Wolters Accelerated High School “ Committed to Success”

Wolters Accelerated High School “Committed to Success” * Wolters Accelerated High School is the alternative “School of Choice” for Deer Park ISD * Deer Park High School North Campus – 9th Grade Campus South Campus – 10th-12th Grade Campus Wolters Accelerated High School – “School of Choice” DAEP Campus – Discipline Campus * Wolters Accelerated High School Began in 1991 * WAHS has a teaching staff of 16 full time teachers

Wolters Accelerated High School “Committed to Success” * Wolters AHS has a student population of approx. 200 students • * Demographics: • 48% - White/Caucasian • 48% - Hispanic • 1% - Black • 1% - Asian • 39% - Economically Disadvantaged

Wolters Accelerated High School “Committed to Success” * Each prospective student makes application to the school as well as attends a parent/student orientation meeting before being accepted to the campus *The majority of our students are juniors and seniors. Our focus is to ensure students are able to graduate in 4 years, so that we can meet our accountability standard for completion rate under AYP/NCLB * Wolters provides students with a self-paced accelerated learning environment. Each course is composed of units or “packets” that cover the TEKS for the course. Our goal is to provide research-based meaningful “brain-based” instructional strategies to maximize learning and retention of knowledge.

Wolters Accelerated High School “Committed to Success” * Our goal for each child is that they leave our campus with a high school diploma. Last year, our campus graduated 199 students. This represented 24% of the graduating class at Deer Park High School * Graduation = “Credits required for graduation” + “All 4 Sections of the Exit Level TAKS Test”

HOW TO BE SHARP AS TAKS!!! ??? Questions ??? ??? Questions ??? ??? Questions ???

HOW TO BE SHARP AS TAKS!!! It’s not always how much you know, but how you apply your knowledge. Understanding HOW to take a test can improve your score!

Now we are going to show you … HOW to outsmart the TAKS questions HOW to increase your test score and WHY you all owe me $900 !!

PART 1 Test taking strategies OR How to approach ANY multiple choice question !!

How to answer multiple choice questions:

Here are the steps to follow! Highlight

Here are the steps to follow! Highlight Translate

Here are the steps to follow! Highlight Translate Eliminate

Here are the steps to follow! Highlight Translate Eliminate Estimate

Here are the steps to follow! Highlight Translate Eliminate Estimate ? Guess

LET’S GO OVER EXACTLY HOW THIS WORKS! 1 Highlight both the questions and the answers. This helps you focus on the important part of the question and weeds out the gobbledygook in the sentences.

Example: The principle of federalism in the U.S. Constitution is reflected in: F the right of states to negotiate foreign trade agreements G the right of the national government to remove a state from the Union H the separation of power among the three branches of the national government J the division of power between the national and state governments Any ideas on what to highlight? 10th grade 2003 TAKS

Example: The principle of federalism in the U.S. Constitution is reflected in: F the right of states to negotiate foreign trade agreements G the right of the national government to remove a state from the Union H the separation of power among the three branches of the national government J the division of power between the national and state governments 10th grade 2003 TAKS

Example: The principle of federalism in the U.S. Constitution is reflected in: F the right of states to negotiate foreign trade agreements G the right of the national government to remove a state from the Union H the separation of power among the three branches of the national government J the division of power between the national and state governments And the answer is . . . 10th grade 2003 TAKS

Example: The principle of federalism in the U.S. Constitution is reflected in: F the right of states to negotiate foreign trade agreements G the right of the national government to remove a state from the Union H the separation of power among the three branches of the national government J the division of power between the national and state governments 10th grade 2003 TAKS

2 Translate the questions into your own language. Often, test answers sound alike. By reading the answers slowly and translating them into your own language, you get a better idea of what’s going on.

