| It's a new attitude Print the poster Printer the bumper sticker Expand the FCAT First version of this page Teaching to the Test FILM Multiple Intelligences, EQ, and other areas to assess, measure. What does "FCAT" stand for? My students tell me that FCAT means: Floridians Can Achieve Together I don't understand. Why is it a bad thing for students to show that they can do basic math, read a variety of material and write a clear sentence? FCAT is a great way to prepare for success and happiness in life. (This is a paraphrasing of a college professor's viewpoint.) ORDER YOUR newFCAT kit What's in the NewFCAT kit? 25 wrist bands that remind us to "Work Together!" A class mascot (a furry stuffed animal toy) A VHS Video with "music for studying" and tips for two types of learning styles (VISUAL ACTIVE or SOCIAL INTERACTIVE) a poster to color Order your kit today! We hope you will create your own kit or send $30 to cover the cost of creating and mailing these kits. If you want to sponsor a kit for a classroom, call! Let's practice on FCAT Explorer Practice at Teachers to Teachers Why do we call this website "NEW" FCAT? Because we had to look at the test in a new way... to see that it is a valuable part of the assessment process. We hope that portfolios will eventually be included in the FCAT, but (until then) let's support students by being POSITIVE! A Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) is better than grumbling. Set a good example and help our students during their ordeal. Light a candle in the darkness and accentuate the positive: The FCAT is a good preparation for SAT tests! Have you tried the "free" telephone call on the Internet? SKYPE offers an easy way to connect your voice to another PC or to a telephone (for pennies a minute)... yes, call another country. It's easier than using Instant Messenger and more flexible... Speak to Mr. Mac freeenglishlesson on skype.com |
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| This web site was started by a teacher who grew tired of students and teachers griping about the FCAT. Yes, there are some problems with the test, but let's look on the bright side: -- it's good practice for other tests -- FCAT can be expanded and improved -- positive expectations by teachers can lead to positive attitudes in students. Why should we teachers advance a political agenda at the expense of our students? Let's keep our opinions to ourselves and focus on how to crack the FCAT code. Let's accentuate the positive AC-CENT-TCHU-ATE THE POSITIVE (Johnny Mercer / Harold Arlen) You've got to accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative Don't mess with Mister In-Between You've got to spread joy up to the maximum Bring gloom down to the minimum Have faith or pandemonium Liable to walk upon the scene (To illustrate his last remark Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark What did they do Just when everything looked so dark) Man, they said we better... Accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative Don't mess with Mister In-Between (Oh, listen to me children and-a you will hear About the elimination of the negative And the accent on the positive) And gather 'round me children if you're willin' And sit tight while I start reviewin' The attitude of doin' right You've got to spread joy (up to the maximum) Bring gloom (down) down to the minimum Otherwise (otherwise) pandemonium Liable to walk upon the scene Accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative Don't mess with Mister In-Between No! Don't mess with Mister In-Between These lyrics were found on http://www.mathematik.uni-ulm.de/ paul/lyrics/bingcrosby/accent~1.html For permission to use these lyrics, please contact that web master... or the heirs of Mr. Mercer. We got some of our camera gear from: http://www.tvprogear.com/used-video-learn.php |
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| LOTS OF FCAT LINKS ARE BELOW Here's a good place to start for practice tests and worksheets: www.fcatexplorer.com FCAT PRACTICE at www.achievementinfo.com/2002ELA7 www.achievementinfo.com/2001ELA7 Welcome to TEACHERS to TEACHERS For information about the Reading Program at DATA School, click HERE www.math-success.com www.mathforartists.com FCAT PRACTICE (this page) Familes Collect Answers Together Floridians Can Achieve Together To contact Mr. Mac 954 646 8246 write to smccrea@downtownacademy.org or go to his web site www.stevemccrea.com FCAT PAGE at the Department of Education www.firn.edu TEST SAMPLES http://www.firn.edu/doe/ sas/fcat/fcatsmpl.htm |
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| Teaching to the Test is a documentary initiated by Marc Greenblum to document the path of intensive assessment of students. The focus of the assessments are linguistic and math skills and do not address other intelligences, abilities or learning methods. The documentary aims to describe teaching methods and assessments that cna measure interpersonal, intrapersonal and musical and movement skills, as described by Howard Gardner. The documentary also investigates the connection between reading and personal interest. What does a lawyer read? People magazine or Scientific American? Interviews will include celebrity athletes and their interactions with students. The aim of the film is to educate educators about alternatives to the FCAT and other assessment tests and advocates expanding FCAT and other assessment tests to include more of Gardner's inventory of skills. Yes, we all need to read, write and understand math. There are more than one road to this goal and some students gain confidence in reading, writing and 'rithmatic when these skills are associated with their strengths, which might be in movement or interpersonal skills. How many salespeople do you know who can't do math well but who know exactly the percent discount that they can offer to the client to cinch the sale? This vdieo asks, "Do we all need to be the same?" Do we all need to learn in the same way and in the same order? some peopl ewill learn work skills and then pick up the math and reading and writing skills as they perceive the skills will be valuable. "When am I every going to need to know how to place a comma?" becomes central when writing a sales policy or a product return announcement. "When will I need to know algebra?" becomes useful when we see the need for a formula for calculate discounts... Some of the leading writers about Multiple Intelligences include: www.thomasarmstrong.com |