ACT Prep: Fall 2017 Lesson Plans & Resources
Lesson Plans for ACT Prep
Spring 2018 ACT Prep Class Schedue Wednesday 5/16 and Friday 5/18 Final Activity: Advice to Future Students Follow the Instructions in the document above. Share the Google Doc with Mrs. Renner & Mrs. Merkwan. Are you taking the JUNE ACT? Keep those skills fresh with SDMyLife or ask us for copies of practice tests to use in early June! WHY were you here? Here's WHY! Believe in Yourself! (to 2:35) In 2018-19, promise yourself that..... you'll listen to it UNTIL it makes sense, you'll go for it UNTIL you understand it, you'll practice it UNTIL you develop the skill. Never give up UNTIL....however long that is! Monday 5/14 Did you turn in 1. Complete Post-High Research Activity School comparison 2. Did you complete Reflection Part 1 and Part 2? Tuesday 5/8 & Thursday 5/10--if scores are back... Return to your Google Doc Reflection from last week. ---If you did NOT write the required 4-6 sentences for each question last week, finish that. ---Now that you have your scores back, complete this checklist: 1. Print a screen shot of your scores or print enough so that your name and your 4 subject area and composite scores show. 2. Documenting & Analyzing your Growth: Answer these questions in your Google Doc Reflection The numbers below pick up where you left off in your Google Doc: #6.. Using your ACT folder, create a 3-column by 6 row table in your Google Doc that shows earliest subtest and composite scores for the 1st ACT you took back in September or October. Put the dates across the top of column 2 and 3. Put the Name of the Subtest and the word Composite in rows 2-6. (See image above!) Answer ALL of these questions in COMPLETE SENTENCES. #7. What was your highest subject area score? My highest... or Math was my... #8. What was your lowest subject area score? #9. In which subject area did you improve the MOST? #10. In which subject are did you improve the LEAST? #11. Was there any subtest where you did worse than the first time? omit #12. In the English test, which sub-score was higher, Usage & Mechanics or Rhetorical Skills? omit #13. In the Math test, which type of questions did you do the WORST on? algebra, geometry, and trigonometry #14. Of the 4 scores (English, Math, Reading, Science), which was the score that most surprised you? Why? #15. Of the 4 scores (English, Math, Reading, Science), which was the score that most disappointed you? Why? #16. Will you plan to take the test again? If YES, why and what will be your goal score? If NO, why--what does your current score mean for you? 3. Print your Google Doc Reflection. 4. Staple your scores to your Google Doc Reflection. 5. Give both to me. Friday 5/4 Full-length ACT for 4 students Wednesday 5/2 The ACT is done. Now what? Assignment: Log in to Career Cruising. Click on Explore My Interests. Click Start Matchmaker (you MAY have done once before) Once you finish Matchmaker, click on the Education tab across the top of the page. To the right of the US map, choose the Compare Schools option to complete today's activity below. I'll give you a hard copy. Maybe for this activity think "Dream School" you'd love to go to if money were not a consideration and another realistic school you know you can gain admission to. Complete Post-High Research Activity School comparison Monday 4/30 Reflect on Saturday's test! Go to Google Drive. Create a new Google Doc called ACT Reflection that you SHARE with Mrs. Merkwan and Mrs. Renner. Write a ONE-PAGE double-spaced (minimum) reflection that addresses these five questions. Type just your name and then number each question. We suggest one short paragraph for each question. Do NOT answer Yes or No anywhere in your paragraphs. Write complete sentences! Paragraphs are never less than 3 sentences; shoot for 4-6 sentences for each response. Kudos to Mrs. Merkwan for writing the questions! Growth occurs though REFLECTION!! English--Math--Break--Reading--Science 1. Did you finish all of the sections in the allotted time? If not which ones did you not finish and how many questions did you have left? On questions that you weren't able to get to because you ran out of time, did you fill in an answer choice anyway? 2. How did the test meet your expectations? — Was it easier than you thought? Which section was easiest for you? Which was more difficult? Longer? Shorter? Were you able to utilize the programs you loaded on your calculator? Why/why not? Which ones? In other words, were you prepared? 3. Now that you have taken the test, what would you do DIFFERENTLY if you were to take the test again? Address both BEFORE and DURING the test. 4. What section(s) did you feel you were the most prepared for? Least prepared for? WHY? 5. Describe two things that you definitely need/want to practice/work over before you take the exam again. 6. How did you feel physically taking the test? Did you get tired? Lay your head down? Hungry? What did you do to stay alert? What would you do DIFFERENTLY or what ADVICE would you provide others who will be taking the test about preparing PHYSICALLY? =============================================== Friday 4/17 Correct first 50 in ACT English packet (100 questions) Finish last 50 together In Method Test Prep, do the TWO Evaluation tests you DIDN'T do on Tuesday and send screenshots. =============================================== Snow Day on Weds 4/18 =============================================== Tuesday 4/17 Go to SDMyLife Go to Method Test Prep in bottom left Which sections of the ACT do you feel least confident about? In menu on the left, complete Two Evaluation Tests and print screen shots Then go to the Lessons/Quizzes Link and choose ONE lesson in a subject area that you need work on. Click in the Lesson Column first to go through the audio lecture/background notes. Then start the Quiz. Do screenshot at the end. Do #1-50 in ACT English Prep Packet of 100 Questions Monday 4/16 No School-Inservice =============================================== Saturday 4/14 ACT Postponed due to weather! =============================================== Thursday 4/12 ELA Common Core Testing =============================================== Tuesday 4/10 Give me Final Reading Test packet, summary of single reading passage times. Did you post to QuickTopic? ACT Test Week Activity including pp. 681, 685-691 Where is your ticket? 1. View: 24 Hours To Test Time! 2. View: Best Test-Taking Strategies 3. View: Tips for the Day Before the Test 4. View: The New ACT: Changes You Should Know About 5. View: How to Cram for the ACT 6. View: 10 Tricks to raise your score 7. View: What to Pack for the ACT 8. View: What to Eat for Brain Food Before the Test Read: Brain Foods for the ACT =============================================== Friday 4/6 Take Final Reading Practice Test Before we begin, remind yourself of strategy (4th passage first! Read with my finger! First Paragraph/Last Paragraph! Read all topic sentences! Save my WORST for LAST!) Follow these instructions Anonymously score final practice test Record 2 English practice test scores on Sheet in manilla folder (March 29 and today!) Turn in everything--today's final plus staple to it the little 1/3 sheet where you recorded 8 self-timed practice passages and scores Final Reading Assignment: Post to the QUICK TOPIC POST =============================================== Wednesday 4/4 Day 2 and 3 Reading: 1. Introduction to the Reading Subtest--slide 15 2. Reading Test Strategies View: 3. Three Ways to Increase Your Reading Score 4. Key Things to Know about ACT Reading Test 5. #1 Secret Tip from Supertutor 6. The Best 3-Step Strategy for the ACT Reading Test Today you'll practice Reading Improvement Strategies for the #1 problem students identify on the Reading subtest: NOT ENOUGH TIME! View: (notecard=one takeaway from each video) How to Speed Read Your Way to ACT Success Watch and TRY Using Your Fingers to Read Faster! ACT Speedreading Tip of the Day How to Speed Read 1. Speedreading Activity 2. Another Speedreading Activity Speedreading Practice #3 Speedreading Practice #5 Skimming Exercise Scanning Exercise 1. Speedreading short sentences then answering questions 2. Speedreading longer sentences with questions 