ACT Prep: Spring Semester 2021 Lesson Plans & Resources
Lesson Plans for Test Prep
May 10-14 Monday 5/10 and Tuesday 5/11 Letter of Advice Assignment Follow the directions in the letter VERY CAREFULLY! Note points: Date (1 pt), Inside Address (2) Greeting (1), Advice paragraph (6), Prep paragraph (6), Last sent of good luck (2), Closing (1), Signature/Name (1) Wednesday 5/12 No missing work accepted after you leave Mrs. Renner's room today Thursday 5/13 Full length English with Mrs. M Friday 5/14=Semester Test Full length Math and anonymously score with Mrs M Week of April 26-30 Monday 4/26 (NWEA testing until 9:50) College Comparison Activity handed out in class or here it is. 1. Go to SDMyLife 2. Log in to Xello--Remember that your User name is Prefix + Student ID SD-000000 On your dashboard, go to the Explore Schools link OR--if Xello site isn't working, go to... College Programs that Fit Tuesday 4/27 (9:00 start) Accuplacer Reading Wednesday 4/28 (NWEA testing until 9:40) Finish College Comparison Activity Thursday 4/29 and Friday 4/30 Full-length Test Results Reflection: ---Now that you have your scores back, complete this checklist: 1. Log in to ACT site and print a screen shot of your scores or print enough so that your name and your 4 subject area and composite scores show. 2. If you took the practice test instad of real, you'll find your 4 subject area and composite scores on the white summary sheet with your test after you take it. 3. Return to your April 17 Post ACT-Reflection Doc in Drive 4. After answering the questions below, Print the document when complete. 5. Staple your SCORES to your GOOGLE Doc and turn in to us. Circle or Indicate which test you'll take during semester test: Math or English, whichever is lower. If the same, indicate which one you'll take! Documenting & Analyzing your Growth: Growth occurs though REFLECTION!! Answer these questions at the bottom of your April 17 Reflection. Add this Heading before beginning. April Test Score Reflection Then number your responses 1-6. We suggest copying and pasting the questions, then deleting the question once answered. Answer ALL of these questions in AT LEAST 2 (TWO) COMPLETE SENTENCES. English--Math--Reading--Science #1. What was your highest subject area score--provide subject and score? My highest... or Math was my... #2. What was your lowest subject area score? See scores in Infinite Campus Comments for next 2: #3 . What was your composite score for January Test? (It's in 1st Q Infinite Campus and recorded in your folder) #4. In which subject area did you improve the MOST since January? By how many points? #5. In which subject are did you improve the LEAST since January? Also, did you do worse in any section? #6 . What is your goal score? What do you need for college or scholarship? What will you do between now and June or October if you need a better score? ======================================================================================= Monday 4/19 Mrs. Renner's Room for ACT Reflection shared with you in Google Docs. Share that BACK with both Mrs. Merkwan and Mrs. Renner. Please add your First Name and Last initial to the Title of the Document in upper left doc title box, so mine would say Kärin R's April 17: Post-ACT Reflection Reflection is something you do ON YOUR OWN, so no talking please until everyone is done with this activity! I will SHARE this doc with you in Drive. MAKE A COPY before you start answering the questions! Tuesday 4/20 Intro to Accuplacer English View: What is the Accuplacer? (mentions SE Tech) View: Accuplacer Overview View: Accuplacer Sentence Skills Intro Complete: Sentence Skills Packet Complete this practice activity and send screenshot of score page Wednesday 4/21 Accuplacer English Thursday 4/22 Accuplacer Math Friday 4/23 Accuplacer Math Test week Thursday, April 15 and Friday, April 16 The Time Has Arrived!! 1. Log in to act.org and PRINT YOUR TICKET!! 2. In your folder, find and do quick review of your personal Reading Strategies Notecard. Keep that notecard with your ticket so you put it in your lunch bag! If you can't find it, make a new one that LISTS the order you'll do the reading passages in. You'll take a quick look at that during your break before you go back in to do the Reading test on Saturday. Remember, if you're not taking the REAL ACT, you're taking a RETIRED ACT on a day to be determined in Mrs. Renner's or Mrs. Merkwan's room. 3. View: Set pencils down: We'll do this Thursday AND Friday This is NOT a JOKE. Do these WITH THE VIDEO RIGHT NOW!! 4. Complete ACT Week (Abbreviated) Activity (Hard copy on shelf) Do this FIRST in case you need to shop: Read: Brain Foods for the ACT 1. View Video 1: 24 Hours To Test Time! (4:49) 2. View Video 2: Best Test-Taking Strategies (3:00) 3. View Video 3: Tips for the Day Before the Test (4:56) 4. View Video 5: How to Cram for the ACT (6:00) skip Video 6 5. View Video 7: What to Pack for the ACT 8. : View: What to Eat for Brain Food Before the Test 9. View tonight!! 