CRCT Study Guide: Reading English/Language Arts Mathematics
CRCT Study Guide: Reading English/Language Arts Mathematics
Study
Grade 1
Guide
Reading
English/Language Arts
Mathematics
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Reading 9
Vocabulary
Comprehension
Practice Quiz
Solutions
Chapter 3 Mathematics 35
Number and Operations
Measurement
Geometry
Data Analysis and Probability
Practice Quiz
Solutions
Using the CRCT Study Guide
This Study Guide focuses on the knowledge and skills that are tested on
the Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT). It is designed for
teachers to use with their students and for parents to use with their children.
Go to www.gadoe.org/ to find further information about and support for
the CRCT.
Use the following section of this guide, About the CRCT, for an overview of the
CRCT and for test-taking strategies to review with your students.
The chapters of this guide are organized by subject. In each chapter you can
explore the skills needed to succeed in a specific, tested domain (grouping of
similar content standards). The subject chapters include a snapshot of each
domain, instructional Activities that address covered skills, and a Practice
Quiz with annotated Solutions to help assess student progress.
About the CRCT
Since the spring of 2006, performance on the reading portion of the CRCT has
been linked to the Lexile scale. Visit www.gadoe.org/lexile.aspx for more
information on this national reading measure.
About the CRCT
About the CRCT
Test-Taking Strategies
Weeks Tell students about the test they will be taking. Make sure students
Before know what to expect on the day of the test.
the Test
Give students a chance to practice filling in bubbles before the
test day.
Remind students that this test is only one way for them to show
what they know.
During Remind students of the following strategies to use during the test:
the Test
Relax by taking slow, deep breaths.
Look at each answer choice for a question, then choose the one
you think is best.
Don’t try to find a pattern in the circles you fill in. There isn’t one!
Only change an answer if you are sure you picked the wrong one
before. Then erase the old answer completely.
Answer all of the questions, even if you aren’t sure every answer
is correct.
About the CRCT
Preparing for the CRCT
Related Links
Below are links to important resources that contain information related
to the CRCT.
Best practices in education indicate that
teachers should first model new skills
for students. Next, teachers should provide
opportunities for guided practice. Only then
should teachers expect students to successfully
complete an activity independently.
Reading
The Reading activities focus on some of the concepts that are assessed on the
Grade 1 CRCT Reading domains. These domains are as follows:
1˜Vocabulary
2˜Comprehension
Chapter One
Reading
Activities 1 Vocabulary
Georgia Performance Standards ELA1R5 and ELA1R6
Within the Vocabulary domain, Grade 1 students will learn the skills necessary to
read, interpret, and acquire new vocabulary in a variety of texts. They will recognize
grade-level words with multiple meanings, and identify both antonyms (opposites),
and synonyms (words that have similar meanings). To understand the meanings of
words, students in Grade 1 will identify the component parts of compound words,
as well as word parts such as roots, suffixes (e.g., –er, –est, –y), and inflectional
endings (e.g., –s, –es, –ed, –ing).
– To help students identify antonyms and synonyms, play Make a Match. Write
antonyms and synonyms on index cards, one word per card (see tables
below). Scramble the cards and place them face up in front of the students.
First, students should look for antonyms. Students who correctly identify a
pair of opposites will get to keep both words. Only one pair can be earned
per turn. Next, students should look for synonyms. Students who correctly
identify words with similar meanings will get to keep both words. The student
who has collected the most pairs by the end of the game wins. For variation,
cards may also be arranged face-down, like in the game Concentration.
Antonyms
10
Chapter One
Reading
Synonyms
11
Chapter One
Reading
Activities 2 Comprehension
Georgia Performance Standard ELA1R6
– To help students analyze characters and predict their feelings in the context
of a story, create and use two-sided emotion puppets. Students should cut
out two large circles from a piece of heavy paper. On one circle, they should
draw a happy face. On the other, they should draw a sad face. Give each
student a popsicle stick. Students should glue the two circles together with
the popsicle stick in the middle. When the emotion puppets are dry, read a
story together and stop when (or just before) something happens that would
affect the way a character feels (e.g., when Cinderella finds out she can’t go
to the ball). Students should use their puppets to show whether they think
characters would feel good or bad. Students should explain their choices and
relate the event to the context of the whole story. For example: Cinderella will
feel bad when her stepsisters go the ball. She will imagine being stuck doing
housework while her sisters enjoy themselves.
– To help students analyze story elements and recognize that all stories have
basic structures, create story maps. (See example below). After reading
a story, give each student a copy of the story map. First, students should
draw a picture of the setting. Next, they should name the characters. Finally,
students should draw pictures to show the main events that happened in the
beginning, middle, and end of the story. Students should compare their story
maps with those of other students.
