Preparing for the OSSLT – Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

1. Preparing for the OSSLT – Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test March 27, 2014

2. Tonight’s Goals Give parents a better understanding of what: the OSSLT is the school does to prepare students for the test parents can do to prepare students to be successful

3. Definition of Literacy • for the OSSLT, literacy comprises the reading and writing skills required to understand reading selections and to communicate through a variety of written forms as expected in the Ontario Curriculum across all subjects up to the end of Grade 9.

4. Purpose of the OSSLT • A standardized evaluation of literacy comprehension and writing skills across the entire Ontario curriculum • The test is designed to collect an overall understanding of Ontario students’ abilities • The test is standardized based on: • Common age (grade 10) • Common curriculum (grade 7, 8, and 9) • Standard assessment • Impartial markers, using rigid standards

5. HSHS Overall Results (First Time Writers)

6. Test at a Glance

7. The Test Day • Held on March 27th, 2014 • Only students writing the test attend

8. Test Day Schedule(subject to change)

9. Preparation for the Literacy Test at Henry Street • Identify Students Strengths and Areas of Need • Practice Test • Look at prior years achievement – Grade 9 marks, Grade 6 EQAO results • Input from teachers • Develop a Plan • Students get feedback/meet with teachers • Provide Supports • Literacy across the curriculum • Information sessions and final pep talk • Classroom based projects targeting specific skills • News report computer practice • Workshops on major skills (Essay, Short Paragraphs, News Report and Multiple Choice) • After school literacy support • Individualized support for students with IEP’s

10. Accommodations As outlined on the student’s IEP accommodations are available including: • Additional time • Supervised breaks • Verbatim reading of questions and prompts • Scribing • Use of technology • Other

11. Successful Completion Marked at a central location Results will be released in June 2014 - each student will receive EQAO’s individual student report Does not count towards the students final grade in any course but is a requirement for graduation.

12. Overview of Test Components • The test includes: • Informational text (real-life narrative): such as would be found in a Business, History, Physical Education, The Arts, or Social Sciences Class (used to gain knowledge on specific facts) • Narrative (dialogue) reading: such as would be found in an English Class (example a fictional piece used for interpretation) • A graphical analysis: such as would be found in a Science, Math, Geography, or Technology Class (example chart, graph, map, blueprints) • Multi-paragraph writing (essay): such as would be found in any class • Newspaper report: as taught based on the elementary language curriculum • Short Answer open responses (opinion paragraphs)

13. Reading & Writing Target Skills

14. Hints and Suggestions • Be on time • Manage your time so that you can complete all sections of the test • If late – report to the office – no additional time provided • Snack available at 8:30 and during break • You must go home at the conclusion of the test

15. Hints and Suggestions • Be prepared – bring pens (dark blue or black), pencils, highlighters • No locker access • EQAO Rule: No cell phones, audio or video recording devices, pagers, digital music players or email or text messaging devices are allowed in the test room. • leave at home or teacher will hold for in bin and return at the end of the test (not responsible for lost/stolen items) • Lists will be posted showing the classroom where you will be writing

16. Contents of the Test: Reading Tasks • Students will read informational text, narrative text and graphic text • Students will be asked to respond to the readings in two ways: • Multiple Choice Questions • Paragraph Responses

17. Reading Tips • Read the questions first. This will help you predict what the reading selection is going to be about • Skim the selection and then read it closely • Underline or highlight important information and ideas as you read • As you read, think about what you are reading and ask yourself questions about it

18. Reading Tips • If you don’t understand a word, read to the end of the sentence and look for clues to its meaning. If this doesn’t help try reading the sentences before and after the sentence to see if you can find the meaning from the context • There will be two types of questions about what you have read: • Multiple Choice • Open Response (paragraph)

19. What’s the Best Approach? • There are three types of reading questions. If you can identify what type of question it is, you can answer with more confidence. • Identify the TYPE of question: “Right There” or Explicit Question (R1) • The answer is actually IN the reading. You could go to the reading and put your finger right on it.

20. “Right There” Questions Examples: • What happened first? • According to this selection, what happened to Doug Gilmour’s Stanley Cup ring? • What do confectioners do? • In what year did the events of the story take place? • Where were the members of the crew of the Milan taken when they were rescued?

21. “Detective Question” • Identify the TYPE of question: “Detective” or Implicit Question (R2) • This question asks you to find the answer after doing several things or reading in several places and then putting that information together.

22. “Detective Question: Examples: • What does the final sentence suggest about Jon? • In paragraph 5, Sahid “wrinkled his nose” to show Jon that he does not… • Which word has the same meaning as “congestion” as used in paragraph 2? • Which word best describes the first championship rings?

23. “Partner” Questions • Identify the TYPE of question: “Partner” or Connection Question (R3) • This question asks you to answer the question using knowledge you already have. You and the question must partner up to answer the question.

24. “Partner” Questions Examples: • Explain why this project is a good learning experience for the students involved. Use specific details from the selection and your own ideas to support your answer. • Explain whether or not Jon and Sahid are good friends. Provide specific evidence from the selection and your own ideas to support your answer. • Do you believe the main characters will live happily ever after? Explain your point of view with specific details.

25. Test Instructions • The following appears in the “Test Instructions” section of the OSSLT: • Multiple-Choice: • Choose the best or most correct answer for each question • You must record your multiple-choice answers on the Student Answer Sheet. Multiple-choice answers recorded in the Test Booklet will not be scored. • To indicate your answer, fill the circle completely. • If you wish to change a multiple-choice answer, erase or cross out your answer and fill in the circle for your new answer. Ensure that your final answer is clear.

