Students, teachers gaining confidence about FCATs [FL testing under Jeb's leadership: Rising scores]

The Palm Beach Post ^ | Sunday, Feb. 10, 2002 | Mary Ellen Flannery

[summer]

Students, teachers gaining confidence about FCATs [FL testing under Jeb's leadership: Rising scores]


To the obvious delight of these FL teachers, Governor Jeb Bush
leads the way.

By Mary Ellen Flannery, Palm Beach Post
Staff Writer
Sunday, February 10, 2002

Fourth-grader Nicole Carver sat at her desk Wednesday, about an hour before she and her Wynnebrook Elementary classmates wrote one final practice essay, and sang along to the school's spring anthem, "It's test time, it's test time."

Yes, it is that time of year again in Palm Beach County and all over Florida. The state's fourth-, eighth-, and 10th-graders sit down Tuesday for the first part of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test: the writing exam. In early March, third- through 10th-graders will sharpen their pencils for the reading and math sections.

"I've been singing that song since kindergarten," Carver whispered. "That's kindergarten, and first grade, second grade, third grade, fourth grade -- I know all the words by heart."

And that's not all she knows.

Carver and her classmates have been preparing for the FCAT for years -- and certainly all of the 108 days that they've spent in teacher Caron Martin's classroom this year.

"When I get those FCATs in my hands and start walking into this room, I know they're (the papers) going to start shaking," Martin told her students, mocking the voice of a scared FCAT paper. "Oh no! Not Portable 17! They're too good! They're going to knock me out of the park! The other FCATs will laugh at me!"

"Ms. Martin, those tests are going to say, 'Retreat!' " predicted a confident Stewart Folmer.

This is the ninth year Florida students have taken a statewide writing exam -- it used to be called the Florida Writes! -- and writing scores have soared to all-time highs.

Last year, about 91 percent of all students in Palm Beach County scored a 3 out of a possible 6 to pass the test. Statewide, 90 percent passed.

Scores have been so terrific that state officials considered raising the passing score this year to a 4, but backed off when parents and teachers complained about the midstream switch. In the revamped scoring system, which the state Cabinet approved in December, schools will get extra credit for students who score a 4 or better.

This is the first change in the FCAT writing test in years, and it's hard to predict how it will affect school scores. Part of the reason students have been so successful on the writing test is it's the one test that hasn't changed over the years, principals said. Students know exactly what to expect: one essay and 45 minutes to write it.

Fourth-graders get either a narrative or expository essay. If it's narrative, they might have to write about the day they shrank to the size of a mouse. If it's expository, they might explain what they want to be when they grow up. Eighth- and 10th-graders also could get a persuasive essay: Why should every home have a pet?

Preparation for the test started years ago. By second grade, most students are writing essays, speaking fluently about main ideas and supporting details, and taking Palm Beach Writes, the district's practice exam styled after the FCAT.

Some schools start even younger. At Lake Park Elementary, even the 5-year-olds know the difference between a 1 and a 6 score, Assistant Principal Champ Bogue said. A kindergartner's perfect score is a sentence with a capital letter and period, and a picture that matches.

At this point, with just days to go before the test, students and teachers are just polishing the details. Remember the judges and make your essay interesting for them, Martin said. Start the essay with a "grabber" and finish it with a "twist," she said -- as she led her students in a sweaty rendition of that very same song.

Use interesting words!

"Don't write 'the cat ran,' write 'the feline sprinted!' " Martin encouraged.

"Yeah, you'll give the judge a nightmare -- 'The cat ran,' 'The cat ran,' 'The cat ran,' 'The cat ran,' " said fourth-grader Matthew Moses, mimicking a near bored-to-death writing judge.

Use similes!

"The sand was as hot as the surface of the sun!" Martin shouted.

Wynnebrook Principal Jeff Pegg said, "Fourth-graders, we've given you all the tools you need to be successful," including planning sheets, lists of "said-o-nyms" (why use "said" when you can write "barked"?), and Arnold Schwarzenegger transitions, which are the strongest around, like "first and foremost," or "last but not least."

"Maybe we can get Arnold here for the FCAT," suggested Matthew.

At Wynnebrook, it seems students don't need to call on the pumped-up Austrian for help. In their last practice test, 90 percent of the 200 fourth-graders scored a 3, and nearly 60 percent scored a 3.5 -- including Nicole, who wrote a narrative-style essay about finding a box with sea horse earrings.

