keys advantage. the test success pyramid know the content know the test know the strategi es

Keys Advantage

The Test Success Pyramid

Know the CONTENTKnow the CONTENT

Know the TEST

Know the TEST

Know the STRATEGI

ES

Know the STRATEGI

ES

What’s in Kaplan Keys Advantage?

16-18 lessons Kaplan’s test-taking strategies test-like questions content instruction and reading passages designed for the

common core scaffolded lessons (I do/we do/you do) What students need for confidence and success on test day!

Why do students perform poorly on standardized tests?

They suffer from test anxiety.They don’t understand what the

question is asking.They are unfamiliar with the test

format.They have learned tricks instead of

strategies.They guess because they feel they

have no other option.They get stuck on one question and it

ruins their confidence for the rest of the test.

They have learned content in one context, but can’t apply it to another.

Questions are NOT Created Equally

•What is characterization?In class:On the test:

Read these sentences from the passage.Ma is madder than a wet hen about this. She says they will have to haul her out of her house.These sentences suggest that Ma is veryA hardworkingB stubbornC practicalD bewildered

Questions are NOT Created Equally

10 (5 3) = ____ In class:

On the test:

Guinevere went into Saul’s Bakery and spent five dollars on 3 packages of rolls. Then she went next door to the Super Shop and bought a container of milk for three dollars. How much money will she have left if she started with ten dollars? Write an expression and then solve to find the amount she will have left.

AgendaI. Program Structure

II. Lesson Structure

III. Strategies for Test Readiness

IV. Implementation Models

V. Teach Backs

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ELA Program Structure

Unit Strand

1 Strategies for Reading Literature and Informational Text:

Before You ReadWhile You ReadAfter You Read

2

3

4 Strategies for Writing

5 Reading Literature and Informational Text Practice

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Math Program Structure

Unit Strand

1 The 4-Step Method for Problem Solving

2 - 5Strategies for Content Strands

(e.g., Fractions, Expressions and Equations, Geometry)

Applying the Common Core

Teacher’s Introduction

Lesson Structure

FEATURE BENEFITS AND IMPLEMENTATION NOTES

Thinking KAP• Quick, 1 or 2 minute introduction• Makes the connection to the lesson, provides informal assessment of what

students already know, builds background knowledge

Instruction

• 4 pages of test taking strategies and review of key content covered on the test• “Try it Out” exercises opportunities to apply strategies to test-like questions• May be conducted orally or as a whole class activity, individually, in pairs or

small groups.

Independent Practice

• Challenging, test-like questions to practice applying the strategies learned • Scaffolded instruction every question has a hint to guide students• May be completed in class or assigned for homework

KAP Wrap • Opportunity for students to apply, review and reflect on the strategies learned• May be completed in class or assigned as homework

Unit Objectives

•Objectives identified for each lesson in the unit

Snapshot of the student page

Thinking KAP

• Use the focus question as your learning objective or AIM

• Use the Thinking KAP as a warm-up

Instruction

• Four pages of instruction

• Key content review• Strategy introduction

Instruction

• Reinforcement: Brief exercises can be completed as a whole class, in pairs, or individually depending on readiness level.

• Formative assessment: The teacher is assessing students’ understanding and clarifying any misunderstandings before moving on.

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• Scaffolds: Every question has a hint to guide students.

KAP Wrap

• Purpose: Recap and close the lesson.

• Metacognition: Often provides students with an opportunity to reflect on their learning.

Instructional Support

Teacher’s Notes

• Provide implementation suggestions

• List prerequisite skills

ELL Notes • Support cultural awareness

• Promote vocabulary development

• Scaffold instruction

Challenges• Suggest approaches for challenging concepts

• Identify misconceptions in wrong answer choices

• Apply the Kaplan Method

Math Glossary

• Defines common mathematical term across grades

• Includes Spanish translations of key vocabulary terms and number names

ELA Extension Activities

Reteaching: To reinforce key concepts

Listening: To strengthen students’ listening skills

Writing: To improve students’ writing skills

Math Extension Activities

Reteaching: To reinforce key concepts

Journal Prompt: To integrate writing skills

Challenge Problem: To stretch students’ high-level reasoning skills

What is critical thinking?

Two Types of Critical Thinking

Systematic Thinking

Strategic Thinking

What is it? A step-by step method

Strategies for different problem types

What does it look like?

The 4-Step Method for Problem Solving, The 3-Step Method for Reading Comprehension

Examples: Picking Numbers, Backsolving, Eliminating, Predicting, Making Inferences, etc.

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The 4-Step Method for Problem Solving

This method…• standardizes the language of problem solving.• helps teachers model “expert” problem solving.• provides students with a systematic approach.

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Step 1: Understand the problem

• What is the problem basically about? Putting together groups to get a total

• Restate the question in your own words.How many cupcakes are there in all?

