Get your groans and moans out of your

Get your groans and moans out of your system now so you can pay attention! We need to go over a few things before you take the FCAT! Hopefully the LOL Cats will make you LOL along the way!

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You have been and will continue to be working on every single skill tested on the FCAT reading test all year. In fact, you have been working on FCAT reading skills in every class you have taken since you have learned to read! Even when you are not directly talking about FCAT, if you are working hard in classes you are being prepared!

th 10 Grade: April 15 -18 th 9 Grade: April 22 -25 That is soon!

o Computer-based o Two 70 minute sessions o Two ½ days o Mon/Tues OR Wed/Thurs o Media center or O-wing

� No electronic devices allowed. Your test will be invalidated if you have it in your possession while you test! There will be a place to store your stuff. � Nothing at the computer with you.

� You will have access to several tools on the computer: � Elimination Choice (X through answers) � Highlighter (highlight text in the passage or question) � Eraser (erase what you have highlighted) � Notepad (take notes on what you have read) � Help (explains tools)

Don’t worry- the tools are very easy to use! And we will practice using the tools immediately before you take the test when you are already on the computer. � Want more practice? Come to the media center during after school or during lunch and Mrs. Murray will show you the tools. � OR watch this tutorial from any computer at home or at school. It is linked on the media center website or you can view it here: � http: //flassessments. com/htmlredirects/Student. Tutorials/FCAT/G r 9 -10 Reading/tutorial. html �

While that is probably true, you still need to put in 100% effort and not be over confident. Why? We had an average of 100 students drop from a level 4 or 5 last year because they chose to put in minimum effort rather than show what they are capable of. Some of them did NOT pass! Those dropped scores impact things like your ELECTIVE classes (art, P. E. , computers, music, etc. )!

� Everyone’s first goal is to show growth. YOU ARE ALL CAPABLE OF THIS! You do this by: Maintaining a 3, 4, or 5 (NOT dropping from a 5 to a 4 or a 4 to a 3!) � Increasing an achievement level (moving from a 2 to a 3, etc. ) � Making more than one year’s growth within a level 1 or 2! � � Your goal is to stare that test into submission! Your secondary goal is to score a 3 or higher, but if that doesn’t happen this year, as long as you are increasing each year you are headed in the direction you need to go!

You should take the test very seriously, but know that if you have been applying yourself in your classes, we have been preparing you, so you do not need to worry. All year you have been working on your reading comprehension. Every time you read something in ANY of your classes, whether it is a textbook, article, novel or website, you are working on your reading comprehension. If you work hard and do your best, we will be able to help you pass the FCAT!

Remember that some anxiety is a GOOD thing because it means that you care about the outcome of the test and are motivated to do your best! We have confidence that if you use what you have been taught, are an active reader, and don’t give up on yourself, you will be fine! The good thing about FCAT is that it is not a memory test, it is a skill test, so there is nothing really to study and remember, it is all about applying yourself in that moment. That SHOULD lessen your anxiety!

The reading test is basically an open book test. If you do not read actively, REREAD, and go back and look at the passages when you are answering questions, it is difficult to improve your score. To be an ACTIVE reader means that you engage with the text. Choose your attitude. If you decide a passage will be boring you will be bored and not score as high!

Most students will score higher if they take their time even if they run out of time AS LONG AS THEY ARE TRULY USING EVERY MINUTE, not running out of time because they stared into space or put their head down! That doesn’t mean go so slowly that you only answer questions for one passage. It means work steadily and don’t speed through.

Test Expectations • Do your personal best • Read the passages twice • Check your answers • Work for at least 45 of the 70 minutes of the allotted time

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