Testing Strategies
What do you do when you reach a hard question AND why?
Skip it and go back to it so you don't waste too much time.
What are context clues? How can they help?
Context clues are hints in the story or text that help explain the situation. These can help us because we may be able to figure out the meaning of the word we don't know.
Example: The smell of the rotting banana was putrid. I plugged my nose because I couldn't take it.
What does it mean when you are asked to INFER?
Make an educated guess!
TRUE! GO TO BED EARLY OR ON TIME!
What is evidence?
something in the story that supports your answer
What if you don't understand the question? How can you answer it? (1+ answer)
-Try to put the question into your own words to make it make sense.
-Use the dictionary tool to help you understand unknown words.
-Re-read the question and its answers to see if it truly doesn't make sense or if you just read it too fast.
-Choose the best possible answer using the process of elimination if you don't understand still.
Mrs. Carlson thought her explanations were clear and concise, but everyone found them to be unfathomable.
What does unfathomable mean and what are the context clues for the word?
Unfathomable means "can't be understood"
the context clues are "Mrs. Carlson THOUGHT" and "but", so the word must mean the opposite of clear and concise.
What are the BEST ways to comprehend a text that you are reading BEFORE you get to the questions?
take notes! Use your notes accommodation!
DOUBLE POINTS!
No I'm serious. Take the points!
When looking for evidence, where should you look?
You should look around the part of the story that the question relates to.
(e.g. if it asking for the "main problem", you may find that closer to the BEGINNING of a story)
Is it best to read all the questions first or just one question at a time? Why?
One question at a time because if you read the entire test, it can overwhelm you.
What strategy can you use to decode this word's meaning?
Pitfall
You can break the word into 2 parts and make connections with it.
For example "pit" means "hole" and "fall" means "going down". Pitfall most likely means "falling down a hole" or some type of trap depending on the context clues.
DOUBLE POINTS!
No question, just take the points.
No I'm serious, take them!
Anything that will keep you full!
(e.g Fruits, cereal, muffins, milk...NOT CANDY)
What kind of evidence is the BEST kind of evidence to help you support your point?
Something that EXACTLY relates to the question. (Do not pick random quotes!)
What is the process of elimination? How does it help?
It is when you read the question, then try to identify the WRONG answers based on the story or text. If multiple answers are obviously wrong, it is easier to eliminate them and choose the best one.
DOUBLE POINTS!
No question, just take the points
I'm serious!
Skip the question and refer back to it at a later time.
OR
answer other questions that relate to the same story and see if it helps you understand better
Look over class notes, practice math facts, read some books
Should you re-read the story or text every single time you click on a new question? Why or why not?
It is best to read only what you NEED to in order to find the correct answer (so you don't get overwhelmed and tired)
"The smallpox are a recurrence for me. They never go away!"
What does recurrence mean? How did you know?
Recurrence means "to happen often"
-You can figure this out because the second sentence says "they never go away"
What is the MOST IMPORTANT THING you need to do before each testing day?
(hint: it has to do with your iPad...)
CHARGE YOUR IPAD!!
RESTATE question, ANSWER, CITE text evidence, and EXPLAIN your quote.