Eleven students were asked to bring in baked goods for a school bake sale. Each student brought a package that contained 6 cupcakes. How many cupcakes in all did the students bring to the bake sale?

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• Underline the clues.• Rewrite the important

information in a helpful way. I can draw a diagram.

Step 2: Analyze important information.

Eleven students were asked to bring in baked goods for a school bake sale. Each student brought a package that contained 6 cupcakes. How many cupcakes in all did the students bring to the bake sale?

6

6 6

6

6 6

6 6

6

6 6

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What do youKNOW?

I know the number of students and the number of cupcakes for each student.

What do youNEED?

I need to figure out the total number of cupcakes.

How can you use what you KNOW to find what you

NEED?

I can multiply the number of students by the number of cupcakes to get the total.

6 x 11 = 66

Step 3: Plan and solve

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• Did you answer the right question?Yes, I figured out the number of cupcakes.

• Is your answer reasonable?Yes. If there were 10 students, there would be 60 cupcakes. So my answer should be a bit more than 60.

• Can you solve the problem another way?I can count by sixes: 6, 12, 18, …

Step 4: Check your work.

The 3-Step Method for Reading Comprehension

This method…• standardizes the language of problem solving.• helps teachers model “expert” problem solving.• provides students with a systematic approach.

Read the passage and take notes.

Ask yourself what the passage is mostly about.

He might mess up her birthday because he isn’t responsible.

Step 1: Read Actively

Forgot two things

Cake might burn

Step 2: Examine the Question

Read the question and put it in your own words.

What is Markell like? The information that you need to answer the question is

in the passage.

Forgot two things

Cake might burn

AabsentmindedB discourteousC friendlyD relaxed

Step 3: Make Predictions

Don’t look at the answer choices.

Predict the answer.

Forgetful, easily distracted

Look at the answer choices to find the one that matches your prediction.

Two Types of Critical ThinkingSystematic

ThinkingStrategic Thinking

What is it? A step-by step method

Strategies for different problem types

What does it look like?

The 4-Step Method for Problem Solving, The 3-Step Method for Reading Comprehension

Examples: Picking Numbers, Backsolving, Eliminating, Predicting, Making Inferences, etc.

Backsolving

A 5

B 7

C 9

D 16

4(7) – 8 = 28 28 – 8 = 28

4(9) – 8 = 28 36 – 8 = 28

Try a larger number.

Picking Numbers

A 4h – 2

B 4 – 2h

C 2h – 4

D 2 – 4h

4(10) – 2 = 38

2(10) – 4 = 16

Pick h = 10210 = 2020 – 4 = 16

Marina played tennis for 4 hours less than twice the number of hours, h, that Chantal played. Which expression could be used to find the number of hours that Marina played tennis?

4 – 2(10) = -16

2 – 4(10) = -38

Answering Main-Idea, Detail, Inference, Vocabulary, and Short Response QuestionsPredicting and EliminatingCompleting Graphic Organizers

Reading FictionReading NonfictionReading Poetry

ScanningReading the Questions

Critical Thinking for Reading Comprehension

BeforeYou

Read

AfterYou

Read

WhileYou

Read

Strategy: Combing for Context Clues

Read this sentence from the article.

Some things about ASL resemble the spoken English language in America, but many things are very different.

Based on the excerpt, the word “resemble” means

A borrow from

B are inspired by

C are the same as

D greatly differ from

“resemble” must mean the opposite of “different”

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Strategy Exploration

1. In your group, select one strategy from your assigned unit.

2. Summarize the strategy and create a visual aid.

3. Consider the following questions:• For what kind of question is this strategy most

appropriate to use?• What is difficult about this type of question

for students?• How will this strategy help students?

4. Select a group member to present your group’s findings in a 2-minute presentation.

How will I implement Advantage?

• When will you be starting the program? When will you need to be finished with the program?

• How many days a week will you devote? How many minutes of each day will you devote?

• What part of the test is most difficult for your students?• What category of strategies do your students need to

spend the most time practicing and perfecting?

• Note: In math, the methods taught in Unit 1 lay the groundwork for all of the content strategies that follow.

Implementation Tips for Timing

Section How?

Thinking KAP •Assign it as homework before class•Spend less than two minutes on this in class

Instruction •Identify areas that will be difficult for students and outline a plan to target these areas

•Complete the Try It Out activities orally


•Complete half of the Independent Practice section in class, assign the other half for homework

•Explain only the difficult questions in detail

KAP Wrap •Assign for homework.•Implement a KAP Wrap journal that could be used as a study guide just before Test Day.

Next Steps• Read the Front Matter from Keys Advantage.

Read the Keys Advantage Teachers Guide. This is what the coaches will be looking for when you teach.

Prepare your lesson for teach-backs.

Kaplan Mission Statement

If you have questions, please contact us:[email protected]

We partner with schools to provide high-quality instructional programs

that improve results and help all students achieve.

keys advantage. the test success pyramid know the content know the test know the strategi es

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