ELA Sampler Exams Now Available for Grades 3-8

ELA Sampler Exams for NYS Grades 3-8The English Content Team has constructed sample ELA exams for grades 3 to 8. The sample exams reflect the changes indicated by New York State, and assess what students know and can do relative to the grade-level Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts. Each grade level sampler has the same number of reading passages as specified in the “Educator Guide to the 2013 Common Core English Language Arts Test.”   A variety of passage genres are represented in the samplers, and each sampler has a balanced mix of nonfiction, fiction, poetry and comparison passages. The samplers also include constructed (extended) response type questions so teachers and students can better prepare for Book 3 and Book 4.
To add a sampler to your list of assignments:

  • On the Teacher Home Page click Assignments
  • Click the button to Create From Public Assignments
  • Click the blue plus sign to expand English & Foreign Languages
  • Click the blue plus sign for Elementary English (Grades 3 to 5) or Intermediate English (Grades 6 to 8)
  • Click the blue plus sign to expand New York
  • Exams are labeled “NYS Sampler Exam 2013: Grade __: Book __”
    • Click the name of an exam to preview the contents of the exam
    • Check the box next to the name of an exam to mark it for import
  • When ready, click the Import button to add the selected exam(s) to your assignment list. You will then be returned to the Assignments page where you can review, modify and/or assign the exam.

Regents Exam Questions Available

The January 2012 NYS Regents exam questions* are now available in Algebra II & Trigonometry and Geometry.  The August 2012 NYS Regents exam questions* are also now available in Integrated Algebra. These questions have also been aligned to Webb’s Depth of Knowledge as well as Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy, and where applicable, to the Common Core.

Social Studies August 2012 NYS Regents Exams Available

Castle Learning has just released the August 2012 NYS Regents Exams in Social Studies. The latest questions are now available in the Global History & Geography and U.S. History & Government Regents courses. Questions are searchable within these Social Studies courses. They are also available as Public Assignments in each subject area.

Math NYS January 2012 Regents Available

The January 2012 NYS Regents exam questions are now available in Algebra II & Trigonometry and Geometry. Also available in Geometry are the June 2012 NYS Regents exam questions. In addition, the August 2012 NYS Regents exam questions are also now available in Integrated Algebra. These questions have been aligned to the new attributes, Webb’s Depth of Knowledge and Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy. Where applicable, they have also been aligned to the Common Core standards.

New York Assessments Available in Public Assignments

Castle Learning has just released the latest assessments for New York State. You can find the exam in the Public Assignments in the course: English.  With the recent advancements made on the Castle Learning site students and teachers are now able to view ALL parts of the exam in one assignment. Prior to this adjustment teachers could only put one reading passage selection into an assignment, which prevented them from creating a “mock” NYS exam.  Now students can take all parts of the exam in one assignment including the listening selection.

Castle Learning plans to adjust the previous style of public state assignments to the new format in the future.  Castle Learning authors equip each question with a hint and reason so that students can receive immediate instructional feedback (depending on the mode in which the assessment is assigned).

Social Studies State Exam Preparation Assignments – How to Import

Public Assignments are a great resource for teachers who like the “ready-to-go” option for assessments.  It takes only a few clicks to view the list, preview an assessment, and import it to be ready for assigning it to students!
Steps for importing Social Studies Exams from Public Assignments:
  • From the Teacher Home Page click Assignments
  • Click the Create From Public Assignments button
  • Click the plus sign (+) next to Social Studies
  • Click the plus sign (+) next to Global History & Geography or U.S. History & Government
  • Click the plus sign (+) next to Castle Assignments
  • Click the plus sign (+) next to your state (or any state for which you would like to view/import assignments)
  • Click the title of an assignment to preview or select the check box next to the assignment name to mark it for import
  • Click the Import button at the top left of the page to import into your Assignments
  • Now it’s ready to be assigned to your students!

NYS English Exam Practice Now Available at the Middle School Level

Castle Learning’s English Curriculum Team has just released 9 new “ready-to-go” assignments (Public Assignments) in the course: Intermediate English. These assignments model the new changes defined by NYSED for the upcoming ELA exams.

The new exam is separated into 3 “Books” which are to be administered on three consecutive days, Castle Learning modeled this by creating Continue reading

New York State Practice Exams Now Available at the Elementary Level

Castle Learning’s English Curriculum Team has just released 9 new “ready-to-go” assignments (Public Assignments) in the course: Elementary English. These assignments model the new changes defined by NYSED for the upcoming ELA exams.

The new exam is separated into 3 “Books” which are to be administered on three consecutive days, Castle Learning modeled this by creating 3 assignments for each grade level.

  • NYS Sampler Exam 2012- Grade 3: Book 1
  • NYS Sampler Exam 2012- Grade 3: Book 2
  • NYS Sampler Exam 2012- Grade 3: Book 3
  • NYS Sampler Exam 2012- Grade 4: Book 1
  • NYS Sampler Exam 2012- Grade 4: Book 2
  • NYS Sampler Exam 2012- Grade 4: Book 3
  • NYS Sampler Exam 2012- Grade 5: Book 1
  • NYS Sampler Exam 2012- Grade 5: Book 2
  • NYS Sampler Exam 2012- Grade 5: Book 3

All “Book 1″ Assignments include 7 reading passages as specified in the state guidelines. Literary, Informational, and Poetic passages can be found in each of the three levels (3rd, 4th, 5th grade).

All “Book 2″ Assignments include 1 listening passage and 2 reading sets, again modeling the state requirements.

Finally, all “Book 3″ Assignments include the following:

  • 3rd Grade: 2 passages (not paired)
  • 4th Grade: 2 passages paired, 1 single passage
  • 5th Grade: 2 passages paired, 1 single passage

Steps for importing a Public Assignment:

  • From the Teacher Home Page click Assignments
  • Click the Import From Public Assignments button
  • Click the plus sign (+) next to English & Foreign Languages
  • Click the plus sign (+) next to Elementary English
  • Click the plus sign (+) next to Castle Assignments
  • Click the plus sign (+) next to New York
  • Click the title of an assignment to preview or select the check box next to the assignment name to mark it for import
  • Click the Import button at the top left of the page to import into your Assignments
  • Now it’s ready to be assigned!

Castle Learning plans to add several more “paired” passages at the elementary level over the upcoming summer.

In addition, look for Castle Learning “test-prep” assignments coming soon. These assignments are shorter “build-up” exercises created for practice and focus on specific parts of the exam.

NYS English Regents Exams Available in Public Assignments

Castle Learning has just released the NYS English Regents Exams (June & August 2011) Public Assignments in the course: English. With the new advancements made on the Castle Learning Site students and teachers are now able to view ALL parts of the exam in one assignment. Prior to this adjustment teachers could only put one reading passage selection into an assignment. Preventing them from creating a “mock” NYS Regents exam. Now students can take all parts of the exam in one assignment including the listening selection. Castle Learning plans to adjust the “old” public Regents assignments to the new format in the future.