24 Days to PSSA

PSSA Ideas
2 Teams plans for PSSA-Many Great Ideas!!!!!!!!!

• Use PSSA terminology- synonyms, antonyms, context clues


• Point of View – primary sources, quotes


• RACER template when responding to open ended or short answer question


• Standards Homework


• Content – Based Lessons during 2nd ½ double


• Gold Team Tix – reward positive behavior


• Attendance Challenge


• Bulletin Board


• Positive Parent Contact


• Honor Roll Party


• Reward Party


• Non-Detention Party


• Homeroom- use Kelly & Michelle to give individual attention??


• Mentor Basic/Below Reading/Math students


• Conference students based on MAP scores


• Strategy of the Week – focus on organizational patters - cause/effect, main idea, compare/contrast, sequence, problem/solution


• Review text features- headings, sub headings, graphics


• Work on Math & Reading Anchors in Science & Social Studies


• Pii article – Reading passage in Math, can we find others that incorp into other areas


• Test – taking Tips – make posters in homeroom, review before you give a test, reward if use strategies


• Before – preview questions


• During – Highlight/Underline


• After – Check Answers & Reread

Focus Groups/Positive Reinforcement

Who?

• Sped. Ed.


• Low income


• Frequently Absent


• Below Proficient on last PSSA and/or MAP

What do we do?

• “Adopt” a small group – call on them more, check in with them, say hi more in halls/lunch - don’t tell kids


• Praise the small things


• Call on them every day in class


• Move seats closest to teacher and PROF/ADV student

6th Gold Team PSSA Prep Plan Outline

Attendance

• Goal/team reward for February? This is our big push month, school wide attendance count in march


• I can easily track percent of team present but what about actually being in class? Would there be exceptions for anything (student council events, spelling bee)?

Strategy of the Day/Week – see target skills after practice tests

• Use block each week to focus on a strategy across all subject areas


• Cause/Effect


• Compare/Contrast

Test Taking Strategies

• Show power point to whole team in caf, make posters in small groups to hang everywhere.


• Consistent list: Review list before all tests in all classes


• Encourage everyone to take their time on all tests, “when you are done you may check your work and nothing else” for a certain amount of time. Walk the aisles, encourage kids to go back, re-read, try all q’s again, etc


• Give higher level questions to all levels, in tests, class work and discussions (Think-Pair-Share)


• Context Clues – show kids how to “figure it out”

Testing Language/Terms

• Instead of how else can you say that, we could say “can you give me a synonym”


• Use plc time to figure out ways to incorporate math and reading strategies/terms etc. into all classes


• Use a poem in sci/ss that connects to unit, no mult. Choice, just read for ”fun” to take away fear of poetry


• Diff. Inst. In all classes based on target skills from math/reading

Focus Groups/Positive Reinforcement

Who?

• Sped. Ed.


• Low income


• Frequently Absent


• Below Proficient on last PSSA and/or MAP

What do we do?

• “Adopt” a small group – call on them more, check in with them, say hi more in halls/lunch - don’t tell kids


• Praise the small things – give blue NMS pencils, consider reward party (see 7 blue)


• Call on them more in class, especially hen you think the know it!


• Move to seats closest to teacher

All Teachers Care

• Team Anchor Activity to Prepare for Practice Test


• One math and one reading lesson done in “team” groups or HR.


• Review practice test results, MAP scores, etc in all classes, or some other group

Principal P.