Example: • Which of the following statements best describes the opinion of the majority of Americans regarding the onset of World War II in Europe? • (translation – how did Americans feel at the beginning of WW II?) • A. They were not concerned with international politics and they were indifferent • to who would be the victor. (translation – they didn’t care) • B. They did not agree with the use of U.S. military force or intervention at the time. (translation – they wanted to stay out) • They were enraged by the policies of Hitler and were anxious to declare war • on the Nazi forces.(translation – they were ready to fight!) • D. They wanted to remain out of the war so that the participants in the war would each be weakened and the U.S. could rise as a world power.(translation – sounds pretty slimy)

First, let’s highlight the question and answers and then translate them: Which of the following statements best describes the opinion of the majority of Americans regarding the onset of World War II in Europe? (translation – how did Americans feel at the beginning of WW II?) A. They were not concerned with international politics and they were indifferent to who would be the victor. (translation – they didn’t care) B. They did not agree with the use of U.S. military force or intervention at the time. (translation – they wanted to stay out) C. They were enraged by the policies of Hitler and were anxious to declare war on the Nazi forces. (translation – they were ready to fight!) D. They wanted to remain out of the war so that the participants in the war would each be weakened and the U.S. could rise as a world power. (translation – sounds pretty slimy)

Example: Which of the following statements best describes the opinion of the majority of Americans regarding the onset of World War II in Europe? (translation – how did Americans feel at the beginning of WW II?) A. They were not concerned with international politics and they were indifferent to who would be the victor. (translation – they didn’t care) B. They did not agree with the use of U.S. military force or intervention at the time. (translation – they wanted to stay out) C. They were enraged by the policies of Hitler and were anxious to declare war on the Nazi forces. (translation – they were ready to fight!) D. They wanted to remain out of the war so that the participants in the war would each be weakened and the U.S. could rise as a world power. (translation – sounds pretty slimy)

Example: • Which of the following statements best describes the opinion of the majority of Americans regarding the onset of World War II in Europe? • (translation – how did Americans feel at the beginning of WW II?) • They were not concerned with international politics and they were indifferent to who would be the victor. (translation – they didn’t care) • They did not agree with the use of U.S. military force or intervention at the time. (translation – they wanted to stay out) • C. They were enragedby the policies of Hitler and were anxious to declare war on the Nazi forces. (translation – they were ready to fight!) • D. They wanted to remain out of the war so that the participants in the war would each be weakened and the U.S. could rise as a world power. (translation – sounds pretty slimy)

Example: Which of the following statements best describes the opinion of the majority of Americans regarding the onset of World War II in Europe? (translation – how did Americans feel at the beginning of WW II?) A. They were not concerned with international politics and they were indifferent to who would be the victor. (translation – they didn’t care) B. They did not agree with the use of U.S. military force or intervention at the time. (translation – they wanted to stay out) C. They were enraged by the policies of Hitler and were anxious to declare war on the Nazi forces. (translation – they were ready to fight!) D. They wanted to remain out of the war so that the participants in the war would each be weakened and the U.S. could rise as a world power. (translation – sounds pretty slimy) AND THE ANSWER IS . . . .

Example: • Which of the following statements best describes the opinion of the majority of Americans regarding the onset of World War II in Europe? • A. They were not concerned with international politics and they were indifferent to who would be the victor • B. They did not agree with the use of U.S. military force or intervention at the time. • They were enraged by the policies of Hitler and were anxious to declare war on the Nazi forces. • D. They wanted to remain out of the war so that the participants in the war would each be weakened and the U.S. could rise as a world power.

3 Eliminate nonsense answers. You can usually remove two answers because they don’t make sense, don’t sound familiar, or don’t have anything to do with the question.

Example: “ . . . that on the 1st day of January, in the year of our Lord 1863, all persons held as slaves within any state . . . in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free . . . “ (on January 1, 1863, slaves are free) This quotation comes from the historical document called the – (what does this come from?) F Gettysburg Address. G Declaration of Independence. H Bill of Rights J Emancipation Proclamation.

Example: “ . . . that on the 1st day of January, in the year of our Lord 1863, all persons held as slaves within any state . . . in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free . . . “ This quotation comes from the historical document called the – F Gettysburg Address. G Declaration of Independence. H Bill of Rights J Emancipation Proclamation. Both the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights were written in the 1700’s, right? Neither one of them was about slavery, right? Eliminate them!

