Creeds Takes the IPT Wednesday 3/21

Please read this with a parent. Return the signed slip to Miss Schaech. The signed slip will say that you read and discussed this. Returned slips will be rewarded with 2 tickets.

This information is also being sent home in the Tuesday folder.
Thanks-
Fourth Grade Team


How to Do Well on the IPT

What is the IPT?
• IPT stands for Integrated Performance Task.
• The IPT is not a standardized, multiple-choice test.
• The IPT is a performance task with a real-life situation and a choice for you to make.
• Your answers to the IPT questions, called prompts, will provide information about your critical-thinking, problem-solving, and written communication skills.

How can I do my best on the IPT?
• These are some things you should not do:
1. Do not study for the IPT—you can answer the prompts by using the information in the IPT booklet and things that you already know.
2. Do not worry about taking the IPT—you will not get a grade on the IPT in any subject. The IPT is to help you, your teacher, and your parents understand how you use ideas and information to solve a problem.

These are some things you should do:
1. Take the IPT seriously. It is good practice for situations, problems, and choices you will need to make as you get older.
2. Listen carefully and follow along in your IPT booklet while your teacher reads the directions and the IPT. (The situation and documents will be read aloud to fourth graders.)
3. Circle, highlight, or underline important information and take notes in your IPT booklet as you read.
4. Circle, highlight, or underline words or phrases you don’t understand as you read. (Fourth-grade teachers have a glossary in their IPT Administration Directions booklet. Seventh-grade students have a glossary included in their IPT booklet.)
5. If you can’t read a word, a phrase, or a sentence, or if you don’t understand a word or a phrase in the IPT booklet, raise your hand so your teacher can help you.
6. Make sure you have read carefully and understood everything in the documents before you begin answering the prompts.
7. Save enough time so you can finish typing your answers to all three prompts. If you are slow at typing, start typing on your computer any time you want to—you do not need to write your answers in the IPT booklet first.
8. Read your answers to all three prompts carefully to see if they make sense before you raise your hand to submit your answers.

What else can I do to help me do better on the IPT?
While you are reading, watching TV, or listening to someone, think about these things:
1. Does everything you are reading or hearing seem correct or believable? If it does not all seem correct or believable, think of reasons why it may not be. Think to yourself, "that doesn’t sound right because..." and then finish the sentence.
2. What other information do you need to help you have a better understanding of what you are reading or hearing? What exactly is it that you don’t understand and how could the information help you gain a better understanding?

•If you are in a situation when you have to choose, take some time and ask yourself:
1. Did I think about all the good things and bad things that go along with each choice?
2. Is the choice I decided to make based on the right reasons or the wrong reasons?

•Practice persuasive writing—write letters that give reasons why your ideas are best.
•Practice typing. Here are some websites that have free typing games and lessons:
http://fivejs.com/free-online-typing-lessons-for-kids
http://webinstituteforteachers.org/~gammakeys
http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/keyboarding_games.html