26. Decoding the Instructions Multiple-Choice Questions Instructions: • Choose the best or most correct answer for each question. What does this mean? • More than one answer may sound good. • There may be a few answers that seem correct. • Only the BEST answer will do. • Only the MOST CORRECT answer will do.

27. What’s the Best Approach? • READ the questions first and then read the leading text. • ELIMINATE: Find the answers that are clearly wrong. • Cover up all answer choices but one. • Look at that one answer choice and look for anything that is clearly wrong. Eliminate that answer. • Uncover each of the other answers and repeat the last step. • CHOOSE the best answer. • Find the best answer amongst the “good ones.” • Compare the remaining “good” answers and try to see which one is best • It is true more often. • It is stated more completely. • Look for words like always, sometimes, often, occasionally,never. • Re-read the question and re-read a section of the text if appropriate.

30. Test Instructions • The following appears in the “Test Instructions” section of the OSSLT: • Written Answers: • Write legibly on the lined space provided in the Test Booklet. • Pay attention to clarity, organization, spelling, grammar and punctuation • The lined space indicates the approximate length of the writing expected. • There is space in the Test Booklet for rough notes. Nothing you write in these spaces will be scored.

31. Strategies for Open-Response Reading Tasks • Read and re-read the question carefully. • Keep your answer within the six lines provided. • Answer the question using specific and relevant details and information from the reading selection. • Make connections between the ideas in the reading selection and your own experience. • Re-read your response and correct any errors you notice.

32. Paragraph Structure State a main idea of this selection and one detail from this selection that supports it. • Structure: This is about facts, not opinion • Topic Sentence (first sentence) • Find the main idea where? • Write the main idea in your own words: • This selection is about… • Supporting detail(s) (second sentence) • Write specific facts that relate to the main idea.

33. Read the selection below and answer the questions that follow it. In 2006, the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC) celebrated its 150th birthday as an important centre for the preservation and presentation of Canadian heritage. It is one of the most visited museums in the world. Nearly 1.4 million visitors a year marvel at its collection and also at the building itself. Architect Douglas Cardinal designed the curving shape of the building to emulate the way Canada’s rocky landscape was carved by glaciers and rivers. The Grand Hall, which is shaped like a canoe, displays the world’s largest collection of totem poles as well as six Pacific coast Aboriginal houses. The forest backdrop, stretching the full length of the hall, is the world’s largest colour photograph. The museum’s first exhibits in 1856 were a few glass cases containing rocks, minerals and Aboriginal artifacts such as stone tools, pipes and pottery collected by geologists and explorers. Over the years, the collection developed along with the country, becoming more diverse and modern. Today, the CMC’s collection includes items from the ancient past to the present day, from gigantic Haida canoes to a guitar used by rock star Randy Bachman (of the group the Guess Who). Only a portion of the museum’s acquisitions is on display at once, but over 50 000 artifacts can be seen online. About 10 million people around the world log on to the museum’s Web site each year. Real and virtual visitors to the CMC have found a rewarding way to explore Canada’s rich and varied history and culture.

34. Sample Question Summarize this selection. Include a main idea and one detail that supports it. Rough Notes Use the space below for rough notes. Nothing you write in this space will be scored.

35. The Rubric…

36. The Rubric…

37. Sample Student Answers Code 10 Annotation: This response provides a correct main idea only (“It is one of the most visited museums in the world.”).

38. Sample Student Answers Code 30 Annotation: This response provides a correct main idea (“It is one of the most visited museums in the world.”) which is supported by specific and relevant details from the selection (“1.4 million people visit a year”, “10 million people visit the site”).

39. Contents of Test: Writing Tasks • Students will be asked to perform the following writing tasks: • Multiple Choice Questions on Grammar and Organization • Opinion Paragraphs (in both booklets) • News Article (perhaps Booklet 1) • Series of Paragraphs Expressing an Opinion (essay) (perhaps Booklet 2)

40. Multiple Choice Grammar

41. Strategies for Short Opinion Writing Tasks • Read and re-read the question carefully. • Think of links between the topic and your knowledge and personal experiences. • Answer the question using specific and relevant details. • Re-read your response and correct any errors you notice.

42. Opinion Question Structure • Structure: • State your answer: Hint:You can use part of the question in your answer. • e.g. “if you could learn how to do something new, what would it be and why?” • “If I could learn how to do something new, it would be how to drive” • Explain your answer • Using the word “because” in your answer will help you include examples • Conclusion • ‘Wrap up’ everything you have said

43. Sample Question • If you could learn how to do something new, what would it be and why? • QUESTION – base you answer on the key terms in the question • LENGTH – fill all the 6 lines, but do not write more than that. • EXPLAIN – give the reason(s) for your answer. Be clear and detailed

44. Sample Question – You try it! Explain why it is important to learn about other cultures. Use specific details to support your answer. Rough Notes Use the space below for rough notes. Nothing you write in this space will be scored.

45. The Rubric…

47. The Second Rubric: Conventions Scoring Guide for Short Writing Conventions Writing Prompt: What is the best advice you have ever given to someone? Use specific detailsto explain your answer.

48. Sample Student Answers Code 10 Annotation: This response provides a reason why it is important to learn about other cultures (“people can better understand other people”) but does not provide an explanation of the reason.

49. Sample Student Answers Code 30 Annotation: This response provides a reason (“it creates a sense of understanding to the world”) which is supported by a specific and relevant explanation (“If a person saw a girl wearing a hijab, they might think it is strange, unless they had studied Muslim culture, & understood the hijabs purpose”).

50. News Report • Make a rough plan • Report must relate to the photo • Answer: Who? What? Where? When? Why? And How? • Write in the third person (he, she, they) • Include quotations from participants, organizers, witnesses • Proofread and correct your work • Use the space provided