12
Chapter One
Reading
13
Chapter One
Reading
Practice Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
14
Chapter One
Reading
2 On the next rainy day, what will Juan MOST LIKELY do?
A go outside and play
B watch television
C eat a snack
15
Chapter One
Reading
16
Chapter One
Reading
Solutions Correct
Number Answer Explanation
1 C Asks and answers questions about essential narrative
elements (e.g., beginning-middle-end, setting, characters,
problems, events, resolution) of a read-aloud or
independently read text. (ELA1R6c)
The correct answer is Choice (C) listening to the rain. In
the first two sentences, Juan thinks, “the rain makes
a funny sound” and hears “it falling on the ground.”
Choices (A) and (B) are incorrect because the poem
says nothing about coloring or playing soccer.
17
Chapter One
Reading
Correct
Number Answer Explanation
5 B Asks and answers questions about essential narrative
elements (e.g., beginning-middle-end, setting, characters,
problems, events, resolution) of a read-aloud or
independently read text. (ELA1R6c)
The correct answer is Choice (B) Juan’s mother likes
sunny days. According to the poem, Juan’s mother
“wants the rain to go away, / She wishes today were
a sunny day.” Choice (A) is incorrect because only Juan
cheers for the rain. Choice (C) is incorrect because
the poem says nothing about Juan’s mother’s desire to
plant flowers.
18
Chapter One
Reading
Correct
Number Answer Explanation
9 B Identifies words that are opposites (antonyms) or have
similar meanings (synonyms). (ELA1R5c)
The correct answer is Choice (B) unhappy. Choice (A) is
incorrect because the opposite of the word nice is mean,
uncomfortable, or unfriendly. Choice (C) is incorrect
because the word smile is the opposite of frown.
19
English/Language Arts
Chapter 2
English/Language Arts
Given the importance of reading and writing in every aspect of our society,
students in Grade 1 must begin to build strong literacy skills. In Grade 1, students
continue to produce text through speaking and writing. They make major
advances in learning to write a story that shows focus and organization. The
conventions of language gain importance to students as they develop a desire
for neatness and correctness. They learn to expand sentences and recognize
paragraphs, and they begin to learn the rules of language and spelling. They are
moving towards mastery of language use in order to read and write both for
information and pleasure. When writing, students can create complete sentences
with subject-verb agreement and use different types of sentences (simple/
compound). Students can correctly spell most words, understand basic writing
conventions (capitalization and punctuation), and correctly use nouns and
pronouns. When gathering information, students can use a variety of resources
to read and write about a topic.
The English/Language Arts activities are focused on some of the concepts that
are assessed on the Grade 1 CRCT English/Language Arts domains. These
domains are as follows:
1˜Grammar/Phonological Awareness/Phonics
2˜Sentence Construction
3˜Research
23
Chapter Two
English/Language Arts
Good Morning! Today is [day of the week], [month and day], [year].
[Name] has a birthday soon. (Can be a celebrity or a relative)
Today we will be working on [list the activities of the day].
– In order to help students understand and use long and short vowel sounds,
students will create a “word ladder.” Students should say aloud the first word
on the ladder. Then they should change, add, or remove one letter to create a
new word, and have another student pronounce the new word. Conduct this
activity in small groups, or simply trade words back and forth with the
student. Make the longest ladder possible. For example: start with the word
map; change p to t to make mat; change m to b to make bat; change a to e to
make bet; change t to g to make beg; change b to l to make leg; change e to o
to make log.
24
Chapter Two
English/Language Arts
– To help students identify correctly written sentences, play Circle It! Write
groups of three sentences on the board or on a piece of paper. Two of the
sentences should be incorrect, with mistakes in subject-verb agreement or
spelling. Students should take turns circling the sentence with no errors.
Students should also explain their choices and correct the errors.
25
Chapter Two
English/Language Arts
he or she will need an agreeing verb, such as the singular verb sleeps.
If a subject is singular, its verb must also be singular and will generally
have an s at the end. If a subject is plural, its verb must also be plural and
will generally not have an s at the end.
26
Chapter Two
English/Language Arts
Activities 3 Research
Georgia Performance Standards ELA1W1
Students should decide which reference source to use when presented with a
variety of choices. Examples of these choices include picture dictionaries, the
Internet, and books, as well as other sources of information. Students should
start to think about how to use the information they find. In addition, students
should be able to use a dictionary or glossary to find word meanings.
1.
2.
3.
4.
27
Chapter Two
English/Language Arts
purposes, put sentences like the following on the board. Students should
offer suggestions to answer the questions:
– Which book will help us find information about where a koala bear lives?
(encyclopedia)
– Which book will name the capital of Mexico? (atlas, encyclopedia)
28
Chapter Two
English/Language Arts
A My
B Hers
C Mine
A my
B friend
C november
4 What is the correct spelling of the word that completes the sentence?
A fuond
B found
C fownd
A Chris
B has
C shells
6 Which word can BEST be used in place of the underlined words in the
sentence?
