GeometryContent Academy

SOL Prep

March 26 & March 31, 2015

Highland Springs High School & Tucker High School

Setting the SOL Stage – Clear Expectations! Why is the SOL test important?

Exam Exemption? Impacts overall grade for the course!

Graduation?

Advanced Diploma?

Important to the school?

Important to you?

Know your test! Inform your students!

Look at the blueprint.

How many questions in each strand?

What is the cut score? Advanced cut score?

Geometry = 50% (25/50), advanced 88% (44/50)

How many questions should you get correct in order to pass?

Geometry (35) - Why?

Setting the SOL Stage – High Goals! Set individual and class goals

Be realistic. 100% class pass rate?

A/B students = advanced score = 500+

B/C students = 450

D/F students = 400

Explanation as to Why the Raw Scores Required for “Pass/Proficient” and “Pass/Advanced” May Vary 

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/scoring/explanation_for_cut%20scores.pdf

Giving the SOL Simulation

Why are we giving a simulation?

How are you giving it? Parts or one sitting?

Simulate the testing environment.

Clean Formula Sheet

Clean Grid and Scratch Paper

No Phones (collect them)

Pencil and 1 other color (highlighter, pencil, or pen)

Reset Calculators

Count the number correct; write this at the top of the page.

Planning for Review and Remediation

Examine the data…determine the needs!

What will give you the biggest bang for the buck?

What topics need whole group remediation?

Review by SOL objective and/or strand

What topics need small group remediation?

How are you addressing this need?

Find time for remediation! Use backwards design to determine the schedule.

Plan should be based on the amount of time allotted

During school? After school? Weekends?

Where can you consolidate material? Teach vs. Cover?

Making Review Fun and Purposeful!

Make review time meaningful for you and students.

Think of SOL prep in the same manner as preparing for the SAT.

Provide students with printed copies of aligned review materials.

Create a packet

Use simulation tests from previous years

Have students track their own data - Chart student progress and growth

Work out problems prior to assigning them to students.

Identify 2-3 different ways of working the problems

Content, test-taking strategies, calculator strategies

Establish a process for checking practice problems.

TestNav and other online practice.

Questioning Techniques

Prior Knowledge is the starting point.

Explanation of answers is important.

How did you get your answer? Is it because of content or test-taking skills?

Why are incorrect answers eliminated?

Make sure all students believe they can find the right answer!

What do you know that can help?

Incorporate as many word problems as possible.

Error analysis on assessments – Why is work incorrect?

Brainstorm Incentives

Class competitions? Teacher competitions?

What do you want to emphasize?

Participation? Growth? Effort? Organization? Group goals?

How do you want to reward students?

Treats

Celebrations

Certificates

Points

Grades

Raffle tickets

SOL Resources! What is out there?

We now begin your journey through the vast amounts of SOL resources…

VDOE Materials

Henrico Materials

Miscellaneous/Odds & Ends

VDOE SOL Testing Preparation Resources

Released Tests

Released mathematics SOL tests from the Spring 2013 SOL Test Administration were posted in spring 2014.

Released EOC mathematics SOL item sets from the Spring 2014 SOL Test Administration (Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II) are anticipated to be posted by the end of March 2015.

VDOE SOL Testing Preparation Resources

SOL Practice Items

Practice items provide examples of the new content and increased rigor represented by the revised Standards of Learning (SOL) and illustrate the new Technology-Enhanced Item types.

VDOE SOL Testing Preparation Resources

Online Mathematics Tools PracticeLooking for a way for your students to practice with TestNav online tools? Mathematics Tools Practice allows students to practice using the online tools such as the ruler, protractor, or compass available within TestNav. 

Grades 3-8 Tools Practice

End-of-Course Tools Practice 

VDOE SOL Testing Preparation Resources

Student Performance Analysis

Performance analysis presentations contain concrete examples of the content for which student performance was weak or inconsistent in past SOL test administrations.

Listen to the PPT presentations!

VDOE SOL Testing Preparation Resources Scratch paper must be of a single color and blank (must not contain

any words, numbers, symbols, labels, or graphics). Acceptable scratch paper includes plain paper (no lines), lined paper, grid/graph paper, sticky notes, and note cards.

