FSA Testing 2015

We are just one week away from testing and I wanted to update you on a few things. First off, the original testing schedule has changed per administration here at Gorrie. Instead of testing Monday and Tuesday each week for the next three weeks, it has been decided that here at Gorrie, we will move the testing up to get it finished early.

The new schedule will look more like this:

Monday/ Tuesday (April 13th-14th): FSA ELA Test
Wednesday/ Thursday (April 15th-16th): FSA Math Test
Monday Tuesday (April 20th-21st) FCAT Science Test

1.  Please ensure that your students are here no later than 8:00 am so that we can get them unpacked, focused and ready to begin testing.  If you come during the testing time, the class will not be disturbed for them to be removed from the class.
2.  Please make sure they get plenty of rest each night.  We will have no HW for the next two weeks (other than to read nightly), so they shouldn't be up late working on school work.
3.  Please make sure they receive a healthy breakfast each morning to ensure they remain focused during the tests.
Thank you for your help!  Our kids are ready!  Have a great week!

Homework This Week

Parents - 

Students will be taking the SAT-10 next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  This is what most teachers refer to as the "NRT" or "Norm-Reference Test."  The difference between the SAT-10 and the FCAT is that the FCAT compares 5th grade students amongst each other in the state of Florida while the SAT-10 compares 5th graders across the nation.    

• Many of you might remember that the students took this NRT assessment AFTER we finished FCAT during the 2 week testing window in April.  However, THIS YEAR, the students are taking the NRT assessment early which means our 2 week testing window in April will be much shorter.
• 
  
• The SAT-10 is NOT used for placement next year in middle school or benchmark achievement - FCAT is used for both of them.  
• During testing, please remember:
• - that students should receive plenty of sleep the night before the assessment.
• - that students should eat a hearty breakfast to fuel them up for the assesment.
• - that students will not have homework other than to read nightly.

- that students need to arrive ON TIME each day because we will begin testing promptly after we take attendance.  If a student is tardy and we have already begun testing, they will get pulled out later in the week for MAKEUP testing.  

Since testing will be going on this week, students will NOT have Word Study Homework or Math Homework. Instead, we are asking that students read nightly (as always) and also visit http://www.fcatexplorer.com/ and practice their reading, math and science skills for 30 minutes a night. Students should have their usernames/passwords with them. 

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!  Have a terrific week!

FCAT

Parents -

We will be testing the following days for FCAT:

Monday, April 16 - Reading - 70 minutes

Tuesday, April 17 - Reading - 70 minutes

Wednesday, April 18 - Math - 70 minutes

Thursday, April 19 - Math - 70 minutes

Monday, April 23 - Science - 80 minutes

Tuesday, April 24 - Science - 80 minutes

Thursday, April 26 - NRT Math and Reading - 120 minutes

****We will be starting by 830 am each morning.  

1.  Please ensure that your students are here no later than 800 am so that we can get them unpacked, focused and ready to begin testing.  If you have to sign them out, I would wait until after 10 am each testing day to sign them out to ensure we are done testing.  If you come during the testing time, the class will not be disturbed for them to be removed from the class.

2.  Please make sure they get plenty of rest each night.  We will have no HW for the next two weeks (other than to read nightly), so they shouldn't be up late working on school work.

3.  Please make sure they receive a healthy breakfast each morning to ensure they remain focused during the tests.

Thank you for your help!  Our kids are ready!  Have a relaxing weekend!