Writing. Teacher Guide. Virginia SOL. Practice

Transcription

1 5 Writing Teacher Guide Virginia SOL

2 Table of CONTENTS For the Teacher Virginia English Standards of Learning for Grade Scope and Sequence Answer Form Virginia SOL Ready TG Curriculum Associates LLC

3 For the Teacher What is Virginia Standards of Learning: Writing, and Mastery? Virginia Standards of Learning: Writing, and Mastery is a practice program that focuses on the current English standards of learning adopted by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education. Students develop mastery of these standards through repeated practice with multiple-choice questions specifically correlated to the English Standards of Learning Curriculum Framework adopted by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education. The two-level program is designed for students in grades 5 and 8. Each student book has three practice units. Each unit consists of practice with multiple-choice questions about planning, composing, revising, and editing writing. Each unit concludes with an open-ended writing prompt. Students compose an original piece of writing which is then scored using the rubrics approved by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education. There are 20 multiplechoice questions and 1 writing prompt per practice unit in grade 5, for a total of 60 practice questions and 3 writing prompts. How does Virginia Standards of Learning: Writing, and Mastery correlate to the curriculum framework adopted by the Virginia Department of Education? Virginia Standards of Learning: Writing, and Mastery presents multiple-choice questions and writing prompts that specifically relate to the state s English standards of learning. Each practice unit covers all of the standards. For more detailed information about how the items practiced in the grade 5 student book correlate with Virginia s English standards of learning, see page 5. How should I use Virginia Standards of Learning: Writing, and Mastery? Virginia Standards of Learning: Writing, and Mastery can be used in two ways. You may choose to have students complete one practice unit per week. Done in this way, students complete the multiple-choice questions and the writing prompt that follows over the course of five days. If you choose to work with Virginia Standards of Learning: Writing, and Mastery in this manner, students will complete all three practice units in three weeks. Alternatively, you may choose to have students complete an entire practice lesson in one day. You should allow approximately two hours to complete each lesson. Provide 5 10 minute breaks at specific intervals during each two-hour session. If you choose to work with Virginia Standards of Learning: Writing, and Mastery in this manner, students will complete all three practice units in three days. 2 Virginia SOL Ready TG Curriculum Associates LLC

4 How do I introduce my students to Virginia Standards of Learning: Writing, and Mastery? Provide students with sharpened pencils and erasers. Have students read all the information on the inside front cover of the student book, or read the information together as a class. Ask students to pay particular attention to the tips for answering the multiple-choice questions. Suggest that they refer to these tips when necessary as they work through the book. Where do students record their answers? Students record their answers in one of two ways. Students may record their answers directly in the student book. Students may also use the Answer Form on page 45 of the student book if you want students to have practice answering questions in this test format. No matter which option you choose, ensure that each student knows how to fill in the answer bubbles. Remind students that if they change an answer, they should fully erase their first answer. Use the completed Answer Form on page 9 to correct answers. What is the correction procedure for multiplechoice questions? Once an entire practice unit is completed, correct the answers in class that day or the next. Allow about 30 minutes for correction and discussion. As you correct answers in class, explain concepts students may not fully understand. Encourage students to discuss the thought process they used to answer the questions. When answers are incorrect, help students understand why their reasoning was faulty. Students sometimes answer incorrectly because of a range of misconceptions about what the question is asking. Discussing why choices are incorrect will help students understand their own thinking process as well as how to apply the correct strategy next time they encounter a similar question on a test. What is the correction procedure for the writing prompt? The writing prompt is scored by the teacher using the rubrics approved by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education. Each student s response to the writing prompt will receive a score in each of three areas: composing, written expression, and usage and mechanics. Each area is scored separately, using a four-point scale. The approved rubrics as well as scoring guidelines can be found on pages 3 4 and 8 10 of the Virginia SOL Assessment: Grade 5 Writing Test Blueprint at VDOE/Assessment/EnglishBlueprint05/ BlueprintsG5writing.pdf. How should I use the results of Virginia Standards of Learning: Writing, and Mastery? Virginia Standards of Learning: Writing, and Mastery can be a useful diagnostic tool for identifying standards that need further study and reinforcement. Use the Scope and Sequence charts on pages 6 8 to identify the standard each question has been designed to assess. For students who consistently have difficulty with a particular standard, provide additional practice in that area. 3 Virginia SOL Ready TG Curriculum Associates LLC

5 Virginia English Standards of Learning for Grade 5 Virginia Standards of Learning: Writing, and Mastery, Grade 5 is based on the English standards of learning chosen by the Virginia Department of Education to be assessed at this grade level. The chart below correlates the state s standards with the questions from each of the three practice units. For a more in-depth explanation of each standard, refer to the English Standards of Learning Curriculum Framework. VIRGINIA English STANDARDS OF LEARNING: Grade 5 Plan, compose, and revise in a variety of forms for a variety of purposes. 6 standards to be tested, based on the Virginia Standards of Learning Assessment Blueprint for Grade 5, and 16 possible score points for the direct-writing component: Composing and Written Expression 5.8 The student will write for a variety of purposes: to describe, to inform, to entertain, and to explain. One Two Three a. Choose planning strategies for various writing purposes. 1, 12 1, 12 1, 12 b. Organize information. 3, 5, 11 3, 11 4, 5, 11 c. Demonstrate awareness of intended audience d. Use precise and descriptive vocabulary to create tone and voice. 14 5, e. Vary sentence structure. 4 4, 13 3 f. Revise writing for clarity. 2, , 13 Edit for correct use of language, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. 8 standards to be tested, based on the Virginia Standards of Learning Assessment Blueprint for Grade 5, and 8 possible score points for the direct-writing component: Composing and Written Expression 5.9 The student will edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. a. Use plural possessives b. Use adjective and adverb comparisons. 7, , 19 c. Identify and use interjections d. Use apostrophes in contractions and possessives. 8 6, e. Use quotation marks with dialogue f. Use commas to indicate interrupters and in the salutation and closing of a letter. 20, , 20 g. Use a hyphen to divide words at the end of a line h. Edit for clausal fragments, run-on sentences, and excessive coordination. 6 8, Virginia SOL Ready TG Curriculum Associates LLC