Page 6 - FDLRS Focus 2019

SIM

SIM Test Taking Strategy for the 21st Century
A Teacher Developed, Teacher Led School Wide Initiative

Beth Mayer, M. Ed.; Lisa Roberts, Ed.S.; Maria Soto, M.S. Ed.

Lantana Community Middle School is a relatively small middle school within this very large district. In
August of 2017, LCMS ranked 25th in enrollment out of thirty-three middle schools in The School District of
Palm Beach County (2017) with an average enrollment of 1,211 students. LCMS is a Title I school, with, at the
time of the initiative, 95% of the student population on free/reduced lunch. Almost 60% of the students were
scoring at level 1 or 2 on the FSA English Language Arts test in 2017.

In an effort to break the cycle of declining school grades, the LCMS Literacy Initiative Team began to
form. In May, 2017, Assistant Principal, Jose Rodriguez, recruited a team that included educators from all
departments (except the electives department) and with a wide range of experience. The team consisted
of two English language arts teachers (ELA), a math coach, a social studies teacher, a science teacher, two
exceptional student educators (ESE), and one speech language pathologist (SLP). Mr. Rodriguez provided
substitute teachers for each of these educators to allow them time to meet for the express purpose of changing
the educational climate of the school. Although this initiative began with an administrative decision, it was
teacher developed and teacher led from the beginning.

The Literacy Initiative Team determined that teacher “buy in” was a critical
component for the success of the initiative and to create a change in the school
culture. All faculty members were given an overview of the Test Taking Strategy
in August 2017 presented by the Literacy Initiative Team and SIM Professional
Developer, Beth Mayer. This overview included a shared common school language
for test taking that everyone would use. Another key component behind the success
of the strategy involved reinforcement of school common language done through
visual aides. Posters were created to emphasize each step of the Test-Taking Strategy
using the mnemonic device PIRATES. PIRATES Posters used a personalized graphic
for LCMS to include the school’s mascot as a Viking/Pirate. These posters were
printed for teachers to display in their rooms. These materials were provided by
Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System (FDLRS).

Instruction in the SIM Test Taking Strategy was provided by the Literacy Initiative
Team throughout the year. The rest of the faculty supported the team by providing
verbal practice, modeling the strategy with students, and integrating the strategy on their assignments or tests
completed in their specific content areas. The Controlled Practice (CP) tests were implemented in non-tested
subject areas (6th grade world history classes, 7th grade science classes and 8th grade US history classes)
which were completed over the rest of the year. Students completed CP 1 on October 16-20, CP 2 on February
5-9, and CP 3 on April 16-26. Students received general group feedback immediately after completing their
tests and more specific feedback prior to the next CP test. The team asked students to write a goal on the
bottom of their score sheet, indicating what they would like to improve on the next time they take a controlled
practice test. Before the next controlled practice test, students reviewed the previous score sheet and goal.
(continued on page 7)

Page 6 FDLRS Focus