11. View: Stand up to do this: Break Time: Take advantage of your 10-minute break after the long Math section to get up and move around--Literally-- Get your blood pumping. Jumping jacks or brisk walk up and down hall. DON'T stand around! Re-energize with a snack and drink while you're walking. Look at your Reading Strategy Card IN YOUR LUNCH BAG! Know your strategy when you walk back in! Clear your mind and get ready to shift from Math to Reading. Week of March 29-April 9 Math with Mrs. Merkwan Week of March 22-26 Monday 3/22 FFA Gone Final Full-Length English Practice Test Bubble Sheet is in your book on the right page. NO NAMES on bubble sheet! It's already marked with your ID#. No Change is correct 25% of the time! Shortest is best! Circle all answers in book then TRANSFER to bubble sheet to save time. Mark the ones you want to return to! Tuesday 3/23 Track Gone Leave ACT books on the back counter to start! Grab highlighter for correcting. If you were gone yesterday, just wait while we correct. I'll read answers. Do the math. Record # write. I'll read scaled score. You took Test #3. Answers on pg 890. Scale chart on pg. 894. Give bubble sheets back to me. I'll redistribute. Pick up books. Take Math Practice Test #1-30. Use same bubble sheet. 30 minutes for 30 questions. Use calculator. Slide bubble sheet under my door BEFORE you leave! Wednesday 3/24 Return to Mrs. Merkwan Thursday 3/25 Mrs. M gone. Take Math Practice Test #31-60 with Mrs. R Friday 3/26 Back to Mrs. Merkwan for several weeks! Week of March 15-19 Monday 3/15 Snow Day Tuesday 3/16 Return to thick, stapled comma packet. Go to 2 ACT passages on 5th sheet. Finish remaindr of packet. Commas Quiz Wednesday 3/17 Happy St. Patrick's Day! Pick up comma packet , new packet and folder Other Errors we Need to Address Briefly: View: Cliche on the ACT View: Double Negatives Read about Double Negatives View: ACT Idioms Prepositions on the ACT All the ACT Idioms You will Need to Know Assignment: 1. Do packet (Avoiding cliches & slang, Double Negatives, Faulty Idioms) 2. Using ACT Prep English practice packet, do #6 Preps and #7 Idioms on pp. 13-15 View: ACT Bootcamp #28: Rhetorical Skills Questions (3:49) View ACT Bootcamp #27: Wordiness & Redundancy (1:50) View ACT Bootcamp #26 Diction--Choosing the Right Word Assignment: In Rhetoric ACT Practice passages, do #19-Choosing the Right Word #24-Coherence and Transitions #21-Avoiding Wordy and Empty Sentences #26-Revising Sentences in Paragraphs Thursday 3/18 Assignment: Test "Grab Bag" handout--Complete all the questions. (Do 1-23 on Weds night) Rhetorical Skills packet Friday 3/19 No School-BB Tourney ------------------------------------------------------------- Week of March 8-12 Monday 3/8 and Tuesday 3/9 Finish last page of SV agree, do # 51-57 in ACT English Packet View MethodTestPrep Intro 1. Now log in to SDMyLife. I hope your computer saved log in info. 2. Open Method Test Prep On your student dashboard, use the menu on the left. Scroll down to Personal Information, Choose Assign Classes, Choose ACT Prep Spring 2021. Go back to the dashboard. 3 Scroll down to Week 12, Lesson 49 4. Click I understand box if it pops up All of the following activities get submitted to Instructor Panel. Your grade for this activity will be based on completing these activities: 5. Complete Activity #1: ACT English Warm Up-Week 1 #1 at the very top of the list of Activities. 6. Week 10, Lesson 40: Homophones and Words that Go together 7. Week 18, Lesson 75: Comparatives & Superlatives. 8. Week 14, Lesson 57: Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 9. Week 15, Lesson 62 It's and Its 10. Week 16, Lesson 66 Unclear Pronouns PRACTICE MAKES PROGRESS. BEST EFFORT EVERY TIME! We'll see how far you get today. Focus and work to the very end of class! Wednesday 3/10 Commas on the ACT View: ACT Bootcamp: Commas View: ACT: 4 Major Comma Tips Practice Packets Commas #38-43 in ACT English Prep Packet Conjunctions #31-37 in ACT English Prep Packet Thursday 3/11 Comma Quiz packet (Monday) In ACT English Prep Packet #1-7 Fragments #8-14 Run-ons and Comma Splices #55-50 Apostrophes, Semicolons, Colons #65-70 Pronouns (Did we do this?) At Method Test Prep: 1. Who vs. Whom on the ACT (We're doing this in English this week!) 2. Scroll down to Week 12, #49 3. Do the S-V Agreement/Who vs. Whom ACT passage lesson DON'T skip the video or transcript! 4. Complete Week 5, #18 on punctuation Friday 3/12 No School ====================================== Week of March 1-5 Monday 3/1 Take Full-length English Test Take Test #1! Tuesday 3/2 Score and Scale Test #1! Scale is on pg. 104. Go through answer explanations on pg. 112 for the questions you missed in #1--#30. On a sticky, record your Name, FIVE questions that you got wrong that you STILL don't understand after reading explanation, and a word or two about the KIND of error. Put the sticky on cabinet door outside office door. Record your score on score sheet inside back cover of folder. Put bubble sheet on top of folder. Put book on shelf. Wednesday 3/3 Lesson Focus: Adjectives & Adverbs View: ACT Tips on Adjectives and Adverbs View: ACT English Tips on Adjectives/Adverbs Adjective/Adverb Worksheets from OWL Thursday 3/4 Lesson Focus: Adjectives/Adverbs, Homophones, Verb Tense 1. Do #71-77 in ACT English Prep packet 2. Review with Good vs. Well Practice with the Most Commonly Tested Homophones on ACT: 3. There/Their/They're, 4. It's vs. Its 5. Read Irregular Verbs on ACT 6. Adjectives, adverbs, homophones and verb tense in packet 7. 