TorchPrep Bridge – Teachers (2019-2020)

This is a set of 10 “Missions” your students will complete. It is designed to fill the time between the TorchPrep Blitz™ and the specific test date for which they are preparing. Each Mission is constructed to fit in a 30-minute class period. Each school and situation is different, so TorchPrep is here to help you build a program that can work in your schedule leading to test day!

Each Mission follows a similar pattern. After you’ve gathered the students and have the videos pre-loaded, have the students open to the specific Mission in their Blitz Manual. Read the “Teacher Notes” before the Mission and then follow the steps listed under the Mission. The Mission Script should be read out loud to the students.

The answers to all test questions can be found in the final pages of the test provided. For motivated students, spending time reworking problems they missed is an EXTREMELY valuable tool to increasing scores. At your discretion, students can use the Blitz test and the Bridge test on their own.

Other notes:

1. Students MUST have the following for EACH Bridge session:
   • Blitz Manual
   • Full length test number 1163E (provided by TorchPrep)
   • Full length test number 1572C (provided by TorchPrep during Blitz)
2. For math sessions, calculators are needed (Missions 1, 4, & 8)
3. All Code Crackers™ (strategies) should already be in the students’ notes pages in the Blitz Manual. The videos will review them, but students must open their manuals to the correct page so they can visually review them as well.
4. Encourage students to review questions they answered incorrectly on their own to continue to improve their score. Reworking incorrect answers is extremely beneficial to increased scores.

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Mission #1

Teacher Notes:

• Mission Goal: Review general strategies and implement on part of a Math practice test.
• Mission Script: (read aloud after vids and before working) Remember, to focus on grabbing the Low Hanging Fruit! Many students naturally go straight through the test and waste time on questions you may find difficult.  We will practice focusing on questions you have a higher likelihood to get correct, while being sure to skip when necessary.
• Answers: at end of test

Mission 1 – Low Hanging Fruit

• Students Open Blitz Manuals to Mission 1
• Watch 3 Sweep Method video
• Watch Guessing Strategy video
• Read script
• Math test from test 1163E
  • #16-30
  • 15 min
  • Don’t leave any answers blank
  • GRIT don’t QUIT!!!
  • Get the Low Hanging Fruit!
  • Guess at the end

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Mission #2

Teacher Notes:

• Mission Goal: Review time management and high level Reading test strategy and implement on 2 passages.
• Mission Script: (read aloud after vids and before working) Remember, for many of you, to finish the test you must focus on each passage as a separate test. For Reading, it is imperative that you focus on completing each passage in 8 min 45 sec.
• Answers: at end of test

Mission 2 – Reading Strategy

• Students Open Blitz Manuals to Mission 2
• Turn to Reading Code Crackers in manual
• Watch Reading Strategy video
• Read script
• Reading test from 1163E
  • Passage I & Passage II (#1-20)
  • 17 min 30 seconds total
    • 8 min 45 sec per passage
      • Simplify (4 min 30 sec)
      • Answer questions (4 min)
      • Guess (15 sec)

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Mission #3

Teacher Notes:

• Mission Goal: Review high level English test strategies and implement them on 2 passages.
• Mission Script: (read aloud after vids and before working) Diagnosing the problem is important on the English test. Most students look directly at the answer choices and try to “find” the right answer. The better method is to try to figure out what’s wrong and what they’re testing you on and develop an answer on your own. Then look for a similar answer among the choices. And remember, ALWAYS use Clear, Concise, and Effective as a filter for the best answer.
• Answers: at end of test

Mission 3 – English Strategy

• Students Open Blitz Manuals to Mission 3
• Turn to English Code Crackers in manual
• Watch Diagnose Before you Decide video
• Watch Clear, Concise, Effective video
• Read script
• English test from 1163E
  • Passage I & II (#1-30)
  • 18 min
    • Best Students ask the Best Questions
    • Ask, “What’s Wrong?” and FIX IT!
    • Use Clear, Concise, & Effective language

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Mission #4

Teacher Notes:

• Mission Goal: Review the 3 step Word Problem strategy and implement on several Math test questions.
• Mission Script: (read aloud after vids and before working) Many students get overwhelmed with word problems on a math test. The goal is to be able to demonstrate your math content knowledge on this test. This strategy gives a clear framework for the best opportunity to get each question correct. It’s designed to simplify each question so you have a fighting chance even when questions seem impossible.
• Answers: at end of test

Mission 4 – Word Problem Strategy

• Students Open Blitz Manuals to Mission 4
• Turn to Math Code Crackers in manual
• Watch Word Problem Strategy video
• Read script
• Math test from 1163E
  • #31-50
  • 20 min
  • Focus on Word Problem Strategy
  • GRIT don’t QUIT!!!
  • Get the Low Hanging Fruit!

