Standardized tests play a significant role in your child’s education. While they may not be on the forefront of your child’s mind, you as their parent can begin working with them now to prepare them for these tests later.
One of the requirements of the standardized tests, specifically in the state of Georgia, is for the students to write a constructive response to both fiction and nonfiction text. For students in grades three through eight, there is a simple and effective strategy for constructing a response known as “R.A.C.E.S.”
The following steps demonstrate practical ways to respond to texts using the R.A.C.E.S strategy.
Step 1: Restate the question.
Cross off the question word and write it as a statement.
Example:
What is the theme of the text?
The theme of the text is…
Step 2: Answer the question.
Make an inference based on the fiction text:
Example:
I think…
I believe…
Make a statement based on the nonfiction text.
Step 3: Cite evidence from the text to support your inference from the fiction text and statement from the nonfiction text.
Use a direct quote.
Example:
The text says…
The author says…
Step 4: Explain how the quote and evidence you used support your inference from the fiction text and statement from the nonfiction text.
Example:
This shows…
This is because…
This means…
Step 5: Sum it up by restating the question as a conclusion.
Example:
That’s…
To sum things up…
As you can see…
Application:
Have your child pick and read a fiction passage and a nonfiction passage. Then, present a question that will require a constructed response.
Here are some examples:
Nonfiction: What are some ways you can live a healthy life?
Nonfiction: What are some character traits of Joseph in Genesis in the Bible?
Fiction: What is the theme of this story?
Fiction: If you could be any character in this story, who would you be?
Have your child write a constructed response for both fiction and nonfiction text once a week.
For more practice preparing for standardized tests in Georgia, take advantage of our private online tutoring services!
