PARCC for Parents

Published on Nov 19, 2015

Still confused about what exactly the PARCC test is? This presentation is for you - whether you are a parent, teacher, or a community member!

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

PARCC for Parents

Eitner Education | @EitnerEDU 

Jay Eitner, Superintendent of Schools

Photo by VinothChandar

What is PARCC?

  • Partnership for
  • Assessment of
  • Readiness for
  • College &
  • Careers
Photo by Duke Yearlook

46 states & US Territories have adopted the Common Core Standards (or other versions of it, i.e. "state leadership standards")


14 states (NJ is one) are using PARCC.

PARCC is linked to what students need to know for
college & careers.

Photo by photologue_np

English Language Arts (ELA) & Math will be tested from grades 3-11.

In Years Past:

  • School shut down to give the test!
  •  ELA, Math, & Science
  • Paper based / no tech allowed
  • Test PREP = loss of instructional time
  • Testing = 60 to135 minutes a day!
Photo by Kalexanderson

With PARCC testing:

  • Regular Day
  • NO test prep program
  • administered twice
  • Computer based / tech allowed
Photo by HKmPUA

PARCC Objectives

  • Critical thinking
  • Reading comprehension
  • Response to writing from reading
  • Real-world situations
  • Research simulations
  • math conceptual skills & understanding
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Sample Testing Times

  • ELA Day 1 - 50 minutes
  • ELA Day 2 - 50/60 minutes
  • ELA Day 3 - 40 minutes
  • Math Day 1 - 50/55 mins
  • Math Day 2 - 50 mins
Photo by JD Hancock

What does a testing session look like?

  • classroom or computer lab
  • administered by your child’s teacher
  • teachers can help with tech if a student is struggling
  • teachers can clarify directions
  • students can review and change answers
Photo by cliff1066™

Also...

  • computer will be “swapped out” if there is a problem
  • students can read or draw if finished early
  • classes who are not testing will have a regular day
Photo by garryknight

Students are being measured on the knowledge, skills,
and practices embodied by the Common Core Standards assessed at
their level.

Photo by Claudio.Ar

PARCC Scoring

  • 5 levels (NJASK was 3)
  • Scale of 1-5 (NJASK was 100-300)
  • Scores will come back much faster, which means...
  • Faster score return = better decisions for your child!

Scoring

  • 5 = distinguished command 
  • 4 = strong command
  • 3 = moderate command
  • 2 = partial command
  • 1 = minimal command
Photo by MrOmega

We will use PARCC data for:

  • Assist teachers in supporting students
  • Informing schools on curricula, instructional & PD needs
  • Informing parents & students on progress towards “on track” readiness

PARCC data will NOT be used for:

  • Impacting a student’s grades
  • Retaining students
  • As the only measure for placement
Photo by sboneham

Tech skills needed for PARCC:

  • drag-n-drop, shading,cut-n-paste
  • math tools, graphing tools
  • online calculators
  • typed responses for math & ELA 

ACCOMMODATIONS for IEP's / 504 plans

  • presentation size adjustment
  • text to speech
  • timing / scheduling
  • extended time
  • over 600 mods available, depending on the need.
Photo by Onasill

Test Samples

*multiple samples for multiple grades available at www.parccplace.org*
Photo by Oberazzi

ELA: Grades 3-5

  • Read two stories
  • Answer multiple choice questions (vocab / content)
  • Write an essay based on the stories read
Photo by John-Morgan

Research Simulation

  • Grade 3: two articles or digital source
  • Grade 4: three articles or digital source
  • All: answer multiple choice questions (reading/vocab)
  • All: write an essay based on articles/ source

For the math section, there is a GREATER focus on FEWER topics.

Photo by zugaldia

3–5: Concepts, skills, and problem-solving related to multiplication and division of whole numbers.

6: Ratios and proportional relationships, and early algebraic expressions and equations.

Math specifics for PARCC

  • scrap paper allowed
  • math reference sheet given
  • calculators vary by grade
  • IEP / 504 will allow calculators
  • rulers & protractors also given (by grade)

Math: 3-6

3rd grade: Multiply/divide with 100, Add/Subtract within 1000

4th grade: Add/Subtract within 1,000,000

5th grade: Multi-digit multiplication

6th grade: Multi-digit division

Photo by riebschlager

Things to do with your learner for ELA:

  • Encourage your child to read everything & anything.
  • Stories-Newspapers-Magazines-Biographies-Science-History
  • Talk about what they are reading at school
  • Practice computer skills at home
  • Take a practice test

Things to do with your math learner at home:


• Have children illustrate the math they were
thinking in their head and discuss it out loud.

• Encourage children to try more than once
while solving problems, to build stamina and
develop their critical thinking skills.

• Instead of giving them the answers, ask them
to think of different ways they can solve
problems.

Photo by miuenski

RELAX!

It's a test... not a life determinator.

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