Example: “ . . . that on the 1st day of January, in the year of our Lord 1863, all persons held as slaves within any state . . . in rebellion against the United states, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free . . . “ This quotation comes from the historical document called the – F Gettysburg Address. G Declaration of Independence. H Bill of Rights J Emancipation Proclamation. Gettysburg was a battle site during the Civil War. If you don’t know that, then maybe you do know that . . . emancipation means freedom. Which one would deal with freedom for slaves, then?

Example: “ . . . that on the 1st day of January, in the year of our Lord 1863, all persons held as slaves within any state . . . in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free . . . “ This quotation comes from the historical document called the – F Gettysburg Address. G Declaration of Independence. H Bill of Rights J Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation, of course!

4 Estimate using your common sense. Your brain is usually way ahead of you and the correct answer will seem to “pop” into your head. This is because you actually learned something along the way! Unless you absolutely know your answer is wrong, go with your first instinct. If it’s the most obvious answer, the most well known person, the most important idea . . . it probably IS the answer. Remember, the test makers want you to know some important stuff.

What event caused the United States to immediately abandon neutrality during World War II? • The attack on Pearl Harbor. • The Warsaw Ghetto uprising. • The bombing of Great Britain. • The Battle of Stalingrad. Exit TAKS – April 2006

What event caused the United States to immediately abandon neutrality during World War II? • (What event caused the U.S. to get into World War II?) • The attack on Pearl Harbor. • The Warsaw Ghetto uprising. • The bombing of Great Britain. • The Battle of Stalingrad. • Even if you don’t exactly know what “abandon neutrality” means, think of the words: event, United States, and World War II. What “pops” in your head? Exit TAKS – April 2006

What event caused the United States to immediately abandon neutrality during World War II? • The attack on Pearl Harbor. • The Warsaw Ghetto uprising. • The bombing of Great Britain. • The Battle of Stalingrad.

When all else fails ...

? Guess 5 Hey! You’ve got a 50/50 chance, right? All kidding aside – since this is not a timed test, why not skip this question, mark it, and move on? Maybe another question will give you a hint or jog your memory along the way. Don’t forget to go back and try again, though!

So . . . let’s review the steps . . . To avoid fatigue, simply HIGHLIGHT TRANSLATE ELIMINATE ESTIMATE GUESS

Now you know HOW to approach multiple choice questions, let’s look at the different they come in. PART 2 FLAVORS

RIGHT THERE This type of question is “vanilla.” Yup, the answer’s right there! Usually, these are charts, graphs, quotes, maps, timelines, and cartoons. All you have to do is: read the question, look at the visual, and find the correct answer.

The first thing you’re going to do is use your highlighting skills, right? Look at the question first and highlight it. What’s important? • The Proclamation of 1763 prohibited colonial settlement west • of a border that ran roughly along the – • A. Great Lakes. • Atlantic Ocean. • St. Lawrence River. • Appalachian Mountains. 10th grade 2003 TAKS

Now, let’s find the border of the Proclamation and where all of the answers are located on the map. Draw all over the test!! • The Proclamation of 1763 prohibited colonial settlement west • of a border that ran roughly along the – • A. Great Lakes. • Atlantic Ocean. • St. Lawrence River. • Appalachian Mountains. So what’s the answer?

D, of course!! It’s RIGHT THERE! • The Proclamation of 1763 prohibited colonial settlement west • of a border that ran roughly along the – • A. Great Lakes. • Atlantic Ocean. • St. Lawrence River. • Appalachian Mountains.

Rocky Road Here’s your “rocky road.” These questions are called “factoids.” The bad news is that you’ve got to know your stuff. The good news is that you’ve probably seen and reviewed all this material several times before. Remember to highlight, translate, eliminate and estimate before you guess.

Example: • Which of the following types of government allows • individuals elected by popular vote to exercise power? • Theocratic government • Totalitarian government • Monarchical government • Representative government

Start by highlighting the questions and answers and • translating them into your own language. • Which of the following types of government allows • individuals elected by popular vote to exercise power? • Theocratic government • Totalitarian government • Monarchical government • Representative government • In other words, what kind of government let’s • people have power?

Wolters Accelerated High School “ Committed to Success”