The Latest Information About the 4th Grade Writing Test

I attended the TETN Session at Region IV this week. It was a simulcast from Austin. All regions service centers were given information about the TEA new test blueprints. I went to find out the latest information.  Here is the latest information about the fourth grade writing test:

• Students will have 4 hours to take the test. The test is supposedly designed so that 85% of our students can complete the test in four hours. I would say that would be true or close to being true for the other tests,since the number of questions were reduced.  Multiple choice items in the fourth grade test, compared to last year's test, increased by 6 multiple choice questions. It went from 18 to 24 questions respectively.  Last year, there were no field test questions. This year there will be an additional selection, along with 5 field test questions. The total number of questions that students will answer on the one day test will now be 29. Again, last year it was 18 questions and an expository composition. I don't think that 85% of 4th grade students will be able to  answer 29 questions, plan, and write an expository composition in a two hour window. It will definitely take more time and four hours is the maximum time allotted.
• Last year, the raw score was based on 18 multiple choice questions and 8 possible points for the adjacently scored expository composition. The combination resulted in  a raw score of 26. The passing standard turned out to be a raw score of 14 in Spanish and 15 in English.  This year, there will be 24 multiple choice questions combined with the adjacently scored expository composition. The raw score will be a total of 24 multiple choice and 8 points for the composition. That would equal a total of 32 points. I surmise that the passing standard, if it is close to last year, would be 19-20 raw score and possible 25-26 raw score to arrive at status of academic achievement.
• If you break down the percentages of the test, it breaks out as: 75% of the test comes from the multiple choice items and 25% of the test from the expository composition.  Of the multiple choice portion the test, 16 items will emanate from editing questions and 8 from revision.  If you break that down further, 66% of the multiple choice items are editing questions. 34% of the multiple choice questions are revision questions. 
• TEA stated that the assessed curriculum remains the same. They also stated that the length and quantity of selections remain the same in the writing and reading test. If you want to know about the length and number of selections, you can go to the TEA website and look at the test design schematics. You can download this information. Click on the link following link Test Design Schematic.  It would also behoove you to look over the 2016 tests as well.
• After carefully dissecting each part of the writing test, I noticed that the revision type questions have changed. I studied the released questions from the 2013-2015 tests. Some of  the 2016 questions are different. The questions that test which sentence should be added to support the central idea or which sentence should follow such and such paragraph were higher in rigor. Students need to understand deeply the idea of revision, but more than that they need to be able infer and understand how ideas fit and build coherence. It seemed to me more like a reading test than a writing test. (Yes, I know that reading and writing go together, but it seemed that students need to be critical readers to arrive at the best answer.) After task analyzing some of questions, I noticed that students need to slow down their rate of reading, draw out the images of what was written, and then infer which sentence would work best. It is cognitively taxing. Could that be because the state switched from Pearson to ETS?  I do know the Reading test have changed somewhat as well.  It would be wise to study the Pearson test and now the ETS tests to note the changes. TEA stated that they will be releasing test yearly. That will be nice so that we can see the patterns from this testing company. It is very interesting. 
• If you are a fourth grade teacher and you haven't looked over the 2016, now is the time to do so. You need to know and understand what our students will face. It would also be a good idea to study and compare the tests from 2013-present. They tell a great story. Look for patterns.

What does all that mean for us?  The test is a monster!  The good thing is  that we know what our students will be facing. The goal is to teach authentically and build a bridge to test format.  Seventy-five percent of the test is multiple choice. Our students need to know and understand how to apply all the grammar, spelling, capitalization, and usage concepts that they will learn. They also will need to know how revision works in different situations of the expository essay and other selections. Finally, teaching explicitly the expository composition and grammar in context is fundamental. Easy task? This is not for the faint of heart. This task is massive and must require a solid plan of implementation, along with constant monitory and adjusting of student data. This data is not only a benchmark. Data comes in different forms. Daily and weekly monitoring and adjusting is essential. Format study with the incorporation of think alouds will help students connect what they are learning and how it is tested. Think alouds help students make associations and connect to metacognition. 

Funny Commercials

I have been watching some funny commercial lately. Geico always has funny commercials. I really like the new one with the raccoons. The reason why it is so funny is because it rings true. Why do we want other people to taste something that tastes bad? Growing up, my mom would always say, "Taste this. Does this taste funny to you? Does it taste bad?" Of course we would then taste it and then make a sour face. "Eww! That tastes nasty!" we would say. Why do we continue this tradition? I do the same with my daughter. If something tastes strange, why do I want others to share in its putrid nature? I suppose we want verification of our suspicions. It is a good thing, however, that we don't follow that same prescription with Ebola or other viruses.  "Does this taste like Ebola to you?  Taste it!  Does this taste like Salmonella to you?  Try it and see!" Nope! We don't share Listeria from cookie dough ice cream. I am sure that the workers at Blue Bell didn't have that conversation. "Does this taste like Listeria to you?" Nope. It is a good thing that we do not share the Listeria. I am glad that we don't. But...I think it is time that we abandon the nasty taste test. It would and could be bad for our health. This practice needs to be discontinued. Just sayin'.

