Jan 28 2007
FETC and FCAT
We are in crunch time for making sure our students are ready for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). I don’t teach to the test, but I do make sure that during the last month before the test my students know the terminology that they will see on the test and that their test taking skills are perfected.
We have given our students Benchmark tests a few times this year and as a school we have determined that Vocabulary (Words and Phrases in Context) and Reference and Research are two of our areas of need. For the past two weeks I have done vocabulary activities in my classes. My 8th grade Computer class and all my 7th grade reading classes are finishing up Root Word Clusters made with Inspiration software. This week I’m adding something that I learned about at FETC – Princeton Review Vocabulary Minute. You can also find them on iTunes. These are short songs reminiscent of School House Rock that are about various aspects of vocabulary. They do not come with the lyrics, so I sat down today and typed up the words to two of the songs:
I plan to do these as warm ups, so I added some directions and follow up on the pages.
Each week we have an Instructional Focus. This week’s is Reference and Research. My 8th Grade Computer kids will be doing a research project in which they will have to do research on the Unnamed Hurricane of 1928. 8th graders in Florida have an additional part of the FCAT which is to write a 5-paragraph essay. My students will write an report in the style of the required essay. After that, they will turn it into a documentary using PhotoStory 3. I have used PhotoStory already this year, but I did pick up some new tips for using it at FETC. The students will be required to use photographs, text, music and narration for their documentaries.
My 6th and 7th grade computer kids will also be doing some researched based activities, but on a smaller scale. Their work is coming from a product called EdClass. They will do these projects while learning how to use Microsoft Word in a more productive way.
4 responses so far
Create a free edublog to get your own comment avatar (and more!)
Thanks for the Princeton Review info! I could see some use there! Good luck to your students on their exams, too!
The Princeton Review stuff is great – the kids really get into it! Today I did The Incredible Prefix In without having the words and it worked just fine.
If there wasn’t so much dang emphasis on tests (mandated), there wouldn’t be as much cheating (not you, but plenty of schools do) and MAYBE .. just MAYBE.. we could return the schools of yesteryear.. BEFORE they gave every test from A-> Z.. and Maybe the runts would actually learn more.. No wonder everyone is so stressed. Our kids in SC took No Fewer than 6 mandated tests.. and that didn’t include the +field tests+
Then they got the grand idea of +academic pep rallies+
Yet more time away from direct instruction.. Oh yea… and all the fun and games that accompany analyzing the test data.. so you can group withing groups and even within Those groups
Ack.. dont get me started.. Teaching is a calling, but if +they+ aren’t careful, educators aint gonna listen much longer
I know I sound bitter; I’m not. I actually loved my 31 year stint in the trenches at the Pokey… really!
Anyhoo, I admire anyone who heeds that call.. but THOSE TESTS… Hellllo?
SL
Hi,
My name is Tom Meltzer and I am the guy who writes and produces The Princeton Review Vocabulary Minute for The Princeton Review. Thanks for your blog! I love hearing that these songs are being used in classrooms and that students are responding to them. I think using them as warmups is a great idea–reminds me of the way my high school French teacher would play a French pop song as we were coming into class and have us try to transcribe the lyrics as an exercise. I still remember some of those songs 30 years later–music is a great educational tool.
I have Word file copies of the lyrics to all the songs and would be happy to send them to you if you like. Anything to make a teacher’s life easier!
Best,
Tom Meltzer