PQA and Constructed Response

None of us want to admit it, but test prep is a crucial part of many of our jobs.  We have to introduce kids to the format of the test before they get to the test.  We have to teach them how to respond to the sort of questions the test will ask them.  And we have to teach them to read and answer thoroughly and completely. I don't know about you, but most of my kids try and take the easy way out.

Q:  "Who was the main character?" A: Jake  

Q: "How did Jake's feelings change throughout the story?  Support your answer with details from the text."  A: He was sad and then he was happy.    

Working with RtI students means this is what I see all day long.  All day.  A good part of our time is spent teaching the kids how to respond to questions and proving their answers using the text.  We would much rather see an answer that says "Jake's feelings went from sad to happy.  In the beginning, he was sad that he didn't have anyone to play with.  At the end, he was happy because his best friends came over."  Most often, we can get the kids to tell us that in words when we ask, but when we ask them to write ....screeeeeeeech.... it comes to a halt.  So, we practice.  With older kids, we practice about oncce a week.  We give the kids a format similar to the test where they have the text right there with them to help them respond.  We teach them to use their highlighter or pencil to prove their answer in the text.  And we teach them to write in PQA.  What's PQA?

{right click the picture to download the poster}

PQA is Putting the Question in the Answer.  I thought this was a common acronym but after asking around, I found out it's not.  Every district I've worked in uses that acronym but I know many others do not and have something else they use.  We begin really introducing it in 2nd grade and ask the students to do it in all responses beginning in 3rd grade.  You might be shocked, but I still have to remind our 7th graders that they need to do it when they respond to a question.  Yeah, you're a teacher, you probably aren't shocked.

When we get back from break, I'm going to begin to work through passages with constructed response questions with my 2nd graders.  They've already begun doing it in their classrooms, but we haven't worked on it so much in RtI yet because we've been working so much on decoding.  They're ready now.  But, one thing I noticed was that I could not find passages and questions I could use.  Seriously.  I looked through the books I had.  I looked through the books of others.  I looked online at TpT.  I couldn't find what I was looking for.  Yes, I found passages but all of the questions were very-rote and/or multiple choice.  There wasn't anything that I could find that was at a lower reading level but still open ended.  So I made some....

These two pages are samples so that you can see and try them out with your students if you'd like.  I put the first two pages in the Preview for free.  Just click on any of the pictures to head to my store and then click on the Download Preview button to download the preview with the 2 passages and questions.

What do you do to get your kids ready for the mandated test?  Do you have any tips or acronyms to share?