2 pages of verb tense practice 8.. Do back of 5th sheet in ACT English Prep Packet on Verb Tense Friday 3/5 In ACT English Prep Packet, do Verb Tense #58-64 **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: Bootcamp Video #19--Go to 8 second mark: Subject-Verb Agreement Bootcamp View: Subject-Verb Agreement Rules and Tricky Scenarios SV Agreement Packet On Monday, finish last page of SV agree, do # 51-57 in ACT English Packet ======================================================= Week of February 22-25 Continue with Science Prep M-W Thursday 2/25 Intro to English Fill out this LISTENING GUIDE as you watch (hard copies in class) 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 is No Change Answer Used on ACT English? IMPORTANT ACT ENGLISH TIPS: Remember the ACT is a STANDARDIZED PREDICTABLE Test! 1. There will be 5 passages on this test. DON'T spend more than 1 1/2 minutes skimming 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%)--sentence and paragraph order 12 Style Questions (16%) Intro to ACT Prep Bootcamp--Currently the best on the market! Friday 2/26: No School! Week of February 16-19 Continue with Science Prep Week of February 8-11 Monday 2/8 Sit down and settle immediately!! Do NOT turn test over. Do NOT write name on it. You have been assigned a number. A yellow sticky with your initials is on the back to make sure you match to your test number. Throw that yellow sticky when done. Do not move until 35:00 is up! After 35, slide under my door and I'll re-distribute. 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 After scoring it, take it to the empty table, bubble side up. Go CLAIM your test. Put it in your folder. I will send answer explanations to Mrs. Merkwan's room along with your folders and books for tomorrow. Record this English practice test score on Sheet in manilla folder Final Reading Assignment: Post to the QUICK TOPIC POST Tuesday 2/9 for next 2 weeks Back to Mrs. Merkwan for Science Week of February 1-5, 2021 ❤️❤️Monday 2/1❤️❤️ Data Analysis Day! Use this Minutes/Seconds Timer to TOTAL how many minutes you spent on each of the first 2 full tests. Write that and circle that time in the left margin! If you were over 35 minutes, how much? If you were under 35, YOU HAVE MORE TIME TO DO BETTER! Where could you have used that time? Did you spend just 6 or 7 minutes on a passage and score BELOW a 5? If so, YOU HAVE MORE TIME! Now: Did you score and scale whole 3rd test? 1. Make another column next to your scores for Practice Test #2 & #3. Label it Mistakes I Made. Use the Strategy line for Test #1 2. Now, take TIME to go through answer explanations for each of the questions you missed. The only way we learn NOT to make the same mistake again is by BEING AWARE of what mistake we made! 3. In that far right column (Strategy or Mistakes I Made column), make a note about the kind of each mistake you made in the TWO passages you did the BEST in for Practice Test #1 and #2 and #3 (highest scores). The goal is to get MORE correct on the ones you do the BEST on! A couple of you did record your mistakes in Round 1 & 2. Be specific about WHY you answered each question incorrectly (vocab? misread it? line #? An Except/NOT ?) 4. Add up raw score and look up scale score and record at bottom of sheet if you did not already do that. 5. Using the 8:45 timer, you recorded how much time you had LEFT on test #3. Use the Minutes/Seconds calculator to figure out HOW MUCH EXTRA time you didn't use on the 3rd test. 7. At the very bottom of the sheet under your scaled score, number 1-4 and AT THIS POINT based on your research of 3 practice tests, write the order you THINK you should take the ACT Reading Subtest. ❤️❤️Tuesday 2/2❤️❤️ and ❤️❤️Wednesday 2/3❤️ Today you'll review Reading Improvement Strategies for the #1 problem students identify on the Reading subtest: NOT ENOUGH TIME! Find the Speed Read worksheet in your folder with 4 videos. As you watch, complete this listening guide 1. See Introduction to the Reading Subtest (slide 19-24)--take notes on the BACK of that sheet Flip sheet over: 2.Video #1: How to Speed Read Your Way to ACT Success (4:21) 3. Video #2: Watch and TRY Using Your Fingers to Read Faster! (3:58) 4. Video #3 ACT Speedreading Tip of the Day (1:42) (We got this far on Tuesday) 5. Video #4: How to Speed Read (11:22) Flip Sheet to back again 6. View: Time Management (13:00) --Record 5 Key takeaways on the BACK of that sheet Set up Document Like This Are you ready for a Reading Workout to help INCREASE your Reading Speed? 1. The Science of Speedreading 3. Exercises for Eyes for Optimal Speed Reading 4. Speed Reading Techniques 5. View: Eye Gym & Speed Reading 6. View: Eyeball Exercise ❤️❤️Thursday 2/4❤️ Practice Speed Reading Strategies: If absent, read instructions carefully! 