Excerpt
SUCCEEDING ON THE PSSA: 8th Grade READING AND WRITING ABOUT THIS BOOK
This book provides excellent preparation for the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) for 8th Grade Reading and Writing. Inside you will find lessons, drills, strategies, and test practiceall of it with a single-minded focus: success on the PSSA.
We have also made every effort to make the book easy to read and navigate. This book is divided into several parts. The first section is a PRETEST, which is half the length of an actual PSSA test and introduces students to some elements of the actual test, including:
Nonfiction reading passages, including biographies and articles
Fiction reading passages, such as poems and excerpts from novels
Multiple-choice and open-response questions
Following the pretest is a lesson section, which teaches students about the different types of test questions, step by step. A full-length POSTTEST, which matches the content and structure of the actual PSSA, appears at the end of the book. An answer key with detailed explanations of each answer is provided.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
FOR STUDENTS: To make getting through the book as easy as possible, weve included icons shown on the next page that highlight sections like lessons, questions, and answers. Youll find that our practice tests are very much like the actual PSSA youll encounter on test day. The best way to prepare for a test is to practice, so weve included drills with answers throughout the book, and our two practice tests include detailed answers.
FOR PARENTS: Pennsylvania has created grade-appropriate Assessment Anchors that are listed in the table in this introduction. Students need to meet these standards as measured by the PSSA. Our book will help your child review for the test and prepare for the exams. It includes review sections, drills, and two practice tests complete with explanations to help your child focus on the areas he or she needs to work on to help master the test.
FOR TEACHERS: No doubt, you are already familiar with the PSSA and its format. Begin by assigning students the pretest. An answer key and detailed explanations follow the pretest. Then work through each of the lessons in succession. When students have completed the subject review, they should move on to the posttest. Answers and answer explanations follow the posttest.