Why 3rd Grade Parents Should Act Now to the 3rd Grade FCAT Scoring Changes

Imagine it is July and FCAT scores come out to a resounding thud.  3rd Grade FCAT scores are down.  More 3rd graders are held back, many more 3rd graders will need remediation, and parents are upset

Now imagine the outrage a few months later when school grades are released.  Based on last years scores, the number of D rated schools will double and the number of F rates schools will triple.  If you are a parent, you may fear your child will get caught in the crossfire.  What can you do

These results are predicatable with dramatic changes in the 3rd grade FCAT.  While the headlines read percent of students who will fail the 3rd grade FCAT will increase from 16 to 18%, they should have read

Percent of 3rd Graders Needing Reading

Remediation will More Than Double - From 12 to 25%

Most smart struggling students are right-brained learners -- who learn best when they see and experience information.  Here are ...

3 Questions You Want to Consider.  Does your child:

-   Remember details from places visited, even from years ago?

-   Remember details from movies, even if they missed the plot?

-   Learn best when they see and experience information?

If this describes your child they are probably a right-brained learner.  Right-brained learners often find the 3rd Grade FCAT to be very difficult, even with average, above average and gifted right-brained learners. 

This page is dedicated to helping the parent of a right-brained learner to go from Stress to Outrageous Success on the 3rd Grade FCAT. What we share will also help to dramatically improve reading comprehension and help you to understand your child.

My name is Miira Halpert.  I have a Masters in Education from the University of Michigan.  Since 1997 we have helped well over 2000 students, and my expertise is helping right-brained learners to dramatically improve their reading comprehension, attention and FCAT scores.

My company is named 3D Learner, because right-brained learners often think in 3 dimensions.  One of my favorite lines is right-brained programs for right-brained learners.

On December 19^th, the Florida Board of Education made passing the 3^rd grade FCAT harder than ever.  They increased the percentage who will fail the 3^rd Grade FCAT and they dramatically increased the percentage who will need remediation.

The 3rd Grade FCAT scoring is as follows:

-   Level 1   Failing - mandatory retention unless other criteria are met

-   Level 2   Below Grade Level -- mandatory remediation

-   Level 3   Grade Level

-   Level 4   Above Grade Level

-   Level 5   Well Above Grade Level

By the state's estimates this means the failure rate, those scoring at level 1, will go from 16 to 18% on the 3^rd grade FCAT.

3rd Graders needing remediation, those scoring at Level 2 will jump from 12% to 25%. The increase in failure rates has been well covered in the press, but the increase in those needing remediation has been a well kept secret

These changes are effective immediately, and will be in effect for the 2012 FCAT.

One teacher commented, "Parents will be upset when they realize that 25% of the students will be put in remediation, including a number of 3rd graders who are close to grade level.

The question you might want to ask is ...

what can I do to avoid retention &/or  the need for remediation for my child?

Repetition does not work quickly or effectively, for the right brained learner who struggles with the 3^rd Grade FCAT for …two, three or four of the following issues.  They often:

• Learn differently   
• Have difficulty paying attention
• Have a visual tracking issue
• Have test anxiety

Learning differently does not mean your child has a learning disability.  We use it to mean your child learns best when they see and experience information.  Right-brained learners struggle with a test that rewards the ability to think logical, sequentially and to pay attention over a long period of time.  The 3rd Grade FCAT is relatviely easy for the left-brained learner, becasue it plays to their strengths.  The 3rd Grade FCAT is often very hard for the right-brained learner, because it attacks their weaknesses.

Right-brained learners often have a problem with sight words (e.g. but, why, what, however, etc.) that do not generate a visual image. Additionally these students have difficulty recognizing words they have previously learned, and become confused when answering FCAT questions that are not worded in a straight forward way. (e.g. Which of the following is not the right answer?)

Over 70% of the students we see have an attention challenge, over 70% have a tracking problem, where they skipping word and lines when they read.  The tracking problem is often missed.  Just over 50% of our students have both a tracking and attention issue.  These issues dramatically impact FCAT performance, reading, and almost every aspect of your child’s life.

Questions that may help you to identify these gifts and challenges are:

Does your child:

• Remember places visited even from years ago?

• Learn best when he/she sees and experiences information?

• Skip words and lines when reading?

• Have difficulty sustaining attention to that which is boring?

• Suffer from test anxiety, especially when the stakes are high?

3D Learner’s specialty is helping students who learn differently and have vision, attention and/or anxiety challenges to become successful or very successful readers.  After working with 3D Learner our students often get 3s or 4s on the 3^rd Grade FCAT – that represents at or above grade level performance.        

You may want to view 3D Learner in action as captured by CBS and learn what other parents have to say.

If this sounds like your child, click here for a Free Learning Survey and call us at 561-361-7495 for a Free Consult. Call now—there is no time to waste!