3. Speedreading even LONGER passages with questions For the following practice, record results on THIS SHEET Do 2 Timed passages--your best and worst or 2 worst, NOT 2 best pg. 580 We will use 8:45 timer. If you finish BEFORE, record how much time left. Before you start, write down the strategy you will use on that passage: 1. Following line with finger 2. Reading blurb, first parag, last parag then topic sentences 3. Reading blurb then all topic sentences 4. Pre-reading the questions Check answers pg. 447 Assignment: Finish the final 2 passages starting page 368; time using 8:45; record your results & strategies on half sheet. =============================================== Friday 4/6 Final Reading Practice Tuesday Print Ticket, Snack Bag, Test Day prep Writing Exam Thursday Common Core Testing =============================================== Thursday 3/29 Day 1 Reading: The reading test is divided into four parts and is the third test on test day. Students get tired and start slowing down. We need to learn strategies to combat that test fatigue! The number one reason students do not perform as well on the ACT Reading subtest is that they do not finish the test. The test is designed so that most students only read three of the four passages. We want to read all four and get a higher score! The ACT test must be consistent from test date to test date. The stories change but the wording of the questions does not. We can study those patterns which help students to get through the test faster and get more answers correct. 40 minutes: Take and anonymously score ACT Reading Practice Test for baseline Score and Scale Follow THESE INSTRUCTIONS Review Answers Go over answer explanations. Complete This Reflection. Assignment: Take the Reading Practice Test in book ONE PASSAGE AT A TIME, recording the time it takes you to read and answer all questions for each. Record your time on each page of your book. =============================================== Wednesday 3/14 Final English class! Special Errors Packet Last Practice Test (45 min) On Monday, you'll meet in my room with a sub! Mrs. M gone for track, I'll be gone. Sub will have ACT prep, supervised learning and News Media all in this room! =============================================== Monday 3/19 Meet in Mrs. Renner's room Mrs. M gone for track. Take and score Science Practice Test. =============================================== Monday 3/12 Turn in last 2 pages of packet (Semicolons, Apostrophes, Double Negatives, Faulty Idioms) Avoiding Cliches and Slang Worksheets View Parallel Structure View Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers Assign: Packet: Topic 20: Avoiding Cliches & Slang, Idiom Practice, Friday 3/9=No School (BB Tourney) =============================================== Wednesday 3/7 Intro to Semicolons and Colons Learn the 4 Semicolons Constructions Colons are used after independent clauses (a.k.a. “complete sentences”) in four situations. You can remember them by remembering the letters LEQ. L No, it doesn’t mean “for the way you look at me,” like in one of my favorite songs. Here, the L stands for list. You use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a series of items. I have three things on my to-do list for this summer: sitting, loafing, and goofing off. E The E stands for explanation. You can use a colon after a complete sentence to expand on what you’re talking about. This I know: Do or do not. There is no ‘try.’ – Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back While I was in Ireland, I had heaven in a cup: a Cadbury “Flake” bar in vanilla ice cream. Q The Q stands for quote. You can use a colon to introduce a quotation. Well, it’s like Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “I hate quotations.” ACT Tips on Semicolons and Colons View: Semicolons on the ACT View: Colons on the ACT Practice: Colons and Semicolons Comma, Colon, Semicolon or Period? Semicolons, Colons or Commas Semicolons and Colons Quiz for practice--email me a screenshot of the score chart of this one for completion! Go through Semicolons and Colons in packet Other Errors we Need to Address Quickly: Read about Double Negatives Practice Recognizing Double Negatives View: ACT Idioms Idioms on the ACT All the ACT Idioms You will Need to Know Go through full packet of these errors above next week... View Parallel Structure View Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers Cliches and Slang =============================================== Tuesday 3/6=snow day Friday 3/2 Comma-kazi! We've already studied commas at length in English! 14 Rules Sheet Do Comma Practice Test (2-sided) View: ACT Bootcamp: Commas View: ACT: 4 Major Comma Tips Now practice: Comma Quiz Comma Usage Quiz: Click Start Commas Quiz 1 Complete 8 comma quizzes. Each quiz has 10 short sentences. If you spend 15 seconds per sentence, you should finish each quiz in about 2 1/2 minutes and all 8 quizzes in 20 minutes. For anonymity, you will get a packet with your number on it. NO NAMES! When you finish, bring it back to me. When everyone is done, we'll anonymously grade the quizzes. I'll record the best 5 of 8 scores. =============================================== Wednesday 2/28 DID YOU REGISTER FOR ACT? Show us April or June ticket! Who vs. Whom pretest Who or Whom? Trick he/she=who him/her=whom I don't know who/whom to write the check to. Write the check to him=whom Give the check to whoever/whomever asks for it. He asks for it=who Who/Whom is the most helpful agent? He is the most helpful. He=who To who/whom do you turn when you are in trouble? Turn to him=whom Pronoun Reference & Agreement View: Vague Pronoun Reference **Record all of the scores on this Pronoun Practice Record 1. Practice: Pronoun Case 2. Practice: Pronoun Reference 3. Practice: SV Agreement & Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 4. Practice: Faulty Pronouns Exercise 1 5. Practice: Who or Whom (Click the Click Here to Take Test) 6. Practice: Indefinite Pronoun Agreement (scroll down) 7. Practice: Pronoun Reference Exercise 4 8. Practice: Pronoun Reference Quiz (click Start) =============================================== Monday 2/26 Anonymously score and scale ACT practice test Go through answer explanations Record score on tally sheet in folder Take Pronoun Pre-test Pronoun Agreement/Pronoun Reference goes hand-in-hand with S-V agreement in the Usage section of the ACT English test. Reminder: There are SUBJECT pronouns--I, he, she, we, they There are OBJECT pronouns--me, him, her, us, them The same rules you followed for S-V agreement apply for pronoun agreement. Just like singular subjects need singular verbs, singular subjects need singular pronouns! a student=he, she students=they What is pronoun agreement? Example: If a student won't study, they won't do well. (he or she would be the correct pronoun or rewrite If students won't study, they won't...) Example: The fool gave the wrong tickets to Bob and I. (The fool gave the tickets to Bob. The fool gave the tickets to ME.) Example: I don't know who/whom to give this letter to. (Give this letter to HIM. Him=whom.) Example: Each of the girls carried their gym bags. (Each is singular, so Each carried HER own gym bag.) or The girls all carried their own gym bags. What is pronoun reference? Example: After putting the book in the desk, Mabel sold it. (What did she sell? The book or the desk?) After putting the book in the desk, Mabel sold the desk. or Mabel sold the desk after she put a book in it. Example: The supervisors told the workers that they would receive a bonus. (Who gets the $?) Try The supervisors told the workers to expect a bonus.) Example: The witness called the television station, but they didn't answer. (Who is they?) Try The witness called the television station, but the REPORTERS didn't answer. Super Tricky Pronoun Rule After a BE verb (is, are, was, were, be, been (could be, could have been), you MUST use a SUBJECT pronoun=I, he, she, we, they So, when someone calls you on the phone and asks "Is Sally there?" Sally must NOT answer "This is her." Instead Sally must answer "This is SHE." It is I (not me) who broke the window. It was he (not him) who took the blame. It could have been she (not her) who won the contest. Who or Whom? Trick he/she=who him/her=whom I don't know who/whom to write the check to. Write the check to him=whom Give the check to whoever/whomever asks for it. Give the check to him=whomever Who/Whom is the most helpful agent? He is the most helpful. He=who To who/whom do you turn when you are in trouble? Turn to him=whom Helpful Tip: When you have a compound subject, read each option with the sentence separately! Sally and me are going shopping. Sally is going. I am going. Sally and I are... Give the shopping bags to Sally and I. Give the shopping bags to Sally. Give the shopping bags to me. Give the bags to Sally and me. Whew! That's a lot to think about. View this ACT English Review of Pronouns View: How to Correct Pronoun Reference Errors Practice: Pronoun Case Practice--we will do this together since submit answers brings error message Practice: Online Writing Lab: Pronouns Practice: Pronoun Agreement Assignment in class: Pronoun Packet from English for Standardized Tests =============================================== Thursday 2/22 More Subject-Verb Agreement (packet) View: Cheg Test Prep ACT English Tips We do: SV Agreement packet Go over Let's Practice page with rule #s Owl Exercises and Answers Go thru 4 practice activities pp 39-42 You do in class: 1. Tear off last 3 pp 43-48: 6 S-V Agreement Practice tests in packet 2. Cumulative Practice: For each of these activities, you will capture a screenshot of the results, then email ALL the screenshots in one email. 1. Their/There/They're 2. Its/It's 3. Using Irregular Verbs Capture the score, the name of quiz, and the 25/25 questions completed at the bottom. Assignment: Take Home ACT English Test =============================================== Tuesday 2/20 Correct and collect Register for April test! If you don't pay to take real test in April, you need to come to take real full-length practice test that day and register for JUNE test and show us printed ticket for that. Introduce Subject-Verb Agreement Pre-test **The most tested grammatical rule on the ACT is Subject-Verb Agreement Example: The owner of the bicycles ARE going to sell them. (IS is the correct verb) View: Go to 8 second mark: Subject-Verb Agreement Bootcamp View: Subject-Verb Agreement Rules and Tricky Scenarios Read: Subject-Verb Agreement for ACT English: Tips & Practice Now Practice: Handouts in class. Do first 9 pages in class. Assignment: 1. In the Practice Packet, go to the Let's Practice set of 20 questions on the 8th piece of paper in the packet (St. Dominic HS). In addition to choosing correct verb form, also record the Rule number! 2. Keep reading in the packet. Do Practice 1, 2, 3 & 4 on pp. 40-42 and Test 1-6. Collect the Grammar Review: Homophones, adjectives and verbs packet =============================================== ❤️ Wednesday, February 14 1. Find English practice test in your folder. On ACT Test Tally Sheet, record your scaled score for Feb. 12th test. PRACTICE MAKES PROGRESS! The BEST way to correct errors is to understand WHY you made them. 2. How and WHY to review your answers! 3. With your practice test in hand, turn to page 113. Read the CORRECT and INCORRECT answer explanations for EVERY question you missed. On a sticky, record the #s of FIVE questions you still don't understand even after reading the answer explanation. If you can say "Oh, I see what I did" or "Oh, I get that," don't record that #! Do you see a pattern? Are you consistently missing comma questions? Sentence order questions? Answers on pp. 114-142 Today's Focus: Adjectives & Adverbs, Homophones, Verb Tense Adjectives and Adverbs ACT Tips on Adjectives and Adverbs Adjective or Adverb? Good vs. Well Most Commonly Tested Homophones on ACT: There/Their/They're, It's vs. Its Irregular Verbs on ACT Verb Tenses on ACT We don't meet for 5 days, so... Assignment: We don't meet for 5 days so... Due on Tuesday: 1. Verb Tense packet 2. Verb Tenses & forms packet 3. Adjectives, adverbs, homophones and verb tense packet Register for April test! If you don't pay to take real test in April, you need to come to take real full-length practice test that day and register for JUNE test and show us printed ticket for that. =============================================== February 12 Remember-no cell phones at ACT, so no cell phones in class. You may not leave the room for any reason if cell phone is not checked in. View tutorials on the ACT English Test & Answer 3 built-in review questions for each A. What to Expect on the ACT English Test (3:36) B. Managing Your Time on the ACT English Test (2:47) C. Test Taking Strategies on the ACT English Test (3:45) D. Punctuation & Grammar on the ACT English Test (5:26) Time saving tip for ALL sections of ACT. Do not bubble after every question! The back and forth takes too much time. On English, answer the 15 questions for each passage in book, then quickly transfer answers. Research shows this method can shave 2 minutes off each section. How often should I use the NO CHANGE answer option? IMPORTANT ACT ENGLISH TIPS: Remember the ACT is a STANDARDIZED PREDICTABLE Test! 45 minutes for 75 questions. 1. There will ALWAYS be 5 passages on this test. DON'T spend more than 1 1/2 minutes on each passage and no more than 30 seconds on each question! 2. 40 Questions (53%) are Usage & Mechanics Always 10 Punctuation Questions (13%) Always 12 Grammar/Usage Questions (16%) Always 18 Sentence Structure Questions (24%) 3. 35 Questions (47%) are Rhetorical Skills (strategy, organization and style) Always 12 Strategy Questions (16%)--Does the writing do what the author intended Always 11 Organization Questions (15%)-- Always 12 Style Questions (16%) See pg. 35 & 36 Take English practice test The test is 45 minutes with 75 Questions We will anonymously score when we finish. When you practice on your own, use the Online Stopwatch Assignment: 1. Remember, in ACT Prep class you will not be graded on your ACT SCORE. For this assignment, you will be graded on completing this activity and FIGURING OUT raw scores. 2. No one sees your score but me. Our only goal is to work to improve. ============================================ Math prep though February 8 Thursday 1/11 and 1/12--2nd Semester Begins! If you are not prepared to set aside EVERYTHING else when you walk in to class each day, PRACTICE, take, and score tests to improve EVERY single day, this isn't the class for you! Discuss Calendar (subject to change but we will notify you well in advance!) Review Course Syllabus/Expectations Getting to know the ACT Pre-test: What Do You Know About the ACT Kahoot Fill out ACT Course Survey Peruse the Official ACT Prep Guide/Book Log in to wiley.com Read about ACT Scoring Explore at ACT site and complete the ACT Scavenger Hunt Create an ACT Web Account Assignment: Read through pg. 33 for Wednesday. We will take and score our first practice test next Tuesday. Bring PSAT results OR Log in to collegeboard.org to see your scores. Using Correlation Chart, answer these questions on a notecard AND fill in Log/Table with predicted ACT score PSAT to ACT correlation Line 1: Your name Line 2: Your Evidence Based Reading and Writing Score & Percentile Line 3: Your Math Score & Percentile Line 4: Your Total Combined Score & Percentile Line 5: Using the chart provided, what is your PREDICTED ACT score based on your PSAT score? Line 6: Were there any big discrepancies between the ACT & PSAT? So was your math score the highest on both or your English score the lowest on both? Do a couple sentences of analysis. Line 7: On PSAT, Which SUBSECTION in math did you struggle with the most? Line 8: On PSAT, Which SUBSECTION in English was your BEST and your WORST? =========================================================== First Semester Comes to a Close! January 8-10 Final Activity: Advice to Future Students Follow the Instructions in the document above. Share the Google Doc with Mrs. Renner & Mrs. Merkwan. WHY were you here? Here's WHY! Believe in Yourself! (to 2:35) In 2018, promise yourself that..... you'll listen to it UNTIL it makes sense, you'll go for it UNTIL you understand it, you'll practice it UNTIL you develop the skill. Never give up UNTIL....however long that