1. Turn to Bubble Sheet Practice Sheet #4 that has each test labeled and has 4 Reading sub tests labeled. 2. Today we will read a Lit Passage and a Natural Science Passage. You will practice a SPEED READING technique with each passage. 3. We will use an 8:45 timer. 4. Everyone will use the READ WITH MY PENCIL as a POINTER technique for the LIT passage. Write that reminder across the top of the passage! I want to see your pencils (or finger) moving across the passage. If you have never done this before, it will feel strange, but keep it up for whole passage. Then use your fingers for pointers to locate info. 5. Watch timer this time. Be sure all bubbles are filled before time is called. 6. Remember to circle all responses ON THE PASSAGE and transfer questions later to the bubble sheet. 7. After the Lit passage on pg. 650, we'll go straight to the Natural Science passage on pg. 656 and use an 8:45 time. For this passage, YOU DECIDE which of these techniques you will use and WRITE IT ON TOP OF THE PASSAGE right now so I will see it when I go through your folders. Which technique will you use? A. Read blurb, read 1st parag, read last parag, read 1st sentence of each body parag. (Write across the top of passage=Blurb, First, Last, 1st sent) Remember, this strategy works with Soc Sci, Nat Sci & Humanities, but not Lit! OR B. Answer the questions out of order. Answer the easy Line # questions first and the questions that LOOK shorter and have shorter answer options. (Write across the top of Questions: Questions out of order) 8. After we finish, I'll read the answers to you. (Answers on pg. 899) Remember to answer in book then bubble each passage later! If you finish before 8:45, look back through the questions. FEEL what it's like to be able to spend 8:45 with the passage if you haven't been! 9. Once again, READ THRU the explanations on pg. 729. On the back of your bubble sheet, record the #s of the questions you got wrong and WHAT MISTAKE you made. BE SPECIFIC. "I misread it is NOT specific." 10. Also write one sentence to reflect about use of finger. 11. Write one sentence about the other strategy you chose. Are you willing to practice these again? Do you see these as being something that could work for you? ❤️❤️Friday 2/5❤️❤️ Of the 2 that remain, choose the one you feel you want to practice---because it's a good one for you or a struggle for you. Above the column you choose, write the STRATEGY you want to try: Read with Finger, Easiest passage for you, Answer easy questions first (line # and SHORT ones), blurb 1st, last, Topic Sent, We'll time with 8:45 and follow the same process. Go to page 899 to correct. Put the # write over 10 above the column Turn to page 729 to review answer explanations. Record at least TWO answer explanations with the rest you have done. Now, compare these 4 scores /10 to your first 3 rounds of scores. Is there any reinforcement of your order for taking test? Any patterns? Write one last sentence of reflection about what THESE scores tell you in comparison to the others. Was your order reinforced? Do you need to switch order of any? Are your top 2 still your top 2? Is your best score still your best? We'll do the Reading Post-Test on Monday! Week of January 25-29, 2021 Monday, January 25, 2021 Introduction to Reading: Get just your FOLDER off the shelf. Book can stay on back shelf until tomorrow. Revisit your Reading Pre-test score on Score Sheet. Nationwide, Reading is the lowest score. Your goal MUST be to raise your scores! 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! You have 35 minutes to answer 40 questions on 4 passages. That means approximately 8:30 to 8:45 per passage. The number ONE reason students do not perform as well on the ACT Reading subtest is that they do not finish the test. The ACT Reading 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! It's the one test of the four that the majority of students nationwide do not finish. Individually, you need to determine YOUR strategies for earning the most points that you can. 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. As you read or watch, fill in this LISTENING GUIDE 1. Introduction to the Reading Subtest (first 21 slides) 2.Download: Reading Test Strategies (just slides 1-9) 3. View: Three Ways to Increase Your Reading Score (6:28) 4 Key Things to Know about ACT Reading Test (3:07) 5. #1 Secret Tip from Supertutor (2:12) 6. The Best 3-Step Strategy for the ACT Reading Test(5:07) Tuesday, January 26, 2021 Tuesday 9/22 (9:00 start) Grab book and folder! 1. ACT Prep Reading Kahoot 2. In folder, tear off Practice Test #1 from stapled packet, where the bubble sheet is LABELED with all 4 types of passages. (Literary Narrative, Social Science, Humanities, Natural Science) 3. Now find the 2-sided sheet where you'll record times and scores. Read the instructions across the top of that page. 4. Turn to pg. 70 in ACT book to find the Reading Practice Test #1 Let's look at the introductory paragraph for EACH passage. Always read those! Note that on the real ACT, the passage & all 10 questions will be on the same 2 pages. Time-saving READING TIP on the REAL Test: Circle answers in book, then transfer all 10 to bubble sheet at once! Research says this saves 1.5 to 2 minutes! Follow this process: 1.Time yourself on EACH passage using online-stopwatch.com 2. Use the counting UP arrow to record how LONG it takes you to read and answer the 10 questions comfortably. 