Lesson Plan Title s4

Gwinnett County Public School Advisement Program Lesson Plan

Grade Level: 7 Length of Lesson: 34-59 minutes

Topic: CRCT

Lesson Plan Title: Let’s Rap Up the CRCT!

Essential Question: What do my CRCT scores mean and how can I improve them?

Career Focus: Goal-setting is an important quality for a successful employee.

Materials Needed:  Paper  Pencil  Colored pencils (red, yellow, and green for each pair of students)  Copy of 6th grade CRCT scores  Overhead projector  Overhead transparency of Test-taking tips (attached)  Overhead transparency of Video Quiz (attached)  Computer and LCD projector

Basic Outline: I. Introductory Activity II. Whole group discussion III. Small group brainstorm IV. Small group share V. Review of test taking tips VI. Students create and perform rap VII. Watch United Streaming Video VIII. Video quiz

Activity Introduction: (2 minutes) Teacher asks, “How many of you feel 100% prepared when it comes to standardized tests like the CRCT? How many of you feel a little nervous and unprepared before you take standardized tests? How many of you like rap? Today’s lesson is going to be a chance for you to brainstorm helpful advice for your classmates for taking standardized tests like the CRCT and to put your advice into a rap song.”

Activity: (30-55 minutes) 1. Discuss with students how to interpret their CRCT scores. Write cut scores on the board for them to reference. (2 minutes) 2. Pass out their 6th grade CRCT scores and allow students a few minutes to analyze their own CRCT scores. (5 minutes)  Circle scores with YELLOW colored pencil if they “Met the Standard.”  Put a BLUE STAR around scores where they “Exceeded the Standard.”  Draw GREEN grass around scores that “Did NOT Meet Standard”.  Have students draw a key on their CRCT score paper: Yellow=Met standard Blue=Exceeded Standard Green=Did not meet standard 3. In groups of 2 or 3, students should brainstorm ideas on how to improve their test scores. Have them create 2 columns on their paper: 1) Things to do BEFORE the test 2) Things to do DURING the test. (4 minutes) 4. Have groups share their answers with the class, then show the overhead transparency “Test Taking Tips.” Put a check on top of the tips the students already mentioned. Circle the tips that were not mentioned. (4 minutes) 5. Have students work in small groups to create a CRCT Rap using the information that was discussed. Rap Criteria should include: a) at least 4 test-tips b) rhyming lines (Alternative assignment: If students dislike rap, they can create new lyrics to a popular tune). (10 minutes) 6. Have students share their rap or song with their small group. Have students vote for the best rap or song. (5 minutes)

Continuation or Day 2: Gwinnett County Public School Advisement Program Lesson Plan 7. Ask students which test tips they used in the past week to be better prepared for their classroom tests. (2 minutes) 8. Watch the United Streaming video “Test wise: The Smart Way to Prepare for and Take Tests” (18 minutes) 9. Video Quiz: (attached) (5 minutes) Option A: Complete the Video Quiz orally as a class. Cover marked answers. Toss candy to students who answer the questions correctly. Option B: Complete the Video Quiz and have students show their answer choice for each question by holding up 1 ,2, 3, or 4 fingers. Option C: Complete the Video Quiz and have students write their answers down on paper, trade papers to score, and award students who made 100%.

Mentor Focus Follow-up/Assessment Options: Have the class vote on the best rap to post in the hall. If you want, you may award the winning team with some kind of prize. Before big tests, review test-taking tips with the class or with individuals who are struggling in your class.

Quality Plus Teaching Strategies: Summarizing Background knowledge Technology Collaboration

GPS/AKS/: 7MA_A2006-2 7MA_F2006-59 7MA_F2006-60 7SK_A1999-10

Conclusion: (2 minutes) Ticket out the door: Have students write 2 test tips that they plan on using for their next class test. Gwinnett County Public School Advisement Program Lesson Plan Test Taking Tips (adapted from http://www.testtakingtips.com/test/genpre.htm) Before the Test  Eat before a test. Having food in your stomach will give you energy and help you focus. Avoid heavy foods which can make you groggy.  Budget your time. Make sure you have sufficient time to study so that you are well prepared for the test.  Go over any material from practice tests, HW, sample problems, review material, the textbook, class notes.  Put the main ideas/information/formulas onto a sheet that can be quickly reviewed many times; this makes it easier to retain the key concepts that will be on the test.  Go to the bathroom before walking into the exam room. You don't want to waste any time worrying about your bodily needs during the test.  Don't try to pull an all-nighter.

During the Test  Keep a positive attitude throughout the whole test and try to stay relaxed. If you start to feel nervous take a few deep breaths to relax.  When you first receive your test, do a quick survey of the entire test so that you know how to efficiently budget your time.  Do the easiest problems first; don't stay on a problem that you are stuck on especially when time is a factor.  Don't rush, but pace yourself. Read the entire question and look for keywords.  Always read the whole question carefully. Don't make assumptions about what the question might be.  Eliminate answers that are obviously wrong. Use Process of Elimination!  If you don't know an answer, skip it, go on with the rest of the test, and come back to it later. Maybe on another part of the test, there'll be something that will help you with that question.  When you are finished, look over your test. Make sure that you have answered all the questions. Only change an answer if you misread or misinterpreted the question, because the first answer that you put is usually the correct one. Gwinnett County Public School Advisement Program Lesson Plan Testwise: The Smart Way to Prepare For and Take Tests

Video Quiz

When taking notes, what is NOT an indication that your teacher is saying something important? 1 (Choose only one answer)

verbal cues

amusing anecdotes

causes and effects

repeated material

2 It is a good idea to develop a type of shorthand to use when taking notes.

3 If you keep up with reading assignments, _____. (Choose only one answer)

you won't need to listen in class

you will always do well on tests

you mind will not wander in class

you will take much better notes in class

When you miss class because you are sick, you should do which of the following? (Choose only 4 one answer)

Get all the answers from your friends.

Don't expect your teacher to ask for any missing assignments.

Get your homework assignments and do them as soon as you can.

Forget about your homework assignments until you are back in class.

5 In a good study environment, your pencils and other materials should be spread around your Gwinnett County Public School Advisement Program Lesson Plan

room to help you stay alert by constantly getting up and down.

false 6 In a textbook, what indicates an important vocabulary word? (Choose only one answer)

Words are usually italicized or boldfaced.

Nothing—you just need to read carefully to find them.

They are found in the questions at the end of each chapter.

A word is important only if your teacher has mentioned it in class. 7 What should you do first after receiving your test? (Choose only one answer)

Answer the easiest questions.

Answer the most difficult questions.

Answer the true and false questions.

Scan the test in order to budget your time. A good strategy when doing multiple choice questions is to do which of the following? (Choose 8 only one answer)

Look for trick questions

Eliminate obviously wrong answers.

Ignore answers that are almost alike.

Choose answers that include absolute words. 9 What is true about short answer and fill-in-the-blank questions? (Choose only one answer)

If unsure, never write down an educated guess.

The first answer that comes to mind is probably wrong.

The first answer that comes to mind is usually the correct answer.

The length of the line is no indication of how detailed your answer should be.