is! January 4-5 Go to SDMyLife Go to Method Test Prep in bottom left In menu on the left, complete Two Evaluation Tests and print screen shots Then go to the Lessons/Quizzes Link and choose ONE lesson in a subject area that you need work on. Click in the Lesson Column first to go through the audio lecture/background notes. Then start the Quiz. Do screenshot at the end. Send me an email with all three screenshots. Please don't send them as attachments that I have to open individually. Drag into the body of the email or put them all in one document to attach. Thanks! Dec. 21/January 3 PSAT to ACT correlation On a notecard: Line 1: Your name Line 2: Your Evidence Based Reading and Writing Score & Percentile Line 3: Your Math Score & Percentile Line 4: Your Total Combined Score & Percentile Line 5: Using the chart provided, what is your PREDICTED ACT score based on your PSAT score? Line 6: Were there any big discrepancies between the ACT & PSAT? So was your math score the highest on both or your English score the lowest on both? Do a couple sentences of analysis. Line 7: On PSAT, Which SUBSECTION in math did you struggle with the most? Line 8: On PSAT, Which SUBSECTION in English was your BEST and your WORST? Dec. 18-19 Return to your Google Doc Reflection from last week. ---If you did NOT write the required 4-6 sentences for each question last week, finish that. ---Now that you have your scores back, complete this checklist: 1. Print a screen shot of your scores or print enough so that your name and your 4 subject area and composite scores show. 2. Documenting & Analyzing your Growth: Answer these questions in your Google Doc Reflection The numbers below pick up where you left off in your Google Doc: #6.. Using your ACT folder, create a 3-column by 6 row table in your Google Doc that shows earliest subtest and composite scores for the 1st ACT you took back in September or October. Put the dates across the top of column 2 and 3. Put the Name of the Subtest and the word Composite in rows 2-6. (See image above!) Answer ALL of these questions in COMPLETE SENTENCES. #7. What was your highest subject area score? My highest... or Math was my... #8. What was your lowest subject area score? #9. In which subject area did you improve the MOST? #10. In which subject are did you improve the LEAST? #11. Was there any subtest where you did worse than the first time? omit #12. In the English test, which sub-score was higher, Usage & Mechanics or Rhetorical Skills? omit #13. In the Math test, which type of questions did you do the WORST on? algebra, geometry, and trigonometry #14. Of the 4 scores (English, Math, Reading, Science), which was the score that most surprised you? Why? #15. Of the 4 scores (English, Math, Reading, Science), which was the score that most disappointed you? Why? #16. Will you plan to take the test again? If YES, why and what will be your goal score? If NO, why--what does your current score mean for you? 3. Print your Google Doc Reflection. 4. Staple your scores to your Google Doc Reflection. 5. Give both to me. December 13-18 The ACT is done. Now what? Assignment: Log in to Career Cruising. Click on Explore My Interests. Click Start Matchmaker (you MAY have done once before) Once you finish Matchmaker, click on the Education tab across the top of the page. To the right of the US map, choose the Compare Schools option to complete today's activity below. I'll give you a hard copy. Maybe for this activity think "Dream School" you'd love to go to if money were not a consideration and another realistic school you know you can gain admission to. Complete Post-High Research Activity School comparison December 11 & 12 Reflect on Saturday's test! Go to Google Drive. Create a new Google Doc called ACT Reflection that you SHARE with Mrs. Merkwan and Mrs. Renner. Write a ONE-PAGE double-spaced (minimum) reflection that addresses these five questions. Type just your name and then number each question. We suggest one short paragraph for each question. Do NOT answer Yes or No anywhere in your paragraphs. Write complete sentences! Paragraphs are never less than 3 sentences; shoot for 4-6 sentences for each response. Kudos to Mrs. Merkwan for writing the questions! Growth occurs though REFLECTION!! English--Math--Break--Reading--Science 1. Did you finish all of the sections in the allotted time? If not which ones did you not finish and how many questions did you have left? On questions that you weren't able to get to because you ran out of time, did you fill in an answer choice anyway? 2. How did the test meet your expectations? — Was it easier than you thought? Which section was easiest for you? Which was more difficult? Longer? Shorter? Were you able to utilize the programs you loaded on your calculator? Why/why not? Which ones? In other words, were you prepared? 3. Now that you have taken the test, what would you do DIFFERENTLY if you were to take the test again? Address both BEFORE and DURING the test. 4. What section(s) did you feel you were the most prepared for? Least prepared for? WHY? 5. Describe two things that you definitely need/want to practice/work over before you take the exam again. 6. How did you feel physically taking the test? Did you get tired? Lay your head down? Hungry? What did you do to stay alert? What would you do DIFFERENTLY or what ADVICE would you provide others who will be taking the test about preparing PHYSICALLY? December 7 & 8: ACT Writing Test--Read pp. 299-301, pp. 327-328 Info from the ACT website 1. How to Write the ACT Essay 2. All About the New ACT Essay 3. ACT Essay Dos and Don'ts Read the Blog about this video Sample ACT Writing Prompt December 1 & 4: Countdown to the Test! ACT Test Week Activity including pp. 685-691 Where is your ticket? 1. View: 24 Hours To Test Time! 2. View: Best Test-Taking Strategies 3. View: Tips for the Day Before the Test 4. View: The New ACT: Changes You Should Know About 5. View: How to Cram for the ACT 6. View: 10 Tricks to raise your score 7. View: What to Pack for the ACT 8. View: What to Eat for Brain Food Before the Test Read: Brain Foods for the ACT Previous Days' Lessons: Day 5 Reading (Thursday 11/16 Blue and Friday 11/17 White) Take Final Reading Practice Test Before we begin, remind yourself of strategy (4th passage first! Read with my finger! First Paragraph/Last Paragraph! Read all topic sentences! Save my WORST for LAST!) Follow these instructions Anonymously score final practice test Record 2 English practice test scores on Sheet in manilla folder (Nov 3 or 6 and today!) Turn in everything--today's final plus staple to it the little 1/3 sheet where you recorded 8 self-timed practice passages and scores Final Reading Assignment: Post to THIS QUICKTOPIC POST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Day 4 Reading (Tuesday 11/14 Blue and Wednesday 11/15 White) Turn in half sheet of 8 timed reading practice passages with FINAL reading test in next class. You'll be reflecting on ALL 5 times you practiced the 4 passages (1st practice test in September, 1st Reading practice test 2 weeks ago, 2 self-timed practices with passages in the book, final practice test next class). Read: Ten Tips to Quickly Improve ACT Reading Score from Magoosh RE-view: ACT Intro to Reading Play ACT Reading Kahoot based on video above RE-view: 3 BEST ACT Reading Strategies Play ACT Kahoot based on video above Active Reading Practice with this Presentation. (Start at slide 14) Record Notes and Responses HERE Final single passage practice if time allows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Day 3 Reading (Thursday 11/9 Blue and Monday 11/13 White) No School Friday 11/10 Show me Times and Scores for 4 practice passages Today you'll practice Reading Improvement Strategies for the #1 problem students identify on the Reading subtest: NOT ENOUGH TIME! View: (notecard=one takeaway from each video) How to Speed Read Your Way to ACT Success Watch and TRY Using Your Fingers to Read Faster! ACT Speedreading Tip of the Day How to Speed Read 1. Speedreading Activity 2. Another Speedreading Activity Speedreading Practice #3 Speedreading Practice #5 Skimming Exercise Scanning Exercise 1. Speedreading short sentences then answering questions 