3. When you hit stop, record your TIME on each passage in the book above the passage AND.... 4. CHECK answers immediately and record times and scores on THIS SHEET which is in your folder. Add sticky notes to all important pages. 5. The READING ANSWER Key for this practice test is on pg. 102 (Put a sticky here!) 6. **The very BEST way to improve on the ACT is to understand what you did WRONG or WHY you answered a questions incorrectly. That is why CAREFULLY READING THE ANSWERS EXPLANATIONS is SO important! As you finish, then correcting EACH PASSAGE, go back to the passage to understand WHY you might have answered the question wrong!! 7. Finish TWO passages today. Remember, our goal is approximately 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. Wednesday, January 27, 2021 Same instructions as above. Finish the other 2 passages and move on to Practice Test #2 Remember, our goal is 8 to 8 1/2 minutes per passage, but you might START at 10 or 11 minutes! Above each column on your bubble sheet, transfer the score from your score sheet! Thursday, January 28, 2021 FINISH all of 2nd practice! Be sure every set of 10 questions has a SCORE above it on your bubble sheet and that tally sheet is complete! Remember this important Time-saving READING TIP: Circle answers in book, then transfer all 10 to bubble sheet Friday, January 29, 2021 Finish 3rd set! Score and Scale =========================================== Week of January 18-22, 2021 Continue pre-tests and registration Weeks of January 25-29 & February 1-5 Reading SubTest Practice Weeks of February 8-11 & February 16-25 Science SubTest Practice Weeks of March 1-5, March 8-11, & March 15-18 English SubTest Practice Weeks of March 22-26, March 29-April 1, April 6-9 Math SubTest Practice Week of Apirl 12-16 Final Week INFO and prep before test on April 17 ==========Beginning of Semester Monday 1/11 and Tuesday 1/12, 2021 1. Get Classroom Folder and write your name on the tab 2. Review Syllabus & Course Expectations 3. Discuss calendar 4. No Cell phones allowed in ACT so we'll practice the same rules here. 5. See Score Recording Sheet IN FOLDER to use all semester. Enter any real ACT test scores you may have. Here we go: 1. View Getting to Know the ACT: Part I (3:05) 2. Getting to Know the ACT: Part 2 (5:07) 3. Pre-test: What Do You Know About the ACT Kahoot 4. Get ACT Prep Book. Write your name in black marker ON THE BINDING so it's easy to find on shelf! 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. 5. Peruse the Official ACT Prep Guide Book-See Table of Contents. Look at how book is set up. 6. Read about ACT Scoring 7. Explore at ACT.org site and complete the Scavenger Hunt 8. Create an ACT Web Account. 9. Start Registration for the ACT Assignment: Finish Scavenger hunt Tuesday 1/12 or Wednesday 1/3 through -Friday 1/15 or Tuesday 1/19 Take 4 subtests Monday 1/18 No School Tuesday 1/19-Wednesday 1/20 Score subtests, scale full test, and record scores on Recording Sheet Week of January 4-8, 2021 Monday 1/4--with Renner Full-length Test Results Reflection: ---Now that you have your scores back, complete this checklist: 1. Log in to ACT site and print a screen shot of your scores or print enough so that your name and your 4 subject area and composite scores show. 2. If you took the practice test, you'll find your 4 subject area and composite scores on the white summary sheet with your test. 3. Return to your December 14 Post ACT-Reflection Doc in Drive 4. After answering the questions below, Print the document when complete. 5. Staple your SCORES to your GOOGLE Doc and turn in to us. Circle or Indicate which test you'll take during semester test: Math or English, whichever is lower. If the same, indicate which one you'll take! Documenting & Analyzing your Growth: Growth occurs though REFLECTION!! Answer these questions at the bottom of your Dec. 14 Reflection. Add this Heading before beginning. January 4 Score Reflection Then number your responses 1-6. We suggest copying and pasting the questions, then deleting the question once answered. Answer ALL of these questions in AT LEAST 2 (TWO) COMPLETE SENTENCES. English--Math--Reading--Science #1. What was your highest subject area score--provide subject and score? My highest... or Math was my... #2. What was your lowest subject area score? See scores in Infinite Campus Comments for next 2: #3 . What was your composite score for December Test? What was your composite score in October? (It's in 1st Q Infinite Campus) #4. In which subject area did you improve the MOST since September? By how many points? #5. In which subject are did you improve the LEAST since September? Also, did you do worse in any section? #6 . What is your goal score? What do you need for college or scholarship? What