"I was so happy I jumped up and down like a rabbit!" she wrote.

In Martin's class, the average score on expository essays soared from 1.7 in August to 3.6. ("Dang!" whispered one student.) On narratives, which are considered a little harder because the students can't rely on a regular format, Martin's students jumped from 1.7 to 3.3 on average.

But FCAT still makes students and teachers nervous because the stakes are so high. Scores are used to grade schools and money is attached to those grades. For individual students, their scores can mean the difference between graduating to fifth grade.

So, during these last few days, before the magic pencils are sharpened, teachers like Martin are working on one important 50-cent word: apprehension.

"My Dad was asking me, 'Are you ready?' And I said, 'Um, um, um, um, yeah...' " said fourth-grader Amber Baird.

"Do you still need all those um's?" Martin asked.

"No!"

mary_ellen_flannery@pbpost.com

[summer]

Thanks for your post #37 -- and, I agree. Students need to know what they are to do in school. One of the basic premises of successful schools is that in such schools, students KNOW the REASON they are IN school is to LEARN. This fact is NOT known to all students in all schools, and I can tell you that for a fact. Thanks again for your post. :)

[summer]

Thanks for the compliments on the name. I am preparing for my congressional testimony ... I know nothiiing!

LOL...hey, with your name, I bet you could get a VERY top level position, with a VERY high pay at: Enron (oh, never mind), or Global Crossings (oh well, forget them too), or some company like that. But you better move quick, before they ALL file for bankruptcy! LOL...

[summer]

Thanks for this article. I think one of the best things about Jeb is his way of getting people involved and their enthusiasm pumping. Its done in such a positive way you have to admire it.I give Jeb an A+

BTTT to your post, dalebert. Thanks! :)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I think the teachers and students are having a great sense of relief,
knowing Jeb Bush is working so hard to correct education in Fla.
My hat's off to him and to you summer, for keeping this out front.

[summer]

CW, God bless you. I really mean it. I appreciate that you are open-minded enough to see there IS some change happening here in FL.

And, I agree: all the success and change that is STILL needed is not going to happen overnight. Also, I agree there are plenty of problems in education.

Most of all -- I agree that any student who has a parent willing to homeschool is a lucky child indeed. So, all in all, I think you and I agree more than disagree. :)!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

So, all in all, I think you and I agree more than disagree. :)!

Oh, I know we do! We want these kids to learn.

[summer]

bttt to that thought! :)

[floriduh voter]

Saturday night bttt.

[summer]

Thanks, as I think the top photo -- with these smiling teachers and Gov. Bush raising his hand in a 1st grade class -- is one of my all-time favorites in his campaign photo collection.

[summer]

Check out the photo at the top of this thread! :)

[floriduh voter]

Summer, I recommend that from time to time, if I tell you that there's serious stuff about Jeb in the St. Pete Times, unless you are already a subscriber, take today, Sunday for example. I think you should back order today 2-17-02's newspaper. Maybe they could just send you First Section with the HUGE Jeb article. The back order dept. for the St. Pete Times is: 727-895-1181.

If my scanner that I bought used had software, I'd just send it to you but no telling when I'll have that up and running. But, the St. Pete Times cleverly adjusted the money spent per child based upon the inflation rate & cola? and even though there is more per capita spending per child, the way the St Pete Times calculated it, they are accusing Jeb of sleight of hand saying that the kids are WORSE OFF. This paper was doing find by me until today. I guess they have their orders now to let the Jeb Bashing begin. I don't think their web site shows much from the paper but I could be wrong. This one today, you really need to get your hands on. Happy Sunday evening to you. Nancy

[UCANSEE2]

Bump for anything that shows a benefit to educating our children. They are our only hope for a better future.

[UCANSEE2]

Bump for anything that shows a benefit to educating our children. They are our only hope for a better future.

[summer]

I don't think their web site shows much from the paper but I could be wrong

See if you can find the article on the web, and post it or send me the URL! :)

[summer]

bttt to that thought! :)

[multitaskmom]

There are many people who are against testing, but so far, no one has discovered a better way to judge what our children are learning. Until they do, test on! We have to know how we are doing!

[summer]

BTTT!!!! :)

[packrat01]

early morning bump for vis

[summer]

:)!

[summer]

FYI. Not everyone has been complaining about state assessments required for public schools -- some are rising to meet the challenge...