2. Speedreading longer sentences with questions 3. Speedreading even LONGER passages with questions For the following practice, continue to record results on THIS SHEET Do 2 Timed passages--your best and worst or 2 worst, NOT 2 best pg. 368 We will use 8:45 timer. If you finish BEFORE, record how much time left. Before you start, write down the strategy you will use on that passage: 1. Following line with finger 2. Reading blurb, first parag, last parag then topic sentences 3. Reading blurb then all topic sentences 4. Pre-reading the questions Check answers pg. 447 Assignment: Finish the final 2 passages starting page 368; time using 8:45; record your results & strategies on half sheet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Day 2 Reading (Tuesday 11/7 Blue and Wednesday 11/8 White) White 1--Go over answer explanations from Practice Test 1 because of short class Monday READ: ACT Reading Advice READ: ACT Tips & Tricks ACT Reading Prep 1. Introduction to the Reading Subtest (take notes on handout) 2. Reading Test Strategies 3. View: Three Ways to Increase Your Reading Score 4 Key Things to Know about ACT Reading Test #1 Secret Tip from Supertutor The Best 3-Step Strategy for the ACT Reading Test https://blog.prepscholar.com/the-best-way-to-practice-act-reading Read: How to Stop Running Out of Time on ACT Reading Assignment: Take the Reading Practice Test on pg. 73 ONE PASSAGE AT A TIME in this order, recording the time it takes you to read and answer all questions for each. Record your time on each page of your book and show me in next class. Record times and scores on THIS SHEET Remember, our goal is 8 to 8 1/2 minutes per passage, but you might START at 10 or 11 minutes! The more we PRACTICE, the faster you'll get and the more you'll figure out what the BEST order to do the passages is for YOU. Use Online Stopwatch. START with Natural Science Do Soc Science or Prose 2nd SAVE Humanities for last **Remember to read the short INTRO to each passage! For Thursday 11/9 or Monday 11/13 Read the remaining 2 or 3 passages AT DIFFERENT TIMES if possible. Record times Put red stickies on pages 72 and page 164 Check answers. Record times and scores on sheet I provided. Reminder: THIS DOES YOU NO GOOD if you don’t practice as directed! We’re trying to figure out a way to help YOU do better! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Day 1 Reading (Friday 11/3 Blue and Monday 11/6 White) 40 minutes: Take and anonymously score ACT Reading Practice Test for baseline (Test #3 from McGraw Hill). Follow THESE INSTRUCTIONS Go over answer explanations. Complete This Reflection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November=Reading Month The reading test is divided into four parts and is the third test on test day. Students get tired and start slowing down. We need to learn strategies to combat that test fatigue! The number one reason students do not perform as well on the ACT Reading subtest is that they do not finish the test. The test is designed so that most students only read three of the four passages. We want to read all four and get a higher score! The ACT test must be consistent from test date to test date. The stories change but the wording of the questions does not. We can study those patterns which help students to get through the test faster and get more answers correct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October=Math Month with Mrs. Merkwan! Monday 10/2 White Go through Semicolons and Colons in packet from last week Other Errors we Need to Address Quickly: Read about Double Negatives Practice Recognizing Double Negatives View: ACT Idioms Idioms on the ACT All the ACT Idioms You will Need to Know Go through full packet of these errors above Idiom review, parallel structure, dangling & misplaced modifiers View Parallel Structure View Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers Friday 9/29 Blue Record scores from practice ACT. Screenshot from SDMyLife Idiom review, parallel structure, dangling & misplaced modifiers View Parallel Structure View Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers Thursday 9/28 White ACT Practice Test Semicolons and Colons Quiz for practice--email me a screenshot of the score chart of this one for completion! Wednesday 9/27 Blue Semicolons and Colons Quiz for practice--email me a screenshot of the score chart of this one for completion! Go through Semicolons and Colons in packet Other Errors we Need to Address Quickly: Read about Double Negatives Practice Recognizing Double Negatives View: ACT Idioms Idioms on the ACT All the ACT Idioms You will Need to Know Go through full packet of these errors above Tuesday 9/26 White Correct practice comma packet Complete 8 comma quizzes. Each quiz has 10 short sentences. If you spend 15 seconds per sentence, you should finish each quiz in about 2 1/2 minutes and all 8 quizzes in 20 minutes. For anonymity, you will get a packet with your number on it. NO NAMES! When you finish, bring it back to me. When everyone is done, we'll anonymously grade the quizzes. I'll record the best 5 of 8 scores. Intro to Semicolons and Colons Learn the 4 Semicolons Constructions There is just one most important colon rule: there must be a complete sentence before a colon. ACT Tips on Semicolons and Colons View: Semicolons on the ACT View: Colons on the ACT Practice: Colons and Semicolons Comma, Colon, Semicolon or Period? Semicolons, Colons or Commas Week of September 25-29 Remember practice ACT is Thursday morning at 8:30 in auditorium! Monday 9/25 Blue Grade the 8 comma quizzes we took last week anonymously. Instructions for Scoring Intro to Semicolons and Colons Learn the 4 Semicolons Constructions Colons are used after independent clauses (a.k.a. “complete sentences”) in four situations. You can remember them by remembering the letters LEQ. L No, it doesn’t mean “for the way you look at me,” like in one of my favorite songs. Here, the L stands for list. You use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a series of items. I have three things on my to-do list for this summer: sitting, loafing, and goofing off. E The E stands for explanation. You can use a colon after a complete sentence to expand on what you’re talking about. This I know: Do or do not. There is no ‘try.’ – Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back While I was in Ireland, I had heaven in a cup: a Cadbury “Flake” bar in vanilla ice cream. Q The Q stands for quote. You can use a colon to introduce a quotation. Well, it’s like Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “I hate quotations.” ACT Tips on Semicolons and Colons View: Semicolons on the ACT View: Colons on the ACT Practice: Colons and Semicolons Comma, Colon, Semicolon or Period? Semicolons, Colons or Commas Week of September 18-22: Homecoming! Thursday 9/21 View: ACT Bootcamp: Commas 12:36 3. Comma Usage Quiz: Click Start View: ACT: 4 Major Comma Tips 6:00 Do Comma Exercises packet together Now practice: 1. Commas Exercise 1 2.. Commas Quiz 1 Complete 8 comma quizzes. Each quiz has 10 short sentences. If you spend 15 seconds per sentence, you should finish each quiz in about 2 1/2 minutes and all 8 quizzes in 20 minutes. For anonymity, you will get a packet with your number on it. NO NAMES! When you finish, bring it back to me. When everyone is done, we'll anonymously grade the quizzes. I'll record the best 5 of 8 scores. Friday 9/22 (26 minute class for Homecoming) Collect Pronouns packet! 