will you do between now and April? Tuesday 1/5--With Renner Letter of Advice Assignment Follow the directions in the letter VERY CAREFULLY! Note points: Date (1 pt), Inside Address (2) Greeting (1), Advice paragraph (6), Prep paragraph (6), Last sent of good luck (2), Closing (1), Signature/Name (1) Wednesday 1/6-Semester Tests periods 1-4--With Merkwan 4th period test=2:10 to 3:30 Semester Test (Math or English)--No names on bubble sheet as tests will be scored anonymously on Friday. Thursday 1/7-Semester Tests periods 5-7 Friday 1/8-1:30 Dismiss--With Merkwan Anonymous correcting of English or Math. Bubble sheets will be numbered with no names. You'll score and scale one test. Week of December 21-22 🎄Monday 12/21 Accuplacer English Complete this practice activity and send screenshot of score page 🎄Tuesday 12/22 (1:30 Dismissal) Accuplacer Reading--Type 2 Questions in packet. We'll do Type 1 after break. Week of December 14-18 🎄Monday 12/14 Mrs. Renner's Room for ACT Reflection shared with you in Google Docs. Share that BACK with both Mrs. Merkwan and Mrs. Renner. Please add your First Name and Last initial to the Title of the Document in upper left doc title box, so mine would say Kärin R's December 14: Post-ACT Reflection Reflection is something you do ON YOUR OWN, so no talking please until everyone is done with this activity! Open the Doc HERE 🎄Tuesday 12/15-🎄Friday 12/18 Mrs. Merkwan for Accuplacer Testing Week of Dec 7-11 Monday 12/7 Full length English Test 1. Get your ACT Book off the shelf. Use ACT Practice Test 3 Answer Sheet on the BACK side of what you took last week. 2. We'll use an on-screen timer. 45:00 for 75 questions. Most of you had time left over. USE IT!! To prepare for the reality of Saturday... Put cell phone away where you WON'T touch it until after class. When you finish, put bubble sheet in book and close book quietly. When you finish, do NOT page through the red book. When you finish, do NOT move a muscle until time is up. When you finish, do NOT leave your desk until time is up. When you finish, do NOT talk to anyone until time is up. **All of these actions could result in your removal from the test center and forfeit of test and money and time spent preparing. After time expires... 3. Place bubble sheet and Scoring Table sheet IN YOUR RED BOOK. 4. Place your book on the back shelf NAME OUT. 5. We will be taking Test #____ on pg. _____ to be announced on day of test. Tuesday 12/8 When you get your book off the shelf., It will NOT have your test in it! You will be ANONYMOUSLY scoring the test in your book. Because of absences, be SURE you are scoring Practice Test #3 side of sheet. For some, that might be the only side completed. For some, there might be another side not graded. Work quietly. Remember, we are scoring anonymously because this is confidential information. No one needs to know how the person you scored did. No one needs to know how you did unless YOU want to share that info PRIVATELY with someone. Announcing your scores to everyone else serves no purpose. Turn to pg. 897 to score the English Test #4. Record # correct over 75. Then turn to pg. 901. Record Scaled Score and CIRCLE that scaled score. Slide the SCORED bubble sheet under my door so I can quickly record scores. Once I do that, I'll slide back under door. Claim your #. Then go to your folder or book and Record Practice Test #3 score AND today's date on Scoring Table. Quick Review of your personal Reading Strategies on Notecard Prep Info for Saturday Test Remember, if you're not taking the REAL ACT, you're taking a RETIRED ACT on the same day at the same time in Mrs. Renner's or Mrs. Merkwan's room. Complete ACT Week (Abbreviated) Activity (Hard copy on shelf) Today watch just: 7. View: What to Pack for the ACT 8. skip : View: What to Eat for Brain Food Before the Test Read: Brain Foods for the ACT Break Time: Take advantage of your 10-minute break after the long Math section to get up and move around--Literally-- Get your blood pumping. Jumping jacks or brisk walk up and down hall. Re-energize with a snack and drink while you're walking. Look at your Reading Strategy Card IN YOUR LUNCH BAG! Know your strategy when you walk back in! Clear your mind and get ready to shift from Math to Reading. Wednesday 12/9 Math Review Print and show ACT Ticket Thursday 12/10 Finish Math Review Science Review Friday 12/11 Day and Night Before preparations! Get your Printed Tickets from me!! View: Set pencils down: This is NOT a JOKE. Do these WITH THE VIDEO RIGHT NOW!! 1. : 24 Hours To Test Time! (4:49) 2. View: Best Test-Taking Strategies (3:00) 3. View: Tips for the Day Before the Test (4:56) 5. View: How to Cram for the ACT (6:00) 6. skip View: 10 Tricks to raise your score 7. View: What to Pack for the ACT 8. skip : View: What to Eat for Brain Food Before the Test Read: Brain Foods for the ACT 9. View tonight!! 