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Q & A. SOL Institutes October 2013 Assessment NEWS Instruct students to read all text on a test page

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Q & AQ & A

SOL Institutes

October 2013

Assessment NEWS

Instruct students to read all text on a test page

SOL Institutes

October 2013

Writing Questions• Will the writing prompts change this year?

• The released prompts will still be used in 2013-2014. Additional prompts will be released for EOC sometime this fall. Other prompts may be released as they become available.

• Will students be penalized if they don’t write 5 paragraphs?

•Direct writing must be multi-paragraphed. . . No specific number is required.•Is there a specific mode for SOL writing?

•Yes, Grade 5: Expository or narrative; Grade 8: Expository or persuasive; EOC: Persuasive

SOL Institutes

October 2013

Writing Questions•Does DOE require a separate paragraph for

counterclaims?•No, there is not a required template/formula

• Will an online dictionary be provided? The spell check tool does not do everything a dictionary does.• At this point, there is not a plan to provide an

online dictionary or to change the online writing tool.

•Exactly how is the writing score calculated?• See blueprint slide

SOL Institutes

October 2013

SOL Writing Blueprints

SOL Institutes

October 2013

Writing Questions

•Why can’t students have a choice of prompts?• Research shows that providing a choice is more confusing to students. Younger students have more difficulty when given a choice.

• Can students used 1st person point of view to answer prompts• Yes

SOL Institutes

October 2013

Writing Questions• Are there effective artificial intelligence computer

grading programs for writing?•There is not a program that is aligned with the two-domain 4 point scoring of Virginia’s rubric.

• What are some ways to integrate mathematics and writing in the primary grades?

•Mentor texts, is one example

• If not 5 paragraphs, then what is the suggested structure for SOL writing?

•Must be multi-paragraphed with a definite introduction, body, and conclusion.

SOL Institutes

October 2013

Writing Questions• Can prompts be tied to a literature passage?

• No, the prompts are written to offer wide engagement and not be tied to a student understanding a reading passage. The direct writing is not scored for accuracy of content.

• Should paragraphs be double spaced? Indented?• Limited amount of space. Either way will work,

as long as scorers can determine multi-paragraphs. 52 lines of text available.

SOL Institutes

October 2013

Understand Scoring

To Create an Account, use key word- Virginia

SOL Institutes

October 2013

Understand Scoring

Practice sets and verification sets now available

SOL Institutes

October 2013

Paired PassagesPair fiction & nonfiction passages

Tabbed passage demonstration on Sample SOL Item pageGrade 8 Assessment Sample

SOL Institutes

October 2013

Reading Questions

• Will paired passages appear on reading 3-5 this year?

No. Paired passages are on EOC & 6-8.

• Is there any fiction on EOC reading?See blueprint slide

SOL Institutes

October 2013

4-12 Reading Blueprints

SOL Institutes

October 2013

Reading Questions

• Is there a list of affixes, Greek & Latin roots to be tested?Best place to find a list is www.readwritethink.org See Enhanced Scope and Sequence Lesson Plans

• Will English provide Word Wall cards like math did?No

SOL Institutes

October 2013

General Questions• When will tests be released?

2015

• Will TEI questions have fill-in-the-blank?Not this year. No plans yet for future

• Can partial credit be given for TEI?NoWhat percentage of the test is TEI?15%

• How are practice items/tests scored?They aren’t scored. Answers are the last pages of the manual.

SOL Institutes

October 2013

General Questions• Are the passages longer now?

There are more passages now. Some are shorter, some are longer. Increased rigor.

• Is Media Literacy tested?NO

• Will the state provide funding for all divisions to issue laptops for students?

NO

SOL Institutes

October 2013

General Questions

• Where can we access TEI-type activities?Available “apps” for tablets, Text boxes in MS WORD.

• When will new practice questions be released?• EOC Reading and SOL Writing practice items are

now available. Grades 3-8 Reading will be released this winter.

• Will the Enhanced Scope & Sequence be expanded?• No, additional resource links are provided on VDOE

Web site (e.g., ReadWriteThink.org)

SOL Institutes

October 2013

Contact Information

Virginia Department of Education

Tracy Fair RobertsonEnglish Coordinator

[email protected] 804-371-7585

Thomas SantangeloElementary Reading and English

[email protected]

Jackie KelleyEnglish Specialist

[email protected]

Assessment [email protected]

804-225-2102

SOL Institutes

October 2013

VDOE Contact InformationFor Questions about: Please Contact:

Secondary English Instruction

Tracy Robertson, 804-371-7585, [email protected]

Elementary English & Reading Instruction

Thomas Santangelo, 804-225-3203, [email protected]

Special Education Instruction

Special Education & Student Services Office, [email protected]

SOL Testing Program Office of Assessment Development, [email protected]

Accreditation Status, Focus and Priority Schools

Office of School Improvement, 804-225-2865