3-ACT like passages with pronouns. Go over take home comma worksheet View: ACT: 4 Major Comma Tips 2.. Now practice: Comma Quiz 3. Comma Usage Quiz: Click Start Now practice: 1. Commas Exercise 1 2.. Commas Quiz 1 View: ACT Bootcamp: Commas Assign: Take home and finish Comma Exercises packet Tuesday 9/19 & Wednesday 9/20 Collect Pronouns packet Complete 3 practice English passages, one at a time (pg.211) 9 minutes each passage. Use answer sheet. Use the Online Stopwatch Go through each set of answers. Intro to Comma Rules: 14 Rules Examples View: ACT Bootcamp: Commas Do Comma Practice Test 2. Now practice: Comma Quiz 3. Comma Usage Quiz: Click Start View: ACT: 4 Major Comma Tips View When to Use Commas on the ACT Now practice: 1. Commas Exercise 1 2.. Commas Quiz 1 Monday 9/18 Finish Pronoun Packet in folder Who vs. Whom pretest Who or Whom? Trick he/she=who him/her=whom I don't know who/whom to write the check to. Write the check to him=whom Give the check to whoever/whomever asks for it. Give the check to him=whomever Who/Whom is the most helpful agent? He is the most helpful. He=who To who/whom do you turn when you are in trouble? Turn to him=whom Pronoun Reference & Agreement View: Vague Pronoun Reference 1. Pronoun Case: Nominative Case 2. Practice: Pronoun Case: Objective Case 3. Practice: SV Agreement & Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 4. Practice: Faulty Pronouns Exercise 1 5. Practice: Ignore the info at the top of this page. It's obviously the wrong info! Do this Who or Whom: 6. Practice: Broad Pronoun Reference 7. Practice: Read each pair of sentences here: Avoiding Vague Prounoun Reference 8. Practice: Vague Pronoun Reference **Record all of the scores on these activities on the half sheet I provide. Assignment: ACT passages with pronoun errors in packet Week of September 11-15 Friday 9/15 and Monday 9/18 Finish Pronoun Packet in folder Who vs. Whom pretest Who or Whom? Trick he/she=who him/her=whom I don't know who/whom to write the check to. Write the check to him=whom Give the check to whoever/whomever asks for it. Give the check to him=whomever Who/Whom is the most helpful agent? He is the most helpful. He=who To who/whom do you turn when you are in trouble? Turn to him=whom Pronoun Reference & Agreement View: Vague Pronoun Reference 1. Pronoun Case: Nominative Case 2. Practice: Pronoun Case: Objective Case 3. Practice: SV Agreement & Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 4. Practice: Faulty Pronouns Exercise 1 5. Practice: Ignore the info at the top of this page. It's obviously the wrong info! Do this Who or Whom: 6. Practice: Broad Pronoun Reference 7. Practice: Read each pair of sentences here: Avoiding Vague Prounoun Reference 8. Practice: Vague Pronoun Reference **Record all of the scores on these activities on the half sheet I provide. Assignment: ACT passages with pronoun errors in packet; finish last 2 pages of pronoun packet. Day 7: Wednesday 9/13 and Thursday 9/14 Thursday 9/14: Meet in Mrs. Merkwan's room Mrs. M will give you a pronoun packet. Finish the packet and KEEP it for Monday! After you finish that, do the online practice below Just practice with these: Practice #3: Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement #1 Practice #4: Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement #2 Finally, Complete and Screenshot results of these 3 exercises below and email me the screenshots in ONE email by end of THURSDAY! Screenshot Results #1: Pronoun Case Exercise #1 Screenshot Results #2: Pronoun Case Exercise #2 ***Remember It is I, It is he, It might have been SHE Screenshot Results #3: Pronoun Case Exercise #4 Now please work QUIETLY since Mrs. M was kind enough to allow you to be in her room today! Wednesday 9/13 We do: Finish going over Pre-Test worksheet View Pronouns Cheat Sheet Super Tricky Pronoun Rule After a BE verb (is, are, was, were, be, been (could be, could have been), you MUST use a SUBJECT pronoun=I, he, she, we, they So, when someone calls you on the phone and asks "Is Sally there?" Sally must NOT answer "This is her." Instead Sally must answer "This is SHE." It is I (not me) who broke the window. It was he (not him) who took the blame. It could have been she (not her) who won the contest. View this ACT English Review of Pronouns View: Pronoun Agreement and Consistency View: How to Correct Pronoun Reference Errors Practice: Pronoun Case Practice--we will do this together since submit answers brings error message You do: Practice #1: Noun/Pronoun Agreement Exercise #1 Practice #2: Noun/Pronoun Agreement Exercise #2 Practice #3: Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement #1 Practice #4: Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement #2 Then, Complete and Screenshot results of these 3 exercises below and email me the screenshots in ONE email by end of THURSDAY! Screenshot Results #1: Pronoun Case Exercise #1 Screenshot Results #2: Pronoun Case Exercise #2 ***Remember It is I, It is he, It might have been SHE Screenshot Results #4: Pronoun Case Exercise #4 Day 6: Monday, September 11 and Tuesday, September 12 Correct, Score and Scale the Take Home English Practice Test. Record Results in folder. Correct S-V Agreement 2-sided worksheet Take Pronoun Pre-test Pronoun Agreement/Pronoun Reference goes hand-in-hand with S-V agreement in the Usage section of the ACT English test. Reminder: There are SUBJECT pronouns--I, he, she, we, they There are OBJECT pronouns--me, him, her, us, them The same rules you followed for S-V agreement apply for pronoun agreement. Just like singular subjects need singular verbs, singular subjects need singular pronouns! a student=he, she students=they What is pronoun agreement? Example: If a student won't study, they won't do well. (he or she would be the correct pronoun or rewrite If students won't study, they won't...) Example: The fool gave the wrong tickets to Bob and I. (The fool gave the tickets to Bob. The fool gave the tickets to ME.) Example: I don't know who/whom to give this letter to. (Give this letter to HIM. Him=whom.) Example: Each of the girls carried their gym bags. (Each is singular, so Each carried HER own gym bag.) or The girls all carried their own gym bags. What is pronoun reference? Example: After putting the book in the desk, Mabel sold it. (What did she sell? The book or the desk?) After putting the book in the desk, Mabel sold the desk. or Mabel sold the desk after she put a book in it. Example: The supervisors told the workers that they would receive a bonus. (Who gets the $?) Try The supervisors told the workers to expect a bonus.) Example: The witness called the television station, but they didn't answer. (Who is they?) Try The witness called the television station, but the REPORTERS didn't answer. Super Tricky Pronoun Rule After a BE verb (is, are, was, were, be, been (could be, could have been), you MUST use a SUBJECT pronoun=I, he, she, we, they So, when someone calls you on the phone and asks "Is Sally there?" Sally must NOT answer "This is her." Instead Sally must answer "This is SHE." It is I (not me) who broke the window. It was he (not him) who took the blame. It could have been she (not her) who won the contest. Who or Whom? Trick he/she=who him/her=whom I don't know who/whom to write the check to. Write the check to him=whom Give the check to whoever/whomever asks for it. Give the check to him=whomever Who/Whom is the most helpful agent? He is the most helpful. He=who To who/whom do you turn when you are in trouble? Turn to him=whom Helpful Tip: When you have a compound subject, read each option with the sentence separately! Sally and me are going shopping. Sally is going. I am going. Sally and I are... Give the shopping bags to Sally and I. Give the shopping bags to Sally. Give the shopping bags to me. Give the bags to Sally and me. Whew! That's a lot to think about. View this ACT English Review of Pronouns View: Pronoun Agreement and Consistency View: How to Correct Pronoun Reference Errors Practice: Pronoun Case Practice--we will do this together since submit answers brings error message Practice: Online Writing Lab: Pronouns Practice: Pronoun Agreement Assignment in class: Pronoun Packet from English for Standardized Tests Day 7: Wednesday, September 13 and Thursday, September 14 Pronoun Reference & Agreement View: Vague Pronoun Reference View: Two Pronoun Errors You Need to Avoid on ACT Practice: Pronoun Case: Nominative Case Practice: Pronoun Case: Objective Case Practice: SV Agreement & Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Practice: Faulty Pronouns Exercise 1 Practice: Ignore the info at the top of this page. It's obviously the wrong info! Do this Who or Whom: Practice: Broad Pronoun Reference Practice: Read each pair of sentences here: Avoiding Vague Prounoun Reference Practice: Vague Pronoun Reference **Record all of the scores on these activities on the half sheet I provide. Assignments outside of class: Complete Pronoun Packet (Pro Ref & Shift, Pro Ant Agreement, Who/Whom) Take time to Read: Pronoun Agreement on the ACT Take time to Read: Pronoun Case on the ACT Previous Days' Lessons: Week of September 5-8 Day 5: Thursday, September 7 and Friday, September 8 More Subject-Verb Agreement View: Cheg Test Prep ACT English Tips We do: Go over the 5 practice exercises in S-V Agreement packet Practice with the 6 S-V Agreement Practice tests in packet You do: Cumulative Practice: For each of these activities, you will capture a screenshot of the results, then email ALL the screenshots in one email. 