11. View: Stand up to do this: Saturday 12/12=The REAL ACT! Week of Nov 30-December 4 Monday 11/30 Other Errors we Need to Address Briefly: View: Cliche on the ACT View: Double Negatives Read about Double Negatives View: ACT Idioms Prepositions on the ACT All the ACT Idioms You will Need to Know Assignment: 1. Do packet (Avoiding cliches & slang, Double Negatives, Faulty Idioms) 2. Using ACT Prep English practice packet from yesterday, do #6 Preps and #7 Idioms on pp. 13-15 the ACT 3. In ACT English Prep Packet, turn to pg. 13. Do prepositions and idioms. Then S-V Agreement pg. 8, Tense, pg. 9, and Pronouns pg. 10. Tuesday 12/1 1. WRITE NAME ON BOOK! 2. If you have an answer sheet in your book, you're good. Do NOT write your name on the answer sheet. It has a #. That is your identification. 3. If your book was not labeled or not on the shelf, line up at my door, tell me your name, and get a #'d answer sheet. Do NOT write your name on it! Complete 2 practice passages Use 2-sided bubble sheet Tip: The main trick to bubbles English test=Always have your test booklet open to show both the left and right pages. While answering questions on those two pages, simply circle answers in the booklet. Only when you have all the answers on both pages circled should you transfer your answers to the answer page. Set 15 minute timer at online-stopwatch counting DOWN Turn to pg. 42. Start timer and do Passage 1. When you finish, record HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE LEFT! Immediately, set a NEW 15 minute timer. Keep going to Passage Two. Stop at the bottom of 46. When you finish, record HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE LEFT! When you finish, correct those first 30 and look at explanations. I don't have a book in here. I think answers are close to page 100? For my records, record your # right over 30 so far! With your name ON the OUTSIDE of your book, put your answer sheet inside the front cover and put on the top shelf in back of room. Other Errors we Need to Address Briefly: Parallel structure and Misplaced and dangling modifiers View : Parallel Structure Do ACT English Prep Packet activity on parallelism #23-30 View: Misplaced & Dangling Mods on the ACT Do ACT English Prep Packet activity on Modifiers #15-22 Wednesday 12/2 Complete 2 more practice passages, starting at #31 on Passage Three. When you finish each passage, record HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE LEFT! Immediately, set a NEW 15 minute timer. Keep going to Passage Four. When you finish, record HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE LEFT! Tip: The main trick to bubbles English test=Always have your test booklet open to show both the left and right pages. While answering questions on those two pages, simply circle answers in the booklet. Only when you have all the answers on both pages circled should you transfer your answers to the answer page. Set 15 minute timer at online-stopwatch counting DOWN Turn to pg. 46. When you finish, correct the next 30 and look at explanations. Page 100. For my records, record your # right over 30 again! With your name ON the OUTSIDE of your book, put your answer sheet inside the front cover and put on the top shelf in back of room. View: ACT Bootcamp #28: Rhetorical Skills Questions (3:49) View ACT Bootcamp #27: Wordiness & Redundancy (1:50) View ACT Bootcamp #26 Diction--Choosing the Right Word Assignment: In Rhetoric ACT Practice passages, do #19-Choosing the Right Word #24-Coherence and Transitions #21-Avoiding Wordy and Empty Sentences #26-Revising Sentences in Paragraphs Assignment: Test "Grab Bag" handout--Complete all the questions. (Do 1-23 on Weds night) Assignment: Last 2 pages (77-78) called Rhetorical Skills Drill in packet with videos on first page. Thursday 12/3 & Friday 12/4 Finish last passage--Passage 5. Use timer and record time! online-stopwatch counting DOWN When you finish, calculate and RECORD HOW MUCH of the 45 minutes you used Score and Scale (pg. 104) Record # correct over 75 AND circle Scaled Score. Record scaled score on Score Recording Sheet in your folder (Test #2) See SD Average English score See National Average English score See How Often is No Change an Option? See Wordiness & Redundancy See The 8 ACT English Tips You Must Use Correct Assignments from yesterday. Finish Grab Bag 19, 21, 23-27 passages ACT English Review Packet If Time Allows: AND these MTP lessons: Week 8: Lesson 31-Transitional Phrases Week 7: Lesson 27-Creating Concise Sentences Week of Nov 23-25 Monday 11/23 (Attend in Zoom) Right after S-V agreement, comes Pronoun Reference & Agreement! Take Pronoun Unit Pretest Work through Pronoun Packet (Subject and Object Pronouns) 1 and 2 Practice Nominative and Objective Case (solo quiz) Tuesday 11/24 (Attend in Zoom) Finish packet--Pronoun Reference View: Vague Pronoun Reference View: Two Pronoun Errors You Need to Avoid on ACT You Do: 1. Practice: Do the 3 Pronoun Practice Activities at Khan Academy. Use the menu on left. 2. Practice: A Second Quiz on Pronoun Forms(Screenshot results) 3.SV Agreement & Pronoun Antecedent Agreement(Screenshot results) =============================================== Wednesday 11/25--Attend in Zoom! Let's return to Method Test Prep to review the concepts we have already studied. DON'T skip the videos or transcript! Do your best! Please complete these lessons that get submitted to Instructor Portal: 1. Week 10, Lesson 40: Homophones and Words that Go together 2. Week 18, Lesson 75: Comparatives & Superlatives. 