How NGHS Can Use the NCEE to Improve Its SAT Scores

Fifty multiple choice questions Latin and Greek Derivatives Online (http://www.quia.com/quiz/2930643.html) Forty-five minutes Can be given any day in November, and

at different times during the day Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals are

awarded, along with certificates that we can download

Thirty-nine NGHS Latin III students took the NCEE on November 26th, 2010.

Many of these students took the SAT on December 4th.

Seventeen won awards on the NCEE. Those who took the SAT reported

that their recently acquired knowledge from the NCEE helped them on five-ten questions.

Language Arts students intensively study Latin and Greek roots October 31st-November 3rd.

LA students take the National Classical Etymology Exam on November 4th.

LA students take the SAT immediately thereafter, on November 5th.

NGHS testing population benefits from the added study (thirty or more points).

NGHS SAT scores improve / NGHS WSA score improves.

Complement the LA vocabulary/root study already in

place, NOT add to an already packed LA calendar.

Teach roots, rather than words Teach word construction, rather

than deconstruction Teach efficiently

Twenty words of unrelated meaning are introduced in a list (each week or so)

Differentiated activities reinforce the meaning of these twenty words (contextual fill-in-the-blank,

synonyms, etc.) At the end of each unit, students have

learned fifteen-twenty words to proficiency

Lists of related root prefixes, infixes, and suffixes are introduced

Students observe and define English words that are based on these roots

Lists that can number into the dozens off of just a few roots

For example:

e/ex = out of, from (export) in = in, into; on; not (import) de = down, from, away (deport) re = back, again; anew (report) con/co = together, with (conscript) ad = to, towards, near (ascribe) per = through, badly (pervasive) cap/cip/capt/cept = take

except, exception incapable, incapacitate, inception, incipient deceive, deceit, deceptive, deception receipt, receive, reception, receptacle conceit, conceive, concept, conception, accept, acceptance, acceptable perceive, perceptive, perception

What other language features are apparent?

- A root is given (with examples) over the announcements each day.

- LA classes reinforce that root briefly in class each day

- On Fridays, LA teachers reinforce the week’s total of roots briefly

- Two weeks prior to the test, LA teachers increase instructional focus on roots (Start-Up, Bell Ringer, Warm-Down, etc.)

- Monday through Thursday before the test, all LA instruction is focused

on Latin and Greek roots study - The Exam is taken on Friday - The SAT is taken on Saturday

Pre-Planning: Discuss with LA Leads August: LA Leads discuss with LA dept. and

counselors discuss SAT registration September (first week): Students register for

SAT and reserve computer labs for the NCEE

October 3rd: Register students for the NCEE Week of Exam: Implement Instructional

Calendar and train staff for NCEE Nov. 4th: NCEE (SAT the next day)

Motivation to earn a better score on the SAT

Motivation to earn an award for college application

Economy of effort Brief period of focus No threat of failure on the NCEE

25-30% of the testing population (125-150 students) can put an academic achievement on their college applications

SAT Verbal scores will rise by thirty points on average, with some

gains as much as twice that SAT Writing scores will benefit,

albeit in a less measurable way

LA staff “buy-in” Counseling staff “buy-in” Student body “buy-in” Find funds ($3/student) Students sign up for the SAT

early, and request North for testing site

Follow Curriculum “A” or a modified version?

What grade level do we test? Do we test all students in the grade

or only certain sections? What materials do we use? How do we pay for this? How do we encourage SAT

registration?