EQAO Strategies for Success

The EQAO Primary and Junior Division Language assessments are quickly approaching. The administration of the assessments will take place in the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board from May 25^th to June 5^th.

This year we have been targeting curriculum expectations that presented the greatest challenge to students at Father Michael J. McGivney Catholic School and the Board. Across DPCDSB students struggled in 2008 with higher order reading strategies such as making connections, making inferences; and formulating short written answers.

In order to help all students in the Primary and Junior Divisions prepare for the EQAO assessments we have some tips for parents when reading and discussing books with children or completing homework that compliment the work being done in classrooms.

PARENT TIPS – STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

1)    Read a variety of  texts with your children- suggest that your child read a balance of fiction (stories) and non-fiction (information) books including things like posters, maps, bus schedules, menus, signs, fire plans, etc. Whenever possible, talk with your child about the way information is presented and how to read the text effectively. For example, when reading a menu, we use headings such as appetizers, main course, etc. and we look at the price, focus on bolded words, reread the selections that look good, and do not necessarily read the whole menu, etc. Students need strategies to read all different kinds of texts!

2)    Talk to your child about the very important points in the text and main idea. Students need to be able to read with meaning so that the text is understood. In order to get “the gist” of what a text is all about, ask them to retell you the very important points in the text they are reading, this is a great indicator of whether they are understanding the text or not. When finished reading have your child summarize the text and tell you the main idea or author’s message (what the story is all about). Remember that a good retell is short and focused and does not just recite every detail of the story in order. Practice finding the main idea, moral or lesson in every text read!

3)    Help you child to make connections as they are reading. Making connections is a comprehension strategy that asks your child to connect the information in the text to their own background knowledge and experiences. The connection of personal knowledge to the text helps your child to understand what is happening in the text, the content or how characters feel or react; and triggers questions as they are reading. It is very important that the connections students make extend the understanding of the text and are not off topic.

When reading fictional text (story) ask your child to tell you what the story reminds him/her of… or something similar that has happened to your child. Always ask how this helps them to understand the story more fully. For example, “I was scared when I went to a sleepover so I know how Ira feels. She feels nervous and that is why she is holding her blanket so tightly. My connection helps me to understand how the character in the story is feeling.”

When reading non-fiction (fact) ask your child what they already know about the topic (connect to background knowledge), what questions they have about the topic (what they want to find out) and what new information they have learned from the reading.

Encourage your child to make connections beyond what they are reading and to extend understanding. For example, if reading a book about how cats communicate by meowing, connect the information to other animals not included in the story. For example, “if cats communicate by meowing I am thinking that a dog communicates by barking and people communicate by talking.”

Here is an easy framework to use when discussing a text with your child:

Retelling (Identifying the main ideas)

      This is about…

      I found that…

      First, next, then…

Relating (Making a connection)

      This reminds me of…

      This compares to…

      A time this happened to me…

Reflecting (Extending Understanding)

      I wonder why/how…

      Why didn’t…

      Now I know…

      Now I understand…

Here are examples of EQAO questions that ask students to make connections:

For more EQAO question examples visit: www.eqao.com

Next month- Making Inferences