For online testing, the use of patty paper, dry-erase markers, and transparencies is not permitted. Students may not trace images directly from the computer monitor. Students may not hold anything up to the computer monitor.

Grid paper samples (PDF) – grid paper must be unmarked (no words, numbers, symbols, labels or graphics) and contain squares of equal size.  This sample contains half inch, quarter inch, and centimeter grid paper, as well as a page with eighth inch individual grids.

No Axes!

VDOE SOL Testing Preparation Resources

2009 SOL – Ancillary Test Materials for assessments based on the 2009 Mathematics Standards of Learning

Ancillary Materials

Grade 6 Formula Sheet (PDF)

Grade 7 Formula Sheet (PDF)

Grade 8 Formula Sheet (PDF)

EOC Algebra I Formula Sheet (PDF)

EOC Geometry Formula Sheet (PDF)

EOC Algebra II Formula Sheet (PDF)

Table of Standard Normal Probabilities (z-table) (PDF)

Calculators VDOE Approved Calculators CASIO

Calculator Tutorials TI-84+C Graphing Calculators

TI-84 Plus Tips (doc) – From October PD TI-84 website – 84 Activity Central Approved APPS

Finance Conics Inequalz PlySmlt2

Additional Resources Henrico Website - Self-Assessments: Practice SOL questions in ExamView

format

Henrico Math SOL Resources – compilation of SOL review materials from different counties

Geometry

Content academies – Review of Performance Analysis

ExamView test banks

Create SOL Packet using old versions of SOL Simulation

Math Coach Books

Jefferson Lab – You can personalize it!

Houghton Mifflin Test Prep Packets

Online Practice TTM

TestNav

AllenTeachers – TEI site

Miscellaneous websites – IXL, Study Island

Review Strategies Chesterfield SOL mini quizzes (on Math SOL Resources Page)

SOL tracker – charting student progress

Students track their own progress, strengths and weaknesses

Review Strategies

Sample Student Recording Chart

http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/workbooks/math/AlgebraCAVA/a1vasol2.pdf

Preparing for the SOL test

http://blog1.glencoe.com/virginia/what%E2%80%99s-your-sol-strategy/

Pre-game Prep:

1. Go to bed early the night before the test. You’ll think more clearly after a good night’s rest.

2. Eat something healthy the morning of the test. You don’t want your stomach to growl while you’re trying to concentrate.

3. Relax. Most people get nervous when taking a test. That’s a natural reaction. Be confident in your preparations and do your best.

Preparing for the SOL test How can you do well on multiple-choice questions?

1. Read the directions carefully to figure out which answer the test requires—the best answer or the right answer. This is especially important when answer choices include “all of the above” or “none of the above.”

2. Watch for negative words in the questions, such as not, except, unless, never, and so forth. If the question contains a negative, the correct answer choice is the one that does not fit.

3. Don’t make assumptions about what the question might be; read the whole question. There’s a big difference between the questions “Do you like chocolate ice cream?” and “Do you like only chocolate ice cream?”

4. Cover the options and try to answer the question in your head before reading the answer choices.

5. Look for key words, or clues, in the question to support your answer.6. Read every answer choice. Sometimes you’ll read the first answer and think it is

definitely right. Be careful! Read the other answer choices before marking your answer. You might find an even better answer choice than the first one you liked.

7. Cross out answer choices that are obviously wrong. Then use the process of elimination to choose an answer from those that remain.

8. When you have finished each question, reread it to make sure your answer is reasonable.

Preparing for the SOL test

What about questions with graphics?

1. Many questions on the SOLs have graphs, charts, maps, time lines, or political cartoons that you need to use to find the answer.

2. Read the title, labels, and keys. They each give important information for understanding the graphic. 

3. Look closely at all the details. You can find a ton of information in the graph, chart, or map if you look at the specifics as well as the big picture.

Preparing for the SOL test

Crunch Time?

1. Remember to pace yourself. If you work too quickly, you‘ll be more likely to make mistakes. Instead, read each question and all the answer choices carefully.

2. If you get stuck, mark the question for review, skip it, and answer the next question. When you come to the last question, you can go back and reread those questions you did not understand.