Hosted by Greg Cunningham, Blended Learning Specialist
JFYNet is often called a test prep program. It’s true that one intended result of our online curriculum is to help students succeed on MCAS, Accuplacer and SAT, the standardized tests that weigh so heavily in the balance of their future options. But tests measure skills, and what we are really doing is helping students develop the skills that are measured on those tests.
![Next Generation ELA: MCAS 2.0, Testing Strategies and Review [WEBINAR]](https://jfynet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/JFY_MCAS-ELA-Webinar-3-2020_BLOG_v2-700x454.png "Next Generation ELA: MCAS 2.0, Testing Strategies and Review [WEBINAR]")
This recorded webinar will provide specific strategies for students to use during online testing, including a review of the technology enhanced format used by the English/Language Arts MCAS test and an explanation on how to make the best use of tools available when answering questions. Strategies are provided to prepare students for the specific types of questions featured on the upcoming English/Language Arts MCAS test.
by Joan Reissman, MCAS Maven
Mid-Winter Spring ELA MCAS
We’ve hardly had a winter, but Spring MCAS tests will be here before you know it. It’s time to start preparing.
There will be two ELA test administrations in March, first the retest and then the regular Spring test. The ELA retests (Composition and Reading Comprehension) start March 2 and go to March 5. They will be the traditional paper version based on the structure of the old Legacy test. That means separate Composition and Reading Comprehension sessions. The Reading Comp sections include multiple choice and constructed response items. Three weeks later, March 24 and 25, students will be taking the new ELA test. This test will be computer based and follow the guidelines for Next-Generation MCAS 2.0.
![Understand the Changes in the ELA Next-Gen MCAS 2.0 [WEBINAR]](https://jfynet.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/JFY_MCAS-ELA-Webinar-BLOG-700x454.png "Understand the Changes in the ELA Next-Gen MCAS 2.0 [WEBINAR]")
This prerecorded webinar will help teachers, parents and students understand the changes in the ELA Next-Gen MCAS 2.0 and prepare for the 2020 ELA test, addressing 2019 content changes, format and question distribution changes, and technology-enhanced Items. Information about JFYNet Online Solutions and Program Support is also included.
by Joan Reissman, MCAS Maven
The biggest change in the MCAS Next Gen 2.0 ELA test, coming to 10th grade next month, is a greater emphasis on text comparison. Although people read every day, much of the reading students do on the phone or computer is recreational. Nobody is going to quiz you on detailed comprehension after you read something on social media. There is ongoing debate over whether students comprehend better on paper or screen. But it’s academic to us, because Next Gen MCAS is coming on a screen.
by Joan Reissman, Blended Learning Specialist
Many students lose points on the ELA open response questions. We know that some students don’t like to write. But even so, we can improve their performance with some simple techniques.
The 2017 average on ELA multiple choice questions was 80%. Yet the average on open response questions was only 68%. The discrepancy is not due to test position: students did best on the first and last questions of the four open response questions (Reading Comprehension section). So how can we help students score at least a 2 or 3 on open responses?
![Next Generation ELA: MCAS 2.0, Testing Strategies and Review [WEBINAR]](https://jfynet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/JFY_MCAS-ELA-Webinar-3-2020_BLOG_v2-700x357.png "Next Gen ELA: MCAS 2.0, Testing Strategies and Review [On-demand video]")
![Understand the Changes in the ELA Next-Gen MCAS 2.0 [WEBINAR]](https://jfynet.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/JFY_MCAS-ELA-Webinar-BLOG-700x357.png "Understand the Changes in the ELA Next-Gen MCAS 2.0 [On-demand Video]")
