HCOS FSA Musings

A parent looks back

2008-01-14T17:22:00.000-08:00

As parents we strive to avoid transferring our fears or negative experiences on to our children. Writing tests is one particular negative experience that I endeavour not to transfer. Just the word ‘test’ conjures up a multitude of concepts. What power a piece of paper carries when the word test is stamped on it! I’m sure we could debate for hours about our personal concept of tests. Yet this is a story about my daughter’s concept of tests and consequently my renewed concept of tests.

After 10 years of homeschooling my children I am beginning to understand that my views of tests differ remarkable from my children’s. As a homeschool mother I value meaning in learning. If one cannot learn from a test, than what is the point of administering it. (I hope I’m not treading in hot water here.) I pretty well knew what my children knew and what they didn’t know, so why test them? As a result my children would beg me for tests. “We want tests and grades like the school kids!” Ugh! So I would give them the occasional test. But I might add - I used the tests as a learning tool. When they didn’t understand the concept or skill I would precede to explain it. Tests became learning experiences.

My daughter now is of the ripe old age of FSA testing. We discussed FSA testing and its purpose. Because she has never gone to the brick and mortar schools, she is keen to know where she stands in relation to “school kids.” To help her prepare for the test I showed her the sample tests online (see below for link). We decided to start on the Numeracy test. True to my belief that tests should be learning experiences, we set to work “learning” math.

You see, although my daughter is in Grade 7 she really has been avoiding learning math. Although she has worked on her math over the years her heart wasn’t in it and thus she didn’t retain or grasp the concepts and skills well. This year she has dived into math; determined to master the skills and concepts for her recommended age.

When she proceeded to write the sample numeracy test she found she needed my help with every single problem! Ugh! I found my test fears surfacing. “Oh no, she is going to do terrible on the test and I’m supposed to be a teacher!” Panic hit.

And what was her reaction to these test questions. Remember she is not carrying my baggage of school days gone by. She proceeded to reassure me, that everything would be fine and that she would just learn how to do each problem with my help and then go over the sample test as many times as needed until she learned the skills and concepts. She actually was enjoying the word problems. She likes them because they are real life type of problems that hold meaning to her.

I thanked God for my children from whom I received healing from negative test experiences. I thanked Him for freedom that comes from the mouth of babes.

Claire Pollok

Sample FSA test:

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/assessment/fsa/eng_samples.htm

FSA Practice: Week 3

2007-12-04T12:10:00.000-08:00

FSA practice
Grade 7 answers from Nov. 22nd (Week 2)
3. 1000 steps
4. $55.00

Grade 4 answers from Nov. 22nd (Week 2)
3. 9
4. 15

3rd weekly FSA practice
Grade 7 questions

5. The kids are still trying to raise money for the field trip
Sally, Tracy and Braden are doing yard work
Sally – worked 8 hours
Tracy – worked 12 hours
They were paid a total of $144.00
How much money should Braden have received?

6. The chart below shows the midnight temperatures for each day at the ski lodge the week before the ski trip.
What was the mean (average) midnight temperature?

Mon: +1
Tue +5
Wed+12
Thur +3
Fri + 4
Sat + 6
Sun + 5

Grade 4 questions

5. These kids are still off to the Park
Bus fare was $2.00, park admission was $3.95 and lunch was $2.75.
About how much money did it cost for one student?

6. The bus driver said, “Good Morning” as the people boarded the bus.
She said this to the 1st person, the 2nd person, the 4th person, the 7th person, and the 11th person

Following this pattern which person did she say “Good Morning” to?

FSA Practice: Week One and Two

2007-11-22T12:03:00.000-08:00

Week one
And the 1st set of knotty little problems …
The grade 7 class planned a ski trip
1. What was the total cost for the class to go skiing if:
a. 29 students were in the class
b. Ski lift tickets cost $17.50 per student;
c. A bus to and from the ski hill for the class cost $155.00

2. This year the price of a ski lift ticket was $17.50. Next year it will increase by 12%. How much will it cost a family next year for 3 ski lift tickets?

And the 1st set of knotty little problems for the grade 4s . . .
The grade 4 class planned a field trip too, but the went to the Nature Park
1. There were 27 students on the field trip. They needed 1 parent volunteer for every 4 students. How many parent volunteers were needed for the trip?

2. To take pictures at the Park, a parent bought film for his camera. His change from a twenty-dollar bill was $4.35. How much did the film cost?

Week two
And for our 2nd weekly FSA practice
Grade 7 Answers 1. $662.50
2. $58.80

Grade 4 Answers
1. 7 parents
2. $15.65

2nd set of knotty little problems
Grade 7
3. The kids still haven’t gone on their ski trip but some of them are trying to get into shape for snowboarding.
Frank and Jack walk every day
Frank covers 60 cm with each step
Jack covers 50 cm with each step
How many more steps does Jack take to cover a distance of 3 km?

4. Maggie and Juan baby-sit to earn money for their ski trip.
Maggie earned $25.00
Juan earned 20% more
How much did they earn together?

Grade 4
3. These kids haven’t gone on their nature trip yet either, but they are in the planning stages.
Claire is having difficulty. She can’t decide what to wear.
She has 3 hats: black, blue and orange
She has 3 pairs of mittens: yellow brown and green
How many different combinations of hats and mittens could she wear?

Welcome to the FSA web site for Heritage Christian Online School

2007-11-21T11:40:00.000-08:00

Please check weekly for updates:

Introduction:

By now it is no secret that the province would like every student in grade 4 and 7 to participate in writing the FSA’s. This is the lines that the government has drawn in the sand and is standing behind it regardless of the BCTF position or DL parents’ opposition. Since we receive funding from the government we need to encourage you to have your child write this test. We do want to make it as easy for you as possible.

A description of the tests-

Both grade four and seven tests are composed of and administered in the same way.

1. Multiple Choice Questions for both math and reading- This section is done on the computer.

2. Reading two passages and answering a comprehension question. This section is done in a booklet that will be mailed or emailed to you. Please note if your child is on an IEP which says they need help with reading or writing – someone can read and write their responses

3. A Short written work – This question is tied to the reading passages

4. A longer written work – this year it will be an essay

5. Two problem solving questions for math

Remember – this is a snapshot of where your child may or not be.
The booklets will be mailed back to you by the end of March with the marks.

Note
1. Date –
February 4 to 14 instead of the first two weeks of May

2. Markers

Each district or in our case each DL school will be responsible for marking their own FSA tests. This means that your students test will be marked by a homeschool friendly teacher. We are picking 6 teachers to mark the tests.

3. The results

In the past you received long after the test is written a piece of paper with black bars on it saying your child – doesn’t meet, meets or fully meets expectations. Now you will be receiving the test booklets back April. You will be able to see exactly where your child had troubles and where they were able to shine.

4. The invigilator

Like last year, you will be able to write the exams in the comfort of your home using any person not related to oversee the test. IF you have some money left in Encom for curriculum resources and want to pay the invigilator we will send them a check. HCOS teachers are also willing to set up testing stations if that would work better for you.

5. Preparation

We will be setting up a spot on our web site where you will be able to check in each week and see a sample question for grade 4 and grade 7. You can then work with your child on doing these questions and ask your support teacher for help.

Contest

I am personally sponsoring two contests. They are – Are You Smarter Than a Fourth Grader and Are You Smarter Than a Seventh Grader. Each child that child that writes the FSA’s will have their name entered in a draw for an MP3 player. One for grade 4 and one for grade 7.