
We spend time every week pouring over past MCAS selections
to help our fourth graders become more familiar with test taking language, as
well as the stamina for an independent writing task for a topic they are
probably seeing for the first time in printed form. The kids have weekly homework practice, and I have an MCAS Practice Tips letter to parents that I posted previously. Teaching the kids to use a graphic organizer for pre-writing, and analyzing the question (such as with the QAR method) is
something we've done for years. But this
year is the first full year that we've implemented the ANSWER method. And I think it's been working VERY well for
this specific purpose.
The acronym is from the Keys to Literacy, who have provided a number of professional development trainings for my district, and if you ever see one offered in your area, I
HIGHLY recommend you check it out (the vocabulary one was another fantastic
experience). I only tweaked it slightly
by adding a bit to the "E" (originally the acronym read: "Analyze,
Notes, Scan, Write, End by Rereading") and of course the explanations are
my own rewording according to what's been working for my class over time. Because as my students would tell you, I do my anchor charts in pencil,
and that's only after I've written them on the white board with them first, until I'm feel that I've answered all of their clarifying questions and I'm happy with the exact wording. They actually
tease me, "You really ARE a rough draft kind of gal!" I like to think this helps to instill a sense of importance of the revision process for them!

How do you prepare your students for standardized test reading responses?




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