FCAT Explorer. Reading Odyssey: 4 th Grade Benchmarks Program Overview From the Florida Department of Education

FCAT Explorer

FCAT Explorer

Reading Odyssey: 4th Grade Benchmarks

Program Overview

From the Florida Department of Education

www.fcatexplorer.com

FCAT Explorer

Interactive program offers practice on the FCAT-tested benchmarks

Reinforces reading comprehension skills

Available at no cost to all Florida public schools

Accessible from any computer connected to the Internet



FCAT Explorer

Fidelity with the Official FCAT

Strict adherence to the Sunshine State Standards and the DOE’s Test Item & Performance Task Specifications

Rigorous item development process

Items drafted by reading teachers and professional item writers

Items reviewed by instructional designers, testing specialists, bias reviewers, and professional editors


FCAT Explorer

Input from Education Professionals


Exemplary classroom teachers

Recommended for expertise in subject area and grade level

National Board CertifiedRecipients of Teacher of

the Year awards Experienced as FCAT

coach and/or reading coach

Masters’ degrees

FCAT Explorer

Instructional Support


FCAT Explorer

1ST ATTEMPT CORRECT

Displays auditory

and visual

congratulations

Supplies correct

answer explanation



FCAT Explorer

1ST ATTEMPT

INCORRECT

Informs student that answer is incorrect

Delivers hint or takes student to yellow highlighted passage

Explanation of vocabulary-related skills and their application

Highlighting offers guidance to correct answer



FCAT Explorer

2nd ATTEMPT CORRECT or INCORRECT

Correct answer: Auditory congratulations and explanation

Incorrect answer:

Notification that selected answer is incorrect

Identification of correct answer

Explanation of why the correct answer choice is correct



FCAT Explorer

Passages

and

Practice Items


FCAT Explorer

FCAT-like Passages

45 passages grouped

into three themes—land,

sea, and space

Written to support

FCAT-like practice on all

tested benchmarks

Topics drawn from

Sunshine State

Standards subject areas

Science Social Studies The Arts Health & Physical Education


FCAT Explorer

Same average length

and readability level

as on the FCAT

Same varieties of

passages: poems,

plays, articles, and

stories

Reviewed by teachers for

interest & readability

Reinforced by

illustrations

FCAT-like Passages


FCAT Explorer

332 FCAT-like practice

items:

FCAT-like Practice Items

From the passage Neptune, The Blue Planet

Multiple choice (MC)

Short-response (SR)

Items reflect

real-world activities

and situations

From the passage Rosa’s Return


FCAT Explorer

Same average number of items per passage as on the FCAT


Rigorous item development processWritten by professional item writers

Reviewed and approved by teachers

Revised as needed based on statistical item analysis

PRACTICE ITEMS

Number of items per skill based on teacher recommendation for struggling readers

No fewer than 5 items per skill

From 5 to 50 items per benchmark

Same type, style, format, scope, & cognitive level as on the FCAT


FCAT Explorer

MULTIPLE CHOICE (MC)

Careful review of every item

for psychometric criteria

Item must clearly

support skill

Only plausible choices

All answer choices are

parallel (e.g., grammatical

form)

One clearly best answer

Correct answer supported in

the text



FCAT Explorer

SIMULATED SRs & MCs

Short-response: Compare three responses & select the best one

Multiple-choice: Read four responses & choose the most correct

Simulation strategies recommended by teachers

Based on classroom instructional practices

Requires student to compare or assess critical attributes



FCAT Explorer

LET’S STOP AND THINK

Correct and incorrect

responses identified

Content questions

embedded throughout

passages modeling

thought processes of

good readers

Recognition of crucial content in reading

passages reinforced



FCAT Explorer

Answer Explanations for Three-Response SRs

Correct answer:

No credit given

Description of why this response received no credit

Compare this answer:

Partial credit given

Answer attributes and discrepancies supplied

Incorrect answer:

Full credit given

Attributes that justify the assigned score



FCAT Explorer

Essential Support for Passages

Illustrate crucial passage

content

Support items written on

research benchmark

(LA.A. 2.2.8 and LA.A.

