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Empowering ChildrenEmpowering Children
With Lifelong SkillsWith Lifelong Skills
MsMs. Rosemary M. Hemingway, MA., NBCT/School Counseling
School Counselor, Townsend Middle SchoolMarch 2007
""TThank hank GGoodness oodness II CCan an RRead ead BBetter"etter"
TT=Take your time.=Take your time.
GG=Go back in the story to find =Go back in the story to find answers.answers.
II=Italics are important.=Italics are important.CC=Check your work.=Check your work.RR=Read all choices.=Read all choices.BB=Bubble correctly. =Bubble correctly.
Marking your Marking your answersanswers
Every fifth question check the Every fifth question check the number you are on. Make sure number you are on. Make sure you are marking the answer to you are marking the answer to the correct number on your the correct number on your answer sheet. answer sheet.
This way, if you are off your This way, if you are off your mark, you will not have as many mark, you will not have as many answers to correct. answers to correct.
Get the BIG picture
Survey the entire test Survey the entire test before you answer any before you answer any questions. This will help questions. This will help you to get an overview of you to get an overview of what's expected and to what's expected and to strategize how you will strategize how you will take the test. take the test.
Relaxation is Relaxation is ImportantImportant
Take a few deep breaths to relax Take a few deep breaths to relax tense muscles. Repeat throughout tense muscles. Repeat throughout the test. the test.
This process will help you to stay This process will help you to stay relaxed and to make more energy relaxed and to make more energy available for remembering, available for remembering, thinking, and writing. thinking, and writing.
Organize your Organize your ThoughtsThoughts
Do a quick "mind dump" of Do a quick "mind dump" of information you don't want to information you don't want to forget. Write it down on scrap forget. Write it down on scrap paper.paper.
Get into the Testing Get into the Testing ModeMode
Answer the easiest questions first, Answer the easiest questions first, to help yourself calm down. to help yourself calm down.
What’s Happening?What’s Happening?
Look for the central idea of Look for the central idea of each questioneach question. .
What is the MAIN IDEA?What is the MAIN IDEA?
Look for Key Look for Key WordsWords
Statements with always, never, Statements with always, never, none, except, most, or least-none, except, most, or least-are probably NOT the answer . are probably NOT the answer .
Stay FocusedStay Focused
Use good strategies for Use good strategies for answering multiple choice answering multiple choice and other objective and other objective questions. questions.
Use prior knowledgeUse prior knowledge
Try to supply your own answer Try to supply your own answer before choosing an alternative before choosing an alternative listed on the test.listed on the test.
Mark an answer for Mark an answer for every questionevery question
Choose your answers wiselyChoose your answers wisely
If you If you havehave to guess: to guess:
•The length of choices can be a clue. The length of choices can be a clue. Choose the longest.Choose the longest.
•If two choices are similar, choose If two choices are similar, choose neither.neither.
•If two choices are opposites, choose If two choices are opposites, choose one of them.one of them.
•The most general alternative is The most general alternative is usually the right answer. usually the right answer.
Reading with a Reading with a purposepurpose• Read, or at least skim, the questions Read, or at least skim, the questions
before you read the selection. before you read the selection.
• Then, while reading the selection, you Then, while reading the selection, you should keep those questions in mind and should keep those questions in mind and underline words and phrases that might underline words and phrases that might help you choosing the correct answer. help you choosing the correct answer.
"Right There""Right There" Questions: Questions:
• The answer to these questions is The answer to these questions is right thereright there in the selection. in the selection.
• To find it, you recall information from To find it, you recall information from or refer back to one place in the or refer back to one place in the selection. Example: "Who gave selection. Example: "Who gave Calvin the cat?" Calvin the cat?"
““Think and Search"Think and Search" Questions:Questions:• You can also find the answer to these You can also find the answer to these
questions by using your memories or questions by using your memories or looking back at the selection.looking back at the selection.
• However, the answer is usually in more However, the answer is usually in more than one place. You need to assemble than one place. You need to assemble information for the answer. information for the answer.
• Example: "What was the same about Example: "What was the same about every cat in the story?" every cat in the story?"
"Author and You""Author and You" Questions:Questions:
• These questions are often the toughest These questions are often the toughest because they can't be answered just by because they can't be answered just by reading the selection. reading the selection.
