During this session, teachers and/or students are given a detailed overview of the skills tested on the ACT English subject area test. Teachers learn what standards are assessed on the ACT English test and how they are assessed. Specific skills and strategies to improve student achievement on the ACT English test are presented. Coaches and teachers will take a close look at grammar foundational skills to formulate a plan that encompasses ELA teachers in grades 3-11 because all teachers are teaching grammar standards that are found on the ACT. If data is available, weak standards are determined and an action plan is devised to strengthen weak standards. Teachers may be given an ACT practice test to simulate real testing situations and their response to a timer. In a student session in addition to the above, they would be given a timed practice test and an opportunity to discuss their answers and possible strategies used for finding the correct answers. Students would also be given information to access additional practice tests. If the system chooses, coaches and teachers may dissect the PreACT tests that have been released to the systems in order to determine distractor answers and to review questions stems used on PreACT/ACT. Other topics to be discussed: • Conventions of Standard English • Production of Writing (Proofreading for errors) • Knowledge of Writing • Common Misused Words • Strategies for teaching grammar • Motivation for the ACT- It’s Doable