A them
B us
C we
29
Chapter Two
English/Language Arts
A has
B have
C having
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: What Eagles Eat..................................2
Chapter 2: Building Nests..................................11
Chapter 3: Young Eagles.....................................18
Chapter 4: How Eagles Fly.................................23
A page 2
B page 11
C page 18
bright:
1. smart
2. shiny
3. cheerful
A definition 1
B definition 2
C definition 3
30
Chapter Two
English/Language Arts
Solutions Correct
Number Answer Explanation
1 A Use singular-possessive pronouns. (ELA1W1h)
The correct answer is Choice (A) My. This word properly
completes the sentence with the correct singular-
possessive pronoun. Choices (B) and (C) are incorrect
because the pronouns mine and hers are used to modify
the noun bike.
31
Chapter Two
English/Language Arts
Correct
Number Answer Explanation
6 B Begin to use personal pronouns (e.g., I, me, we, us) in
place of nouns. (ELA1W1g)
The correct answer is Choice (B) us. This personal
pronoun is an indirect object in the sentence. Choice (A)
is incorrect because the pronoun them would not include
the person saying or writing the sentence. Choice (C) is
incorrect because the subjective we should only be used
when the pronoun is the subject of a sentence, as in
We received hugs.
32
Mathematics
Chapter 3
Mathematics
By the end of Grade 1, students will understand and use the concept of ones and
tens in the place value number system. They will add and subtract small numbers
with ease. Students will represent quantity with numbers, models, diagrams, and
number sentences. They will begin to use tools for measuring; observe, create,
and decompose (break apart) geometric shapes; and solve simple problems
including those involving spatial relationships. Students will pose questions,
record data, and interpret simple charts and picture graphs.
The Mathematics activities focus on some of the concepts that are assessed on
the Grade 1 CRCT Mathematics domains. These domains are as follows:
35
Chapter Three
Mathematics
Within the Number and Operations domain, students will understand numbers
in multiple representations and compare and order numbers using symbols,
sequences, the number line, and the hundreds chart. Students will demonstrate
an understanding of equivalent quantities and working with coins and bills.
Students will demonstrate understanding of addition and subtraction, and apply
those skills in problem-solving situations. Therefore, students will cultivate an
understanding of how addition and subtraction affect quantities and are related
to each other. They will estimate, model, compare, order, and represent whole
numbers up to 100. Students will use concrete representations to build number
patterns. Students will solve and create word problems involving addition and
subtraction to 100 without regrouping. Students will divide groups into equal
parts and relate fractions as equal parts of a whole. In addition, they will be
introduced to multiplication and division situations and operations.
– Students will use collections of small objects to identify one more/less than
and ten more/less than a given amount. Gather several collections of small
objects and assign each collection a name or letter. Show one collection to
students, who will count the objects and write down the number for later
comparison. Provide a visual representation of the amounts by recording each
on a number line. This activity will also reinforce counting on and counting
back. Repeat this with each collection. Students should then determine which
collections have one more (or one less) than other collections. Repeat the
exercise with larger collections of objects so students can identify which
collections of objects have ten more (or ten less) than others.
– To develop students’ skills with skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s, both forward
and backward, use number lines and a hundreds chart. Skip counting is an
important step in creating the foundation for understanding multiplication.
Students who can recite sequences such as, 2, 4, 6, 8… may not make the
connection that each number is a consistent amount greater than the one
before it. Students will use number lines or a hundreds chart (see examples
on the next page) to practice skip counting, which offers a concrete visual
connection to the concepts. Students should describe the patterns they see
on the number line or hundreds chart; patterns derived by skip counting are
more obvious when colored on a hundreds chart. Students should count
forward and backward from one number to the next to understand that the
patterns are the same in either direction. Students should try to identify
numbers that show up in more than one skip-counting pattern (e.g., students
will count the number 6 when they are skip counting by 2 and by 3).
36
Chapter Three
Mathematics
Number Line
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Hundreds Chart
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100
37
Chapter Three
Mathematics
Activities 2 Measurement
Georgia Performance Standards M1M1 and M1M2
Within the Measurement domain, students measure the basic physical attributes
of concrete objects. Students create and use a “ruled” stick, tape, or container
and demonstrate an understanding of the comparison and ordering of length,
weight, or capacity of two or more objects by using direct comparison or a
nonstandard unit. Students will develop an understanding of the measurement of
time to the nearest half hour and calendar time (days, weeks, and months),
including duration (length) and sequence (order) of events.
38
Chapter Three
Mathematics
Further support can be found in the GPS Mathematics Framework: Unit 4: How
Can I Measure and Compare?