3. Week 14, Lesson 57: Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 4. Week 16: Lesson 66: Unclear Pronouns =============================================== Week of November 16-20 Monday 11/16 --Attendance in Zoom Take S-V Agreement Pre-test together quickly! *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) 2. View: ACT English Bootcamp: S-V Agreement (3:42) and take notes on page #24 in Reasonprep packet 3. View: Vector ACT S-V Agreement 4. Work through pg 1-9 of S-V Agreement Packet with review of 10 rules =============================================== Tuesday 11/17--Attendance in Zoom More Subject-Verb Agreement View: Meet Michael!! -Verb Agreement Rules and Tricky Scenarios Read: Subject-Verb Agreement for ACT English: Tips & Practice Turn to the 7th sheet of packet, right after page 9. Here are 2 pages (front and back) of 15 SV Agreement Rules. PLEASE take the time read each Rule Box and sample sentence. Assignment: 1. Right after the 15 Rules pages, there is a Let's Practice page with 20 questions. In addition to circling the right answer, record the RULE # that applies in the left margin. 2. Complete the next page labeled OWL Exercise 1: Subject and Verb Agreement Exercise. Check your answers on the back side. 3. Turn to the next page Labeled 3 Subject-Verb Agreement pg. 39 in lower right corner. Complete and Check #1-4 on that page. Then work your way through pages 40-42 to UNDERSTAND special kinds of agreement problems. Do Practice 1 (pg. 40), Practice 2 (pg. 41), Practice 3 & 4 (pg. 42). =============================================== Wednesday 11/18--Attendance in Zoom We do: Check answers for the Let's Practice 20 questions Check answers for Practice 1-4 pp. 40-42 Clarify assignments below. You do: 1. Complete the Subject-Verb Agreement Tests #1-6 on pp. 43-48. 2. Complete these activities and enter screenshot results for all 3 in an email. (Did Mrs. M set up Google Classroom for you?) See sample screenshot to the right & include ALL that you see: score across top, which exercise it is, and 25/25 so I can see you made it all the way through all questions. Practice #1 here Practice #2 here Practice #3 here Thursday 11/19--Attendance in Zoom Correct the 6 pages of SV quizzes. Intro Who vs. Whom Packet Complete that packet. I will post the answer key after school. HERE IS THE KEY! Be SURE to check answers! =============================================== Friday 11/20-No attendance required in Zoom, but... 9:00 AM Friday (I'm still working on this! Please wait until this message is gone!) View MethodTestPrep Intro Now log in to SDMyLife. I hope your computer saved log in info. 1. Open Method Test Prep 2. Scroll down to Week 12, Lesson 49 3. Click I understand box if it pops up 4. Do the S-V Agreement/Who vs. Whom ACT passage lesson DON'T skip the video or transcript! Spend time to understand your errors! 5. Also: Complete Activity #1: ACT English Warm Up-Week 1 #1 at the very top of the list of Activities. Week of November 9-13 Monday 11/9 What happens if I'm learning from home during the pandemic and need to send my worksheet responses to Mrs. Renner or another teacher? Photos are sometimes hard to read, so... If you have an Android smartphone and use Google Drive, you do not even need to download an additional app because Google Drive includes a document-scanning function. Open the Google Drive app and tap the Add (+) button on the bottom-right corner of the screen. Place the document you want to scan on a flat surface. Tap the Scan camera icon and hold the phone or tablet over the document to get a clear picture. Once you have snapped the photo, use the Crop button to trim unnecessary background. If you are scanning a multipage document, tap the Add button to go on to the next page and repeat the process. If you are satisfied with the image, tap the Done check mark icon. To redo an unsatisfactory shot, tap the circular Refresh arrow. The resulting files are stored on Google Drive. The Google Drive app for iOS has a camera function, but it does not create PDF scans of documents. However, Evernote has one free alternative for iOS users with its Scannable mobile app. *Pick up packets. Put Books & folders on back shelf Fill out this LISTENING GUIDE as you watch (hard copies in class) 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 is No Change Answer Used on ACT English? IMPORTANT ACT ENGLISH TIPS: Remember the ACT is a STANDARDIZED PREDICTABLE Test! 1. There will be 5 passages on this test. DON'T spend more than 1 1/2 minutes skimming 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%) Intro to ACT Prep Bootcamp--Currently the best on the market! O |
Reminders--You MUST be committed to practice and improvement! No cell at the real ACT. No cell in here. Registration Resources: ACT Test Prep Method Test Prep at SDMyLife or Here Free Practice Tests HERE 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 |