1. Their/There/They're 2. Its/It's 3. Using Irregular Verbs 4. Subject Verb Agreement Your screenshots will look like this: Capture the score, the name of quiz, and the 25/25 questions completed at the bottom. 5. If/when you finish, do the 2-sided worksheet I passed out. Topic 20: S-V Agreement Worksheet. 6. Turn in the Grammar Review: Homophones, adjectives & verbs packet & SV Agreement packets in your folder! Assignment: Take Home REAL ACT Practice English Test to score in next class. Simulate testing conditions AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! Find a quiet time and place where you won't be interrupted for 45 minutes. Set a timer if possible for your 5 minute warning or ask a family member to do that for you. Use the Online Stopwatch Day 4: Tuesday, September 5 and Wednesday, September 6 Answer questions you turned in from first practice test in ACT prep book Finish up review of adjectives/adverbs, comparative/superlative, homophones and verb tense. Go through answers in packet. Introduce Subject-Verb Agreement **The most tested grammatical rule on the ACT is Subject-Verb Agreement Example: The owner of the bicycles ARE going to sell them. (IS is the correct verb) View: Subject-Verb Agreement Bootcamp View: Subject-Verb Agreement Rules and Tricky Scenarios Review: S-V Agreement Rules Review: S-V Agreement Rules Read: Subject-Verb Agreement for ACT English: Tips & Practice Now Practice: Handouts in class. Assignment: 1. In the Practice Packet, go to the Let's Practice set of 20 questions on the 8th piece of paper in the packet (St. Dominic HS). In addition to choosing correct verb form, also record the Rule number! 2. Keep reading in the packet. Do Practice 1, 2, 3 & 4 on pp. 40-42 and Test 1 and 2 3. Collect the Grammar Review: Homophones, adjectives and verbs packet Week of 8/28-8/31 Friday, September 1 and Monday 9/3: Labor Day Holiday. No School. Take home test of ACT English. Try to simulate test conditions! Use the Online Stopwatch. For points the next time we meet, you need to show me that you took the test. We will score and scale it in our next class. Score and scale 2nd ACT practice English test. Record score on Progress Chart in manilla folder. Day 3: Wednesday, August 30 and Thursday, August 31 Cell phones in cell motel. You may not leave the room for any reason if cell phone is not checked in. Pacing on the ACT: Are you going too fast? 3. Turn to and read pg. 101 in prep book: "Scoring Your Practice Test." 4. Use the English Scoring Key on pg. 102 to score the practice test. Follow the instructions to complete Step 1 and Step 2 on pp. 102 and 103, and record the RAW score. 5. Then turn to pg. 106 and read Step 4. Use the English column on the Conversion Table to determine what the scaled ACT score would be. 6. Go back to the Bubble Sheet where you recorded your answers and write your SCALED ENGLISH score on the Instructor line at the top of the score sheet. Return the scored test to me. 7. DON'T get stressed if your score isn't where you thought it should be. That's why you're here!! :-)Finally, turn to pg. 113 and read the paragraph on Reviewing Explanatory Answers. All of the ANSWERS to the test you just took are on page 114-142. Go back to EACH of the questions you missed and read the explanations of the right and wrong answers. It's the BEST way to avoid making future mistakes! On a sticky, record 5 (five) numbers that you still don't understand after reading the explanations. I'll tally those and we'll go over the questions most identified as causing problems. Set up Remind messaging for this class if you didn't already. Record scores for English Practice Test. Put score sheet in folder. Do NOT lose this sheet. It will be used by you AND ME AND Mrs. M to track scores! Did you go through the explanations of the correct answers? Answers on pp. 114-132. Today's Focus: Adjectives & Adverbs, Homophones, Verb Tense Adjectives and Adverbs ACT Tips on Adjectives and Adverbs Adjective or Adverb? Good vs. Well Most Commonly Tested Homophones on ACT: There/Their/They're, It's vs. Its Irregular Verbs on ACT Verb Tenses on ACT We don't meet for 6 days, so... Assignment: Worksheet packet on adjectives, adverbs, homophones and verb tense. Day 2: Monday, August 28 and Tuesday, August 29 Cell phones in cell motel. You may not leave the room for any reason if cell phone is not checked in. Turn in Scavenger Hunt in folder View tutorials on the ACT English Test & Answer 3 built-in review questions for each A. What to Expect on the ACT English Test (3:36) B. Managing Your Time on the ACT English Test (2:47) C. Test Taking Strategies on the ACT English Test (3:45) D. Punctuation & Grammar on the ACT English Test (5:26) How often should I use the NO CHANGE answer option? IMPORTANT ACT ENGLISH TIPS: Remember the ACT is a STANDARDIZED PREDICTABLE Test! 1. There will ALWAYS be 5 passages on this test. DON'T spend more than 1 1/2 minutes on each passage and no more than 30 seconds on each question! 2. 40 Questions (53%) are Usage & Mechanics 10 Punctuation Questions (13%) 12 Grammar/Usage Questions (16%) 18 Sentence Structure Questions (24%) 3. 35 Questions (47%) are Rhetorical Skills (strategy, organization and style) 12 Strategy Questions (16%)--Does the writing do what the author intended 11 Organization Questions (15%)-- 12 Style Questions (16%) See pg. 35 & 36 Take English practice test The test is 45 minutes with 75 Questions When you practice on your own, use the Online Stopwatch Assignment: 1. Remember, in ACT Prep class you will not be graded on your ACT SCORE. For this assignment, you will be graded on completing this activity and FIGURING OUT raw scores. 2. No one sees your score but me. Our only goal is to work to improve. Day 1 English: Thursday, August 24 and Friday, August 25 Discuss schedule: August/September--English Section with Mrs. Renner October--Math Section with Mrs. Merkwan November & December before Dec. 9 Test=Reading and Science Get Classroom Folder: Review Course Expectations and Syllabus Cell phones in cell motel. You may not leave the room for any reason if cell phone is not checked in. See Score Recording Sheet to use all semester Sign up for Remind Text Messages Getting to know the ACT Pre-test: What Do You Know About the ACT Kahoot Fill out Course Survey Peruse the Official ACT Prep Guide Read about ACT Scoring Explore at ACT.org site and complete the Scavenger Hunt Create an ACT Web Account. Get ACT Prep Book. Put your name on it! Turn to inside of back cover. Scratch off to reveal PIN.. Go to the Wiley Site, click on the first book, log in, and register your PIN access code. Assignment: Finish Scavenger hunt. Read Chapter 2 through pg. 32 for Day 2. We'll take our first English Practice Test on Day 2. Upcoming Assignments: Day 8: Friday, September 15 and Monday, September 18 Collect Pronouns packet ACT Prep Book--read English Section Test prep info pp. 197 and do Sample Passage(s) pg. 215-16 Assignment: Take Home 3rd ACT Practice English Test. We will score on Wednesday. Day 9: Tuesday, 9/17 & Wednesday, 9/20 (1:30 Dismissal) Finish grading pronoun practice packet. Score 3rd English practice test. Show me bubble sheet before correcting. Record score on progress sheet in folder that stays in room. Intro to Commas on the ACT View: ACT Bootcamp: Commas Assignment: Comma Handouts 1. 