2.2.5)

Supply critical additional

information on the topic


MAPS, TABLES, AND CHARTS

FCAT Explorer Reading Odyssey: 4th Grade Benchmarks

Special Features

FCAT Explorer

Special Features

Allows students to preview

item stems (not answer

choices)

Helps students establish

a purpose for reading

Teacher requested feature

SEE QUESTIONS


See Questions

FCAT Explorer

Linked (blue)

words in passage

“Ear icon” to

hear word pronounced

Definition

Example sentence to show

use

Spanish and Haitian Creole

translations

GLOSSARY Student can click the word species to go to that glossary entry

Passage

Glossary Entry


Special Features

FCAT Explorer

Shows the number of

items attempted for

each benchmark

Gives percentage of

items answered

correctly

Includes daily, school-

year, and custom

reports

Accessible from Base

Camp

Explorer’s Report


Special Features

FCAT Explorer

Available any time from

the Base Camp menu

Land, sea, and space

modules link to

passages and items

Red circle items allow

students to try again

CHALLENGE LIST


Special Features

FCAT Explorer

Motivational Features


FCAT Explorer

HIGH-INTEREST PASSAGE TOPICS

Topics drawn from

other subject areas in

the Sunshine State

Standards

Passages reviewed by

4th grade teachers for

potential to interest

struggling 4th grade

students


FCAT Explorer


VIDEO LOG

Accessible from the

Base Camp

Shows animated

stories about the

Reading Odyssey

Awards new chapters

upon completion of

four planets


FCAT Explorer


Earn points for correct answers

Play one of five vocabulary games upon completing three passages and accompanying items

ANIMATED VOCABULARY GAMES

Scoring tally for correct responses

Repetition of questions for incorrect responses


FCAT Explorer


Reinforce important ideas in the passage

Pique curiosity

Maintain attention & endurance

Help students perceive reading as an interesting activity

PHOTOGRAPHS AND ILLUSTRATIONS


FCAT Explorer

Educators’ Tools


FCAT Explorer

Educator’s Tools

Classroom Teacher’s Desk

District Administrator’s Desk

School Administrator’s Desk

Curriculum resources

Skills location map

Table of benchmarks and skills

Item review

Letter to parents

Information management

tools

Sign-in names and passwords

Progress reports

Messages to students


FCAT Explorer

Check progress on individuals or classes

View reading data by benchmark, skill, or passage

View math data by benchmark, strand, or theme

View science data by benchmark or strand

Compare percentage correct before and after instructional support

Student Performance Reports


At the Classroom Teacher’s Desk

FCAT Explorer

The Parent & Family Guide

Accessible from the home

page without a password

Available in English, Spanish,

and Haitian Creole

Helps parents, guardians,

and mentors understand the

Sunshine State Standards

and the FCAT

Provides Everyday Activities

to help parents reinforce

benchmarks and skills


FCAT Explorer Reading Odyssey: 4th Grade Benchmarks

Linked From the Home Page

• Download this PowerPoint presentation

• Download the School Administrator’s Desk Manual

• Download the Teacher’s Desk Manual

Reading Focus Overview Math Focus Overview Program-specific presentations

Download other presentations

Educator Resources Page

FCAT Explorer

Toll-Free Help Desk

Accessible from the

home page

without a password

1-888-750-FCAT

1-888-750-3228

Weekdays

8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.


FCAT Explorer

School Principals:

Contact your district

office and speak to the

district administrator

for the FCAT Explorer

Teachers:

Contact your school

administrator for the

FCAT Explorer

FCAT Explorer Home Page (www.fcatexplorer.com)

To get sign-in names & passwords


FCAT Explorer

Log on to the FCAT Explorer!

www.fcatexplorer.com


Documents

FCAT Explorer. Reading Odyssey: 4 th Grade Benchmarks Program Overview From the Florida Department of Education