High School Survival Kit project specifications

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Time Management

Note Taking

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Test Taking

Homework

Teacher Resources

District and/or State Required Assessments of Student Achievement Many Board of Education's at the state, districts, and local levels have adopted mandated multiple choice exams as a measure of student achievement. A publication from the Board of Education of the City of Chicago, "Higher Standards for Chicago's Students, Program of Study for Algebra and Geometry", illustrates this trend :
"...examinations are designed to ensure that, when the time comes to determine whether students can do what the
standards ask them to do, each student will be assessed on the basis of common and appropriate standard-based
testing instruments."
In most school districts ,both public and private, students are required to take at least one of these test (i.e. T.A.P., N.D.E.T.,I.G.A.P.,C.A.S.E.,Stanford, Iowa...) A student's failure to achieve the minimum score on these standardized assessments can result in that student being required to repeat a subject or grade, attend extended day or summer programs, or denied promotion. School are often rated by the news media, Board of Education, and the public based on their students performance on these tests. The teacher will no longer be the sole evaluator of student progress . STUDENTS, TEACHERS, and PARENTS, WE WILL LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!

The following adjustments to the instructional program is advised:
1) Review the state and district standards and include them in the objectives of each course.
2) Integrate these standards in daily lesson planning.
3) Use the sample tests to understand test construction. Spend one class period discussing the test construction so that
students will be comfortable with the test content and expectations.
4) Note the special "TEST TAKING TIPS" in section "Qualifying Exams for College Entrance"
5) Students should practice multiple choice test using samples from the internet.

NOTE: As educators, students and parents, we must reject the idea of teaching tests. Learning is growth. Assessments can be a indicators of where we have been and a compasses for where we must venture. We can not let mandated tests use us. We should use them as a weather vane for what the "experts" say we are expected to do and know. BE PREPARED AND SUCCEED!