Election of Peppermint Mocha

Happy election day to all. Today will be a doozy. I cannot wait to vote and get on home to see the pundits do their job until the late into the evening. I cannot wait to hear them call it.  Today, however, is more than that. Today I elected to not go with my McDonald's usual. No, I didn't go with a medium coffee with six creams. I instead elected to go with an early on the menu Peppermit Mocha. Because of my election, I predict that my day will run smoothly. If it doesn't, I can still sip my Peppermint Mocha. It usually isn't on the menu until after Thanksgiving. This one is an early surprise. What and who will you elect today? Whatever and whoever it is, I hope it is a good one. Have a great day!

Pronouns Anyone?

I have been working with fourth grade students on recognizing pronouns. I wanted them to be able to recognize the the noun as the antecedent. I also wanted them to track the path of the pronouns as referent. I asked the students if they knew what the function of a pronoun was, and they didn't seem to know. I then introduced subjective pronouns to the students. I then wrote two sentences where I introduced the noun as the subject of the sentence.I then wrote another sentence where a pronoun was the subject of the sentence. We then tracked the path of the pronouns and the noun. I had them track the antecedent (noun) from the previous sentence. I then tried to find an example in a book. I copied the two sentences. I underlined the subject noun from the first sentence. Then I looked for the pronoun subject in the second sentence. I drew an arrow to track the pronoun to the antecedent. The students then worked with a partner to find an example of the subject noun and then the find the pronoun referent in the second sentence. They had so much fun finding them. They copied their examples in their pronoun books. They shared their example with the class. The next day, the students reviewed the process and shared example. Then they included their own examples in their notebooks. I really enjoyed taking them through this process.  The photos below are from student writing. My inspiration for doing this activity came from Jeff Anderson in Mechanically Inclined and Kylene Beers's book When Kids Can't Read.

What a Great Week!

It is Friday. The end of the work week ends, and I feel very tired. My cansansio or fatigue is a good fatigue. It has been a great week, after all. I love my job. I love the fact that I get to work with students everyday and try out different teaching techniques from the masters like Gretchen Bernabei, Dr. Joyce Carroll, Fountas and Pinnell, Georgia Heard, Donalyn Miller, and  Jeff Anderson. I have the honor and pleasure of sharing my love of books with students in book clubs and guided reading. I have always enjoyed teaching 5th graders, and now I get to work with them daily. In addition to working with 5th grade students, I also work with 4th graders in the areas of reading, writing, and grammar instruction. I was also able to share some of my poetry with a 4th grade class. I read Tip to the class and Grasping at Straws. We discussed the structure of poetry, free verse, and the use of imagery.  I also was able to work with 4th graders after school. We worked on the use of subjective and objective pronouns using Grammar Keepers while we created a pronoun book.  I love it!

To make my Friday close to perfect, I worked with some wonderful and thoughtful teachers in planning future lessons. I also provided some professional development. The professionals on my campus are dedicated and appreciative. The time flew by!  This is week five working on the campus level.  I am glad I made the decision to return. It is good for my soul. I feel blessed.

New Blueprints from TEA

The Texas Education Agency has just released new blueprints from all tested subject areas. I have uploaded them and placed them in my Box account if you would like to access the blueprints. You may also access them at the TEA website. Go to the link entitled BOX.

The 4th grade STAAR Writing test now has 24 multiple choice questions. Sixteen questions are from the editing realm. Eight questions come from the revision realm. The expository essay is also included. I am not sure how it will all be weighted. I tried to call TEA's testing division today, but there was no response. (No one answered the phone.) I will continue to try to seek clarification on how the composition is weighted. Last year there were 18 multiple choice questions and an expository essay. The expository essay was graded on a rubric of 0-4. TEA incorporated the adjacent scoring model where two people score. Their scores are added up and combined with the multiple choice questions. I am not sure if the same system will be employed. If so, then there will be 24 multiple choice questions combined with a possible score of 8 in the adjacent scoring model. That would be added up to a raw score of 32. I am not sure what the passing standard and advanced level raw scores would be.  When I know more, I will post the latest information.

