PSSAS AND YOU

All it takes is all you’ve got!

Video

QUESTIONS WE WILL ANSWER• What does PSSA stand for?

• What are the PSSAs?• Who has to take the PSSAs?

• How are the PSSAs are scored?• What subjects are tested on the PSSAs?

• What the PSSAs mean to you?• How to prepare yourself for the PSSAs?

WHAT DOES PSSA STAND FOR?

PENNSYLVANIA SYSTEM OF

SCHOOL ASSESMENT

When the PSSAs were created?

• In 1999 Pennsylvania adopted academic standards for Reading, Mathematics, Writing, Speaking,

and Listening.

• The standards identify what a student should know and be able

to do at varying grade levels.

WHAT ARE THE PSSAs?

• The annual PSSA is a standards based assessment used to

measure a students attainment of the academic standards.

(Definition: Criterion-Referenced)A test designed to determine if a student has learned the material

taught in a specific grade

The PSSA is a criterion-referenced assessment.

WHEN DO STUDENTS HAVE TO TAKE THE PSSAs?

• Every Pennsylvania student in

• 3rd

• 4th • 5th

• 6th

• 8th

• 11th

In the subject areas ofMath, Reading, Writing (Field Test)

PSSA Level Scores

B E L O W B A S IC

B A S IC

P R O F IC IE N T

A D V A N C E D

What each level means?

Below Basic- This level reflects inadequate academic performance

and little understanding of the content

Basic- This level reflects marginal academic performance and a partial

understanding of the content

Proficient- This level reflects satisfactory academic performance

and a solid understanding of the content

Advanced- This level reflects superior academic performance and an in-

depth understanding of the content

WHAT SUBJECTS ARE TESTED ON THE PSSAs ?

READING

MATH

WRITING

WHAT DO THE PSSAs MEAN TO YOU?

• Indicate what you learned based upon Pennsylvania standards

• Indicate if you are proficient in the subject area

• Gives you an opportunity to show what you know

HOW TO PREPARE Yourself FOR THE PSSAs?TEST WEEK TIPS

• Be sure you get plenty of sleep• Eat a hearty breakfast every day

• Be positive about the tests• Get to school on time

TAKING THE MATH TEST

MULTIPLE CHOICE STRATEGIES

• Read the question carefully• What is the question asking

• Read the answer choices• Are any immediately wrong

• Do the math and then pick the answer that best fits the choices

• READ THE QUESTION AGAIN AND CHECK YOUR ANSWER

MULTIPLE CHOICE EXAMPLESMike, Gwen, Pat, and Sue shared two

oranges. Mike ate 3/8 of the oranges, Gwenate 1/4, Pat ate 1/8, and Sue ate 4/16.

Who ate the most?A: MikeB: GwenC: PatD: Sue

ANSWER: A

MULTIPLE CHOICE EXAMPLES

How many edges does this squarepyramid have?

A: 4B: 5C: 8D: 9

ANSWER: C

PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES

• Read the question carefully• What is the question asking for?

• Show your work• Make sure you write the work

• Write the correct units• DO NOT ERASE YOUR WORK!

• Check your answer for mistakes

PROBLEM SOLVING EXAMPLES• A book has 150 pages. Every page is

numbered. How many digits are used? Explain how you figured it out

Page Numbers 1-9 10-99 100-150

Digits P/Page 1 2 3

Number of Pages

9 90 51

Total Digits 9 180 153

ANSWER: 9+180+153=342 DIGITS

PROBLEM SOLVING EXAMPLES

Five students were competing against each other to see who could read the most books in a year Juan read twice as many books as Freddy. Johnny’s total was 4 more books than Juan’s. Randy read four more books than Johnny. Finally Tim topped them all with 32 books, which was 4 more than Randy read. How many books did all five students read in total? Explain how you got your answer

PROBLEM SOLVING EXAMPLES

Name Books Read

Tim 32

Randy (28) – 4 books

Johnny (24) – 4 books

Juan (20) – 4 books

Freddy (10) ½ books

ANSWER: 32+28+24+20+10 = 114 Books

TAKING THEREADING

TEST

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONSMalia slipped quietly out of bed and

out of the house. She sat still and silent onthe back lanai as she watched the morningspread across the sky. She closed her eyes

and felt the sunshine warming her body. Sheheard the wind whispering through her hair.

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

As used in the passage, what does theword lanai mean?

A: a bedB: a porch

C: a bicycleD: a pillow

ANSWER: B

OPEN ENDED QUESTION STRATEGIES

• Read the question prompt first• Underline what it is asking you to do

• Respond to the question• Read the response to check for

accuracy. • Does the response make sense?• Have you responded to what the

prompt asked for?

Things needed for Poster

• Pictures can be hand drawn or cuto out from clip art clip art

• Color-markers, crayons, or colored pencils

• A title- you may use one of these or come up with you own but PSSA must be in title

Examples of Titles

• The PSSA & YOU• Are you ready for the PSSA?• Why not try one of these tips for the

PSSA?• Are you ready for some PSSA?• Got PSSA?• If you are not sure about a title ask

one of the teachers

PSSA & YOU

Be sure to get plenty of rest the night before the

PSSA

Eat a good breakfast the morning of the

PSSA

Be sure to read the whole question

before answering

ThinkPositive

Check over your work

Listen to all

directions