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Lack Of Experiences Affects FCAT Scores

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By MICHELE SAGER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 28, 2008

NEW TAMPA - Children who have never eaten at a restaurant, visited a zoo or ridden a Ferris wheel are missing popular life experiences.

Their chances for high scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test also might be harmed.

The state released the latest round of FCAT test results, the third-grade reading and mathematics scores. While most schools saw gains, some still lagged behind county and state averages. Many of those schools serve students who are unable to afford experiences such as visiting a fair or zoo.

That lack of experience can translate to the FCAT, educators say. At Riverhills Elementary, the school saw a drop on its reading score from a 288 last year to a 284. Nearly a third of Riverhills' third-graders scored at the lowest level, which means they could face retention.

Principal Jackie Scaglione said she and her staff will be analyzing the data. In some cases, she believes students missed the next-higher level by one or two questions. However, Scaglione acknowledges that one of the barriers to the FCAT is how lack of life experience affects comprehension.

"There was a question on the practice test that mentioned a Ferris wheel," she said. "Not one of the children in that class knew what that was."
Scaglione said she plans to send students on more field trips next year to give them those life experiences many take for granted.

"I took a group of my students to a sit-down restaurant, and not one of them knew how to use a knife and fork properly," she said. "And why would they? They eat finger foods for lunch in school and often get chicken fingers and burgers from the drive-through at home."
Scaglione said simple trips to an airport, grocery store or golf course could bring new experiences and a new understanding for the students.

Hunter's Green Elementary teacher Diana Favata said she devised a spelunking field trip partly because caves were mentioned in an FCAT question and her students didn't know what they were.

Witter Elementary Assistant Principal Susan Persbacker said reading is another way to give students world experiences. Her school also serves a large population of low-income students.

"The way you can give those experiences to students is through books," she said. "But you have to encourage leisurely reading and make it fun."

Students started the year at Witter leisurely reading books for 10 minutes a day. By the end of the year, those same students were reading 45 minutes to an hour each day and a variety of books.

Still, a third of Witter's students are facing retention because they scored at the lowest level this year. However, that number is down from the previous year, when 41 percent scored at the lowest level.

Students who scored at the lowest level still have a chance to graduate to the next grade. Teachers will look at the students' work portfolio and other test scores to make that determination.

Despite some struggling students, the third-grade scores brought mostly good news for schools. Temple Terrace Elementary saw a rise in reading scores from a 310 last year to 324 this year. And the number of students in danger of being retained dropped from 20 percent to 6 percent.

Principal Mary Frances Ledo said she was happy with the results but stopped short of excess celebration.

"I don't want to be too boastful because it's very easy to be up one year and down the next because of the nature of the tests," she said. "We are cautiously happy."

Tampa Palms Elementary celebrated an increase in its third-grade FCAT mathematics score, which went from 378 to a 381. The school did not have a single student scoring at the lowest level and had 70 percent scoring at the highest two levels.

"I really have to credit our teachers for their shared lesson plans and our enrichment programs," said Tampa Palms Principal Kimberly Keenan. "I also have to thank our wonderful PTA, which pays for some of the math manipulatives we use in the class."

By providing physical objects, Keenan said, it's easier for students to grasp concepts such as multiplication and fractions.

The final round of FCAT scores is expected next month.

Reporter Michele Sager can be reached at (813) 865-4843 or msager@tampatrib.com.

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