4th Grade Blueprint

Back in the Saddle Again

It has been two weeks and a day since I rejoined my colleagues in SBISD. It feels so nice to be back in the saddle again doing what I love. Teaching 4th and 5th grade students again is heavenly. When I made my decision to seek a different employment opportunity in July, I suppose I never really wanted to let go of the classroom and teaching. Based on my experience, I know now what will make me the happiest. By far, without a doubt, being at a campus, working with students and colleagues, is where I belong. Each day, I get to see groups of students and discuss great books, read along side the students, share my love of literacy, and listen the students share their thoughts and love of reading and writing. That is what I absolutely loved last year when I taught fourth grade students. Even though I worked my finger to the bone last year as a teacher in the classroom, I loved it. It was a lot of work, but I didn't view as drudgery. Hard work is not a bad thing, rather when you get to do what you love, it isn't "work". It is a vocation. I now know that I must be involved in the mix. I desire to be working with students and my colleagues. Working with my colleagues is great. I get to share some my many years of experience and get to work with some wonderful minds in the process. Finally, after a brief stint in the higher echelons, I am back to where I should have been. The only difference is that I am in a different campus working daily with more fourth and fifth grade students from different classes. I feel  at home here too.

Home

I haven't written much lately. I will, however, make it my personal goal to get back to blogging. One thing that I know that will inspire me will be my return to the campus level. I can't wait to get back to working on a campus with students. I can't wait to share my love of teaching with others. I can't wait to get back into the swing of things again. I miss working on a campus and getting to know the my fellow colleagues and kids. I am thrilled to come back to what I love to do. It has been around three months since I left the campus life. I enjoyed working with the people in my office and the literacy coaches, but I longed for being on a campus daily. There's just something that draws me. I know that it is my love of teaching and feeling extremely connected. On Monday, I will experience that again. What I learned through this experience is that I need to follow my heart and my immediate goals which are to work with students and colleagues. There is so much more that I want to do and try out. I will be overjoyed to see the students and hear their stories. I know that I miss my students from last year. I miss seeing them at the door every day and hearing about what is happening in their lives. I miss the silly things that they say and the faces that they make. I miss the joy in their eyes and their laughter. I miss my classroom. I am beyond blessed to be back. I guess I can say to myself, "Welcome back!"  I know my heart will say it a thousand times over.

Awe

I read an article from QuietRev today about The Science of Awe and Why It Matters. I thought about how busy I can get and how far away from awe my life and work has taken me. I need more awe in my life. I need to enjoy the aesthetics, so I can be inspired to create. That is where I get my energy. I love to create and be inspired by people, ideas, and experiences that allow me to fly on the wings of awe. As I read, I began to search my inner thoughts which have been jumbled up for a while.  Why can't I remember what I did yesterday or what I ate for lunch?  Why can't I remember names and concepts for more than five minutes? It is because I have been feasting on high doses of the mundane and have not consumed enough awe and quietness. Life is a total blur. Time to put on the brakes!

As I read the article, I found a few websites that brought me back to insight and tranquility. Jason Silva has a website that you might find invigorating and thought provoking. It is called Shots of Awe. The video called Awe is nothing short of inspirational. I leave his Awe video with you today, so that you might get away from the ordinary to renew and rejuvenate your soul. For the introvert, this is essential.

There is another website that can bring a sense of peace as well. It is called Sidetracked Magazine. There are beautiful photos of excursions to  natural wonders that I find breath-taking. When I need a break, I don't have to pay a zillion dollars on flights and hotels, but I can experience a mental minivacation vicariously. Take a field trip to the aesthetically pleasing parts of our world to engage the mind, if only for a 5-10 minutes a day. Free the mundane and journey to the marvelous.

Thesis Statement-Tape Has Adhesive Properties That Makes Life Easier

Alana Morris asked to me write a blog post about the adhesive properties of tape. Here it is:



You have your scotch tape. You have double-sided tape. You have your duct tape that now comes in all colors and designs. There is masking tape. This all sounds like lines from Forest Gump, but that might be too sticky of a topic. There's one thing that is true. Tape has adhesive properties that simplify lives. Why else would you use them?

I love the new duct tape. I am not talking about the boring gray types. Now there are designs like moustaches, hamburger and fries, and even macaroni and cheese. I use them to decorate and cover my composition notebooks. They have such great adhesive properties that they can be used to join notebooks together. Staples are too dangerous. They tend to protrude and cut human flesh. Tape? NEVER!

I used double-sided tape a lot last year in my classroom. Double sided tape is enormously adhesive. It sticks just about to anything on the wall, door, or windows of the classroom. Posters and anchor charts would never even think of falling down. I could have stuck an elephant to my wall without even a second thought. Unfortunately, there wasn't any available, and it would have taken up a little too much space.

Electric tape is so wonderful for those exposed electrical cords that I refuse to replace. I use it on my old phone chargers. They never need to be replaced because of electric tape's great stick factor.

I love to use scotch tape for my notebooks. I tape everything but my kitchen sink in my notebook. I tape business cards, schedules, tickets, emails, photos, and little Crunch candy bars (a tasty artifact). It isn't messy and nothing will fall out. Again, great stick factor.

No matter how you slice or tape it, the adhesive qualities of  tape makes my life easier. My notebooks, presents, elephants, and chargers thank me for using so much tape. I adore tape!