• You need to use what you already know, plus You need to use what you already know, plus what you learn from the selection, to answer. what you learn from the selection, to answer.
• Example: "How did Calvin probably feel when Example: "How did Calvin probably feel when he found the cat?" he found the cat?"
Knowing where to look Knowing where to look for answers will save for answers will save you valuable time. you valuable time.
• Answers about Answers about whenwhen and and where where the story the story takes place are often found at the takes place are often found at the beginning.beginning.
• Answers about a Answers about a problemproblem in the story are in the story are usually found in the usually found in the middle.middle.
• Answers about how the Answers about how the problem was problem was resolvedresolved are frequently found at the are frequently found at the end.end.
Additional Additional StrategiesStrategies
• Decide exactly what the question is Decide exactly what the question is asking; one response is clearly best. asking; one response is clearly best.
• Don't spend too much time on any one Don't spend too much time on any one question. question.
• Skip difficult questions until all other Skip difficult questions until all other questions have been answered. On scrap questions have been answered. On scrap paper, keep a record of the unanswered paper, keep a record of the unanswered items to return to, if time permits. items to return to, if time permits.
Additional Additional StrategiesStrategies
• Read every possible answer--the best Read every possible answer--the best one could be last. one could be last.
• Read and respond to items one at a Read and respond to items one at a time rather than thinking about the time rather than thinking about the whole test. whole test.
• Reread, when necessary, the parts of Reread, when necessary, the parts of a selection needed for choosing the a selection needed for choosing the correct answer. correct answer.
Additional Additional StrategiesStrategies
• Don't expect to find a pattern in the Don't expect to find a pattern in the positions of the correct answers. positions of the correct answers.
• Use the process of elimination. Try to Use the process of elimination. Try to get the correct answer by getting rid get the correct answer by getting rid of the wrong answer.of the wrong answer.
Additional Additional StrategiesStrategies• Make sure to record the answer in Make sure to record the answer in
the correct place on the answer the correct place on the answer sheet. sheet.
• Only change an answer if you are Only change an answer if you are sure the first one you picked was sure the first one you picked was wrong. Be sure to completely erase wrong. Be sure to completely erase changed answers. Try not to make a changed answers. Try not to make a hole in the paper.hole in the paper.
Value Your Value Your TimeTime• Work as rapidly as possible with Work as rapidly as possible with
accuracy. accuracy.
• After completion of the test, use any After completion of the test, use any remaining time to check your remaining time to check your answers. answers.
Always Always Remember…Remember…•Be serious, Be serious, confident, and confident, and strategic. strategic.
•Keep a good attitude. Keep a good attitude. Think positively!Think positively!
If If YOUYOU Believe (and Believe (and work hard) work hard) YOUYOU can can
and will score a Level 4.and will score a Level 4.
RESOURCESRESOURCES
• Study Island Computer ProgramStudy Island Computer Program
• North Carolina Department of Public InstructionNorth Carolina Department of Public Instruction
• Jean Blaydes “Thinking on Your Feet”Jean Blaydes “Thinking on Your Feet”
• Noland & Ross “Brain Boosters”Noland & Ross “Brain Boosters”
• Buckle Down NC Test PreparationBuckle Down NC Test Preparation
WEBSITES TO VISITWEBSITES TO VISIT
• www.msaveryslinks.bravepages.com
• www.ncpublicschools.ncsu.edu/accountability
• http://content.scholastic.com
Rosemary M. HemingwayRosemary M. Hemingway
• Masters Degree In EducationMasters Degree In Education• Certification in School CounselingCertification in School Counseling• National Board Certified Teacher/School National Board Certified Teacher/School
Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Counseling/Early Childhood through Young AdulthoodAdulthood
• 2005 NC Middle School Counselor of the Year2005 NC Middle School Counselor of the Year• 30 years in education30 years in education
– 13 years as a classroom teacher13 years as a classroom teacher– 17 years as a school counselor17 years as a school counselor
Contact InformationContact Information [email protected]
(910) 844-3685(910) 844-3685105 Carolina Street, Maxton, NC 28364105 Carolina Street, Maxton, NC 28364