14 Comma Rules-read through together 2. Now practice: Comma Quiz 3. Comma Usage Quiz: Click Start 4. Comma Exercises (3 pages stapled) Day 10: Thursday 9/21 and Friday 9/22 Record practice ACT scores on all 4 tests on progress sheet in folder. I also have access to scores in MethodTestPrep. Correct comma usage packet View: ACT: 4 Major Comma Tips Now practice: 1. Commas Exercise 1 2. Commas with Introductory Elements 3. Commas with Independent Clauses (fanboys) 4. Commas to separate dependent and independent clauses 5. Commas Quiz 1 View When to Use Commas on the ACT Killing Me with Commas Activity. Complete, Score. Turn in. Assignment: Since we corrected English ACT and took the full-length test on Wednesday, rest up for a busy week next week with 3 full days of class! Day 11: Monday 9/25 and Tuesday 9/26-- Cell phones in cell motel. You may not leave the room for any reason if cell phone is not checked in. Join ACT class at Quia 1. Turn in corrected comma packet from last week 2. View to Review: How to Correct Punctuation Errors 3. 2 comma practice activities on paper 4. Take ACT Comma Usage quiz at Quia 5. Another comma error tested on the ACT is Comma Splices. What is a comma splice? A comma splice occurs when a writer uses a comma between two sentences where there should be something stronger, like a period or semicolon. Comma splices can also be corrected by using a FANBOYS construction or by subordinating one of the two independent clauses. Comma Splice: It's important to study for the ACT, it's the only way to do well. Corrected with semicolon: It's important to study for the ACT; it's the only way to do well. Corrected with period: It's important to study for the ACT. It's the only way to do well. Corrected with subordination: Because it's the only way to do well, it's important to study for the ACT. View to Review: ACT English Test Comma Usage Comma Splice View to Review: How to Fix Comma Splices Now Practice with Comma Splices 1. The Comma Splice 2. Comma Splice Quiz 3. Multiple Choice Quiz: Comma Splices Timed Punctuation Quizzes with a focus on commas and comma splices The Real ACT is 75 questions in 45 minutes. If you do the math, that means that you can spend very close to 6 minutes on every 10 questions. Let's practice today within that time limit using ACT passages of 10 questions. Day 12: Wednesday 9/27 and Thursday 9/28 Semicolons and Colons Learn the 4 Semicolons Constructions There is just one most important colon rule: there must be a complete sentence before a colon. ACT Tips on Semicolons and Colons View: Semicolons on the ACT View: Colons on the ACT Practice: Colons and Semicolons Comma, Colon, Semicolon or Period? Semicolons, Colons or Commas Semicolons and Colons Quiz for practice--email me a screenshot of the score chart of this one for completion! Other Errors we Need to Address Quickly: Read about Double Negatives Practice Recognizing Double Negatives View: ACT Idioms All the ACT Idioms You will Need to Know Idioms Test 1 Assign: Last 2 pages of packet AND Read 197-204 for Friday! Day 13: Friday 9/29 and Monday 10/2 Last 2 pages of packet (semicolons, apostrophes, double negatives, faulty idioms) New packet (idioms, parallel structure, misplaced and dangling modifiers) look at pp. 197-204 Read pp.204-207 Assign: pp. 207 bottom (Strategies) through p. 221 Day 14: Tuesday 10/3 and Wednesday 10/4 Timed Test: Remember the English test has 5 passages to complete in 45 minutes=9 minutes each passage. Let's practice: You'll have 27 minutes to do Passage 1, 2 and 3 from 2005-2006 ACT Exam. After lunch: View to Correct Passage 1 (15 min) Correct Passage 2 (14 min) Correct Passage 3 (12 min) Assignment for Thursday: Focus on Rhetorical Skills Questions: View: 1. Diction--Choosing the Right Word 2. Wordiness & Redundancy 3. View Rhetorical Skills Questions Then complete packet with these practice Activities for Rhetorical Skills practice: (Topic 21: Avoiding Wordy Sentences, Topic 19 Choosing the Right Word, Topic 24 Coherence and Transitions, Topic 23 Unity in Paragraphs, Topic 25 Varying the Structure of your paragraphs, Revising Sentences in Paragraphs, Combining Sentences in Paragraphs). **Transitions are the MOST COMMONLY TESTED rhetorical skill on ACT. Review this info! Day 15: Thursday 10/5 and Friday 10/6 ACT Information Overload! View: The New ACT: Changes You Should Know About View: How to Cram for the ACT View: 10 Tricks to raise your score View: What to Pack for the ACT View: English #1 Secret Tip for English View Six English Strategies Correct the Rhetorical Skills Packet Assign: pg. 328-339 Take Practice Test 2 for English No School on Monday 10/9: Native American Day Day 16: Tuesday 10/10 and Wednesday 10/11 Take Final ACT English Practice Test--(eat 2nd lunch) Score and record on progress sheet in folder, which will go to Mrs. Merkwan after today. Advice as you move on to Math: KEEP PRACTICING!! See all the links to the resources above, especially to the PRACTICE tests! Try to do one or two practice sub-tests EACH WEEKEND!! Practice makes progress!! View: 24 Hours To Test Time! Math preparation October 12-November ? Day 1 Reading: **Did you know?: Forbes reports that the average reading speed for an adult is approximately 300 WPM, while the average speed for a college student is approximately 450 WPM. 1. Introduction to the Reading Subtest 2. Reading Test Strategies 3. View: 4 Key Things to Know about ACT Reading Test #1 Secret Tip from Supertutor Three Ways to Increase Your Reading Score The Best 3-Step Strategy for the ACT Reading Test Assignment: Take the Reading Practice Test ONE PASSAGE AT A TIME, recording the time it takes you to read and answer all questions for each. Record your time on each page of your book. Reading Practice Test Day 2 Reading: 1. Fill out time chart for 4 passages. 2. Complete a Prose and a Natural Sciences passage. After testing & recording, post a quick response HERE Assignment: pp. 358-365. Choose TWO of the reading passages to time and score! Using Your Fingers to Read Faster! Day 3 Reading: 3. Read: How to Stop Running Out of Time on ACT Reading Ten Tips to Quickly Improve ACT Reading Score from Magoosh 4. Today you'll practice Reading Improvement Strategies for the #1 problem students identify on the Reading subtest: NOT ENOUGH TIME! View: ACT Speedreading Tip of the Day How to Speed Read 1. Speedreading Activity 2. Another Speedreading Activity Speedreading Practice #3 Speedreading Practice #5 Skimming Exercise Scanning Exercise After Lunch: 1. Speedreading short sentences then answering questions 2. Speedreading longer sentences with questions 3. Speedreading even LONGER passages with questions Do Timed Humanities Passage & Questions Day 4 Reading: Intro to Writing Exam In book, see pg. 18, 193 How is the ACT writing test scored? View: The New ACT essay All About the New ACT Part II Assignment: complete planning guide for Vocational Education on pg. 511-512. Day 5 Reading ACT Score Reaction Look at English & Reading Scores 1. The 8 ACT English Tips You Must Use in Your Prep 2. Correct These 5 Mistakes to Improve Your ACT English score 3. 10 Tips to Quickly Improve ACT Reading 4. Top 5 ACT Reading Tips Q & A on Reading tips --If you are worried and seriously want to improve reading scores, here is a tool: Spreeder --Here are 4 more apps for speedreading ACT Prep Course through O'G We have exactly 40 minutes! Perfect timing for practice writing prompt. Turn to pg. 511 in your book where you were to outline/plan your essay. Tear that page out. You will staple it to your essay when you turn it in as part of your assignment. Ready....begin! Some ACT prep classes have students doing writing practice every week! |
ACT Expectations & Reminders:
1. You MUST be committed to practice and improvement! 2. No cell at the real ACT. No cell in here. 3. Practice makes PROGRESS NOT perfect! 4. You CAN improve your score with practice, practice, practice! Registration Resources: ACT Test Prep Method Test Prep at SDMyLife or Here Free Practice Tests HERE Study Smart Tutors Book ACT Tips and Tricks ACT Games English Test Resources English ACT Test Preparation Tutorial at Sophia ACT Grammar Review ACT Reading Review Reading Test Resources Reading ACT Test Preparation Tutorial at Sophia Reading Tips Writing Test Resources Writing Test Preparation Tutorial at Sophia Math Test Resources Math Test Preparation Tutorials at Sophia Science Test Resources Science Test Preparation Tutorials at Sophia |
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