39
Chapter Three
Mathematics
Activities 3 Geometry
Georgia Performance Standards M1G1, M1G2, and M1G3
– Playing a bean bag toss game will develop students’ skills comparing,
contrasting, and classifying geometric shapes by common attributes of
shape, size, number of sides, and number of corners. Use a large sheet of
construction paper or posterboard to make a grid. Draw a variety of different
shapes, one in each box of the grid. Students should toss a bean bag on the
grid and write down the name of the shape the bean bag lands on. Repeat
with a second toss. Students should compare and contrast the two shapes
using the common attributes of each. As they name and describe the shapes,
students should explain the number of sides and corners of each, and explore
the relationships among various shapes.
– Students can practice naming and describing basic figures as they play a
drawing game. Gather some notebook paper and write down the name of one
shape on each sheet, such as square, rectangle, triangle, circle, pentagon,
hexagon, cylinder, cone, or rectangular prism. Divide students into two teams.
Call one student from each team to come up to the board or a flip chart and
give each a piece of chalk or marker. Show each seated team the name of
one shape, but keep it secret from the other team and both students doing
the drawing. The team members should give clues to their teammates at the
board using attributes of their shapes, but not using the names of the shapes.
The first student to complete the correct shape for his or her team earns a
point. The students then hand off the chalk or marker to a teammate who
then goes to the board.
40
Chapter Three
Mathematics
hiding the object. That student should use the same list of position and
proximity words to guide other students to find the location.
Further support can be found in the GPS Mathematics Framework: Unit 3: Fun
With Shapes.
41
Chapter Three
Mathematics
Within the Data Analysis and Probability domain, students pose questions,
collect, organize, and interpret data about themselves and their surroundings.
Students will organize, record, and interpret data using objects, pictures, tally
marks, bar graphs, and picture graphs.
– Use daily opportunities for students to collect and record meaningful data
from their surroundings. For example, students can record the weather each
day during the month and make cutouts to represent sunny, cloudy, and rainy
weather. Provide data collection sheets that students can use when gathering
information to avoid the loss of data. Students should choose the type of data
with which they will work. They will use tally marks or picture graphs to
record their data over the course of a day or week.
42
Chapter Three
Mathematics
Quiz
Which number sentence shows how to find the total number of legs
of both cats?
A 2 + 4 = 6
B 4 + 4 = 8
C 8 + 4 = 12
43
Chapter Three
Mathematics
Which number sentence shows how many blank pages are in his
notebook?
A 25 + 14
B 25 – 14
C 25 = 14
5 Rachel and Sam want to share a pizza equally. They cut the pizza in
half. Which picture shows how they shared the pizza?
44
Chapter Three
Mathematics
About how many shoe lengths are the same as the width of the door?
A 1
B 4
C 8
45
Chapter Three
Mathematics
46
Chapter Three
Mathematics
47
Chapter Three
Mathematics
Solutions Correct
Number Answer Explanation
1 C Correctly count and represent the number of objects in a
set using numerals. (M1N1b)
The correct answer is Choice (C) 26. There are 4 rows
with 6 shapes and 1 row with 2 shapes for a total of 26
shapes. Choice (A) is incorrect because each of the top 4
rows has 6 shapes rather than 5 shapes. Choice (B) is
incorrect because there are 24 shapes in the main block,
but 2 more in the last row for a total of 26.
48
Chapter Three
Mathematics
Correct
Number Answer Explanation
4 B Solve and create word problems involving addition
and subtraction to 100 without regrouping. Use words,
pictures, and concrete models to interpret story problems
and reflect the combining sets as addition, taking away
or comparing sets as subtraction. (M1N3h)
The correct answer is Choice (B) 25 - 14. The diagram
shows the total number of pages in Lucas’ notebook (25)
and the number that he has written on (14). The number
of blank pages is found by subtracting 14 from 25, which
is represented by the number sentence 25 - 14. Choice
(A) is incorrect because 25 + 14 is a number sentence
representing the total number of pages added to the
number of filled pages. Choice (C) is incorrect because
25 = 14 is an invalid number sentence that does not
describe the number
of blank pages.
49
Chapter Three
Mathematics
Correct
Number Answer Explanation
7 B Tell time to the nearest hour and half-hour, and
understand the movement of the minute hand and how it
relates to the hour hand. (M1M2a)
The correct answer is Choice (B) 1:30. The clock shows
1:20 which is closer to 1:30 than to 1:00 or 2:30. Choice
(A) is incorrect because 1:20 is closer to 1:30 than to
1:00. Choice (C) is incorrect because at 2:30, the hour
hand points between the 2 and the 3, rather than
between the 1 and the 2.
50
Copyright © 2007 by Georgia Department of Education.
All rights reserved. Lexile is a registered trademark of MetaMetrics, Inc.