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THE 2008-09 SCHOOL YEAR IS OFF TO A GREAT START!!!
Parents and Students, I know that with our combined efforts we can make this year the best one ever at Tequesta Trace Middle School.
One of my favorite quotes is as follows.
“Fight your fears with Action!”
Be sure to check out my class calendar for updates on homework and class projects.
SUPPLIES LIST
3-ring Binder (with subject separators)
Wide-ruled paper
Graph paper
Scientific calculator
Blue or black ink pen
Red ink pen
Highlighter
2 pencils (preferably mechanical pencils)
Eraser
Novel of your student's choice (for quiet reading)
FCAT EXPLORER
User name and password information will be distributed in class this week!
WHAT IS FCAT EXPLORER?
FCAT Explorer is a program designed to help students practice skills outlined in the Florida Sunshine State Standards. Students can work on practice questions from any computer with the required Web browser and Internet access.
START EXPLORING!
In six simple steps, you can begin practicing your math skills in the FCAT Explorer. As you use the Explorer, you may find that you would like more information about certain features. If so, please click on the Help button located in the FCAT Explorer: 8th Grade Math Practice program. Help contains a FAQ list of frequently asked questions related to particular pages in the practice program.
Follow These Six Easy Steps.
STEP 1 – SIGN-IN
Sign in using the sign-in name and password provided.
STEP 2 – CHECK MESSAGES
After selecting the 8th Grade Math practice program, you will see the Explorations and Themes Locator. This screen shows the messages sent to you by your teacher. After checking messages, you may begin exploring the Explorations and Themes from this screen.
STEP 3 – CHOOSE A THEME
All of the practice activities are divided into three Explorations – History by the Numbers, Math: The Language of Science, and Math: An Element of Art – with three themes in each. Select a theme of your choice.
STEP 4 – CHOOSE A TRIP
Select a Trip from the Trip Locator Page. The Trip Locator lists all of the Trips in the selected Theme and shows how much progress you have made in completing the problems for each Trip. Performance on each problem is also shown. When you have completed every Trip in each of the nine Themes, you will know you have had comprehensive practice on all the 8th Grade Math Benchmarks tested on the FCAT.
STEP 5 – WORK ON PROBLEMS
If you are working on a Trip for the first time, the program presents the first practice problem in the Trip. After completing any problem in a Trip, you may choose to move to a different Trip or exit the FCAT Explorer. The Trip Locator keeps track of where you left off in the program sequence. The next time you explore that Trip, you will be presented with the next problem in the sequence.
STEP 6 – CHECK YOU EXPLORER’S REPORT
When you have completed a session using the FCAT Explorer, you can view and print a report called the Explorer’s Report. The Explorer’s Report tells you how many problems you responded to for each Benchmark and Trip. Click on the “Explorer’s Report” option on the Explorations and Themes Locator to view this report. All versions of the Explorer’s Report show which instructional games you have played and your highest scores for the games played.
When the computer session is over, you should close the Internet browser or click “Sign Out.” Either action signs you out of the FCAT Explorer website.
TYPES OF PROBLEMS INCLUDED IN FCAT EXPLORER
Approximately 60% of the problems are formatted as typical, FCAT-like multiple choice problems. Approximately 40% of the problems are gridded response problems. Though not explicitly identified in the practice program, students practice short-response and extended-response FCAT-like problems by working on a sequence of closely related problems in a Trip.
Each type of problem includes Learning Guidance. If you incorrectly respond to a multiple choice problem, you will be presented with answer-specific feedback and hints. If you incorrectly respond to a gridded response problem, you will be presented with problem-specific or skill-specific feedback and hints. You will then be given another opportunity to answer the problem. FCAT Explorer will provide an explanation of the correct answer. An explanation of the correct answer is also is also provided if you correctly respond to a multiple choice or gridded response problem to reinforce one or more correct solution techniques.
TARGETED PRACTICE FOR CHALLENGING SKILLS
When you answer a problem incorrectly, the problem is added to you’re my Challenge List page. This page can be accessed from the “My Challenge List” button on the Explorations and Themes Locator. Problems answered incorrectly are available for further practice via the My Challenge List page the next day, though they appear on the list immediately. When you answer a problem correctly that you access from the My Challenge List, the problem is removed from the list.
IMPORTANT NOTE!!!
Classroom help is available. If you need additional help with any practice problems you encounter on FCAT Explorer, print it or write it down. Bring the problem to class and discuss it with your teacher.
Extra Credit points will be awarded for demonstrated proof of completion of all 9 Trips in the 8th Grade Math practice program.
Access FCAT Explorer
Please make sure that you click on the
calendar link to the left to view the current assignments.
hits since October 27, 2001
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