The ORQ Generator files above are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to open them. Most computers already have this program. However, if your computer does not have already have Acrobat Reader, you can download it for free at the following link. (It is available for both Windows and Macintosh computers.)

About the Reading Core Content Question Generator

The "Reading Core Content Question Generator” was developed to help Jefferson County teachers create the types of questions that will be found on the Kentucky Core Content Test. It was designed so that you can choose appropriate text in your own classrooms and can create “CATS-like” assessment questions for use with your students. Primary through 4th grade teachers should use the "Elementary Reading Core Content Question Generator." If you are a 5th, 6th, or 7th grade teacher, please use the “Middle Level Reading Core Content Question Generator.” Eighth grade through tenth grade teachers should use the "High School Reading Core Content Question Generator."

Unfortunately, stringent federal copyright laws prevent district-wide publication of many text examples in print and on the web. Because we are so restricted on providing published text, the Question Generator suggests appropriate types of text for each Core Content bullet, and in some instances, suggests certain texts that can be found widely at the elementary school level. We continue to look for ways to make published text examples available to you as you plan instruction. The examples use EBSCO "Online Reader" text, a resource that is available to every school in Jefferson County (see related link for EBSCO "Online Reader" on this web page).

Tips for using the Question Generator:

Questions should be created around one or two Core Content bullets at a time. Many Core Content bullets may suit a certain text. Choose one or two to actually assess. There are some examples of completed questions in the last section of this document.

1. When choosing text, there are several things to keep in mind:
   • Choose a text that will engage your students’ interest.
   • Even though the test is not timed, a text used to gauge how well students might do on the Kentucky Core Content Test should be short enough that students can read it and write an answer in approximately 15 minutes.
   • A text used solely for assessing instruction in your own classroom can be longer (entire novel, long novel chapter, entire short story, longer persuasive essay, etc.).
2. After choosing the text, do a quick check on readability to make sure the text is at the appropriate level. A readability check provides a “ballpark” guess at the reading level of the text. One way to check readability is by using the readability function on Microsoft Word. Type in 100 words of the selection (make sure to misspell one word or the program won’t work). Go to “Tools.” Click on “Spelling and Grammar.” Do the spell-check on the text. When it is finished, statistics on the document will appear. Grade level readability is one of the statistics. Keep in mind that different parts of the text will often reveal different readability results. Some teachers do a check on the beginning, middle, and end of a selection and average the results.
3. Another way to check readability is to do it manually using one of the readability formulas (Fry; Flesch-Kincaid; etc.) found in many reading methods course textbooks. Ask your school support teacher or call the reading office for further advice (3052).
4. In this Question Generator, the Kentucky Performance Level Descriptions have been correlated with appropriate Core Content bullets. The Performance Level Descriptions for Reading were created at the Kentucky Department of Education in 2001 by a group of language arts teachers from across the state. These teachers outlined what patterns of performance would look like for Novice, Apprentice, Proficient, and Distinguished work in Reading. The Performance Descriptions can be used as a guideline when creating rubrics. They are not to be used to score individual questions; rather they should be used to judge a body of work, such as a classroom, team, or one student’s work across various assessments. To score the questions in the Question Generator, individual rubrics should be created with students scoring a “1” for the lowest level and a “4” for the highest level.
5. 6. KDE has distributed a CD to each school called “Teaching to Proficiency and Beyond” which includes technical information about writing and scoring open response questions. Ask your principal and/or counselor for this CD. An example of an open response question has been included in each section of this document.
   
   ***Remember, we are striving for a pattern of “Proficient” answers to prepare students for the state assessment!***