Prepping for the Math ISATs
Mr. Michael Schmidt
For the two weeks leading up to ISAT, Mr. Schmidt’s classes have been extensively preparing for the statewide test by working on various all encompassing review materials. These preparatory materials were found on the Illinois State Board of Education Website and in the 2010 ISAT Preparatory Manual. Among the types of testing that were looked at, the most time was spent on both the Short-Response and the Long-Response questions.
Discussion, and teaching points, revolved around organization of the students’ answers and the what/why response for the Long-Response section. The students also looked at samples provided by ISBE and graded the sample responses themselves, along with doing some sample write-ups individually, and in cooperative groups. There were also several teaching points that were made in regards to the rubric for each type of question. Students shared their feelings and insights as to how they would successfully navigate through each question, and provide clear and concise answers so as to fulfill the requirements in each section.
This was not an isolated review session which took place right before the test, rather it was part of an ongoing initiative by the Lisle Junior High School Math Department as part of our School Improvement Plan to assess and increase our preparing strategies. The textbooks that we use, and are published by Glencoe, have a set of sequentially decreasing “Weeks to ISAT” questions that were used throughout the year at various times in all math classes. These were used by all math instructors as a way to utilize our materials to best serve the students in preparing for the mandated ISAT. Mr. Schmidt would like to thank all the students for their hard work and congratulate them for their focus during this tumultuous time of year.
