RE11: Mid-May Updates

Carefully read the updates below. Ask questions in the comment section.

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Regents Exam Prep

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The most recent Regents Exam available from the state was assigned to you, in full, on April 29. It has been prioritized in class since then. As of May 14, all of you have finished Part 1 and entered your multiple-choice answers in the appropriate Google Form. You should be finishing your responses for Part 2 and Part 3.

Here are the instructions, pulled directly from the instructional post:

JAN. ’18 ELA EXAM: PART 2

Jan. ’18 ELA Exam: Part 2 | https://goo.gl/forms/Qd96mHQacYBieUy73

This is the source-based argument. You’ll need to type your handwritten response, and then you have some metacognitive analysis to complete.

JAN. ’18 ELA EXAM: PART 3

Jan. ’18 ELA Exam: Part 3 | https://goo.gl/forms/V61DNFuFN4wdQdei2

This is the text-based analysis. You’ll need to type your handwritten response — remember, it’s not a full essay — and then complete a bit of metacognition.

Get these writing responses done immediately. You have had two weeks; you’ll have only two hours or so on the day of the exam, once you finish Part 1.

We will use the data you generate to design lessons on particularly difficult questions. That’s why you are entering your responses. For Part 1, for instance, it leads to a spreadsheet:

That’s a randomized sample from all classes. You can see that certain questions, like Question 23, had more incorrect answers. (Green indicates correct responses.) That shapes what we focus on in class.

The same thing is possible with the essays and short responses, but you first need to write them, revise them, and post them to Google Forms.

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GAP Scoring

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The last three weeks have seen a couple of deaths in my extended family, a move to another state, and a bit more of the most disruptive stuff life has to offer. That’s why GAP scores aren’t yet finalized for Q4A. Q4B ends Friday, so you’ll receive both scores around the same time.

Changes to the GAP report:

• There will be an offline version available. Here it is as a PDF.
• The online version no longer requires any analytical writing.

You are still strongly encouraged to do the now-optional analytical writing (It is the only way to justify high profiles and one of the best ways to improve low ones. I’m making it optional to speed up the reporting process: If you neglect these paragraphs, that’s evidence enough of a lower profile.))

If (when) you sit down to analyze your progress, do it having studied the form in advance. Here it is again in offline form:

[pdfjs-viewer url=”http%3A%2F%2Fsisypheanhigh.com%2Fmalachite%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F05%2FGAP-Report-Offline-Template-Google-Forms.pdf” viewer_width=100% viewer_height=500px fullscreen=true download=true print=true]

 

The online version will be posted to Google Classroom on Thursday.

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End-of-Year Work

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By the end of this week, you will shift your focus away from test prep and onto a couple of end-of-year assignments. This is the good stuff. We will circle back to the Regents Exam, but not in class; instead, you’ll do a kind of triage through Castle Learning. In class, you’ll be splitting your time two ways.

First, we will finalize this year’s work on your Pareto Projects. We’ll talk details in person. I’ll also post more directions toward the end of the week. It looks very much like we’ll be able to use the iLC and some space online to showcase your accomplishments.

Second, we will look back on your writing. This will be a bit like compiling a writing portfolio, but you will be encouraged to stretch your focus beyond this year. The simple goal will be to write reflectively and metacognitively about your growth as a writer; the more complicated goal will be to make sense of the last decade, give or take a few formative years, of your writing life.

Start thinking about how you will spend the three weeks from May 21 through June 11 in those terms:

1. You’ll finish up this year’s work on your Pareto Project.
2. You’ll complete a writing life retrospective.

This is why it is so essential that you complete the practice Regents Exam, including the revision and reflection work, as soon as possible. That will free us for more authentic learning.

If you have any immediate questions, ask them below. We will be fine-tuning these plans all week, though, so there is no rush.