Introduction to the Common Core State Standards and PARCC Assessments

presented byGalloway Township Public Schools

September 2014

Goals Provide an overview of the Common Core State Standards

Introduce the PARCC designGuide parents in how to help their children

Video Overview of the Standards

A Closer Look: ELA/Literacy Shifts

English Language Arts/Literacy:Focus on non-fiction,

careful readingDiscuss reading and

write using evidenceIncrease academic

vocabulary

A Closer Look: Mathematics Shifts

Mathematics: • Learn more about

fewer concepts• Focus on skill

building, speed and accuracy

• Use of real world examples to better understand concepts

Standards, not CurriculumStandards = goals for what students

should learn, set by the state Curriculum = the road map for meeting

those goals, set by local districts and schools

Common Core does not dictate curriculum

Districts, schools, and teachers determine the curriculum using textbooks and other resources and materials.

PARCC stands for…..

Partnership for theAssessment ofReadiness forCollege andCareers

PARCC test will…Assess CCSSReplace NJ ASKBe administered online to:

◦Increase flexibility for question types, such as student-supplied answers and drag-and-drop

◦Reflect the nature of college and career work

◦Return results to parents and teachers more quickly

PARCC Assessment Design - Literacy

Performance Based Assessment (March)Research simulationLiterary analysisNarrative Task

End of Year Assessment (Late April/May)4-5 texts, both literary & informationalSome short-answer comprehension Vocabulary questions associated with

text

PARCC Assessment Design - Math

Performance Based Assessment (March)Both short and extended response

questions focused on conceptual knowledge and skills

Mathematical practices of reasoning & modeling

End of Year Assessment (Late April/May)Primarily short-answer questions focused

on conceptual knowledge, skills and understandings

Number and Length of Testing Sessions

PBA and EOY total of nine sessions

MarchPBA: Five Sessions

◦3 Sessions ELA◦2 Sessions

Math

Late April/MayEOY: Four Sessions

◦2 Sessions ELA◦2 Sessions

Math

Sample Questions

From PARCC Gr. 3 EBSR Question Part A.

A TECR Gr. 8 Question from PARCC Click and DragBrian’s Winter, Gary Paulsen

Grade 3 Samples Fact Fluency

Conceptual Understanding

Fractions Across Grades

Grade 6-8

So, what can parents do to help?

How can you help your child in literacy?

Encourage children to:◦ read, then write

and speak about, nonfiction text such as newspapers, magazines, and biographies.

◦ research topics of interest and read series that relate to a central topic.

Ask your child specific questions about what they read.

Practice computer skills by reading online and typing.

How can you help your child in math?Help children

practice their addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts.

Have children illustrate the math they were thinking in their head and discuss it out loud.

Encourage children to try more than once while solving problems, to build stamina and develop their critical thinking skills.

Instead of giving them the answers, ask them to think of different ways they can solve problems.

Thank you for your time and attentionAdditional Resources:NJ Dept of Education

◦ http://www.state.nj.us/education/sca/ National PTA

◦ http://www.pta.org/parents/content.cfm?ItemNumber=2583

NJ PTA http://www.njpta.org/PTA%20New%20Jersey%20Assessment%20Guide.pdf

PARCC Parent Page◦ http://www.parcconline.org/for-parents

PARCC Sample Test◦ http://practice.parcc.testnav.com/

Questions / CommentsThank you for attending the CCSS / PARCC presentation – enjoy Back-to-School Night!