Explain

RALLY!’S NEW 2013 NYS TEST PRODUCTS

RALLY! Education's Response to the Transitional NJ ASKTransitional NJ ASK LAL Preparation Program

Understanding the Common Core ELA AND the NJ ASK Rehearsal aligned to the CCS

Transitional NJ ASK Mathematics Preparation Program

Mathematics by CCS Domain AND the NJ ASK Rehearsal aligned to the CCS

NJ ASKLanguage Arts Literacy Preparation

Price $249Set of 25 copies of each of 3 books (total 75 books)

Understanding CCS Reading and LAL Rehearsal Forms 1&2

NJ ASK Mathematics PreparationPrice $457

Set of 25 copies of NJ Math Rehearsalforms 1&2 and class kit of Mathematics by Domain(10 copies of 5 domain books) -- (total 100 books)

Grade Item # Grade Item #

3 NJLAL3 3 NJMATH3

4 NJLAL4 4 NJMATH4

5 NJLAL5 5 NJMATH5

6 NJLAL6 6 NJMATH6

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