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Mission #5

Teacher Notes:

• Mission Goal: Focus on identifying Science passage types and actually label accordingly. Then review and implement one of the Science strategies.
• Mission Script: (read aloud after vids and before working) Each passage type on Science requires a different strategy. You must first identify the passage type then implement the correct Code Cracker™.
  • Passage types KEY
    • 1 – Studies/Experiments
    • 2 – Studies/Experiments
    • 3 – Conflicting Viewpoints
    • 4 – Studies/Experiments
    • 5 – Studies/Experiments
    • 6 – Studies/Experiments
    • 7 – Studies/Experiments
• Answers: at end of test

Mission 5 – Identify Science Passages

• Students Open Blitz Manuals to Mission 5
• Turn to Science Code Crackers in manual
• Watch Identifying Passages Science video
• Watch Studies & Experiments video
• Read Script
• Science test from 1163E
  • Label each passage based off its type
    • Less than 1 minute
    • Study/Experiment = SE
    • Conflicting Viewpoints = CV
  • 12 minutes to Complete Passage I (#1-6) & Passage II (#7-11)

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Mission #6

Teacher Notes:

• Mission Goal: Review Conflicting Viewpoints strategy and implement on practice passage. Review Reading strategy and implement on 1 practice passage.
• Mission Script: (read aloud after vids and before working) You just reviewed the strategy for Conflicting Viewpoints passages (CV). Remember that this strategy still holds even when there are more than 2 arguments.
• For Reading it is imperative that you focus on completing each passage in 8 min 45 sec. Use this as an opportunity to find the Low Hanging Fruit questions and strictly adhere to the time constraints.
• Answers: at end of test

Mission 6 – Science and Reading Continued

• Students Open Blitz Manuals to Mission 6
• Turn to Science Code Crackers in manual
• Watch Conflicting Viewpoints video
• Read 1st part of script
• 7 minutes to Complete Passage III (#12-18) from Science test 1163E
• Turn to Reading Code Crackers in manual
• Watch Reading Strategy video
• Read 2nd part of script
• Reading test from 1163E
  • 8 min 45 sec to Complete Passage III (#21-30)
    • Simplify (4 min 30 sec)
    • Answer questions (4 min)
    • Guess (15 sec)

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Mission #7

Teacher Notes:

• Mission Goal: Review high level English test strategies and implement them on 2 passages.
• Mission Script: (read aloud after vids and before working) Diagnosing the problem is important on the English test. Most students look directly at the answer choices and try to “find” the right answer. The better method is to try to figure out what’s wrong and what they’re testing you on and develop an answer on your own. Then look for a similar answer among the choices. And remember, ALWAYS use Clear, Concise, and Effective as a filter for the best answer.
• Answers: at end of test

Mission 7 – English Continued

• Students Open Blitz Manuals to Mission 7
• Turn to English Code Crackers in manual
• Watch Diagnose Before you Decide video
• Watch Clear, Concise, Effective video
• Read script
• English test from 1163E
  • Passage III & IV (#31-60)
  • 18 min
    • Best Students ask the Best Questions
    • Ask, “What’s Wrong?” and FIX IT!
    • Use Clear, Concise, & Effective language

_________________________________________________________________________________

Mission #8

Teacher Notes:

• Mission Goal: Review the 3-step Word Problem strategy and implement on several Math test questions.
• Mission Script: (read aloud after vids and before working) Many students get overwhelmed with word problems on a math test. The goal is to be able to demonstrate your math content knowledge on this test. This strategy gives a clear framework for the best opportunity to get each question correct. It’s designed to simplify each question so you have a fighting chance even when questions seem impossible.
• Answers: at end of test

Mission 8 – Word Problem Strategy Continued

• Students Open Blitz Manuals to Mission 8
• Turn to Math Code Crackers in manual
• Watch Word Problem Strategy video
• Read script
• Math test from 1163E
  • #1-15 & #51-55
  • 20 min
  • Focus on Word Problem Strategy
  • GRIT don’t QUIT!!!
  • Get the Low Hanging Fruit!

_________________________________________________________________________________

Mission #9

Teacher Notes:

• Mission Goal: Review and implement the Science strategies on Studies/Experiments passages.
• Mission Script: (read aloud after vids and before working) Each passage type on Science requires a different strategy. You must first identify the passage type then implement the correct Code Cracker™.
• Answers: at end of test

Mission 9 – Science Continued

• Students Open Blitz Manuals to Mission 9
• Turn to Science Code Crackers in manual
• Watch Identifying Passages Science video
• Watch Studies & Experiments video
• Read script
• 15 minutes to Complete Passage IV-VI (#19-35) from Science test 1163E

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Mission #10

Teacher Notes:

• Mission Goal: Review time management and high-level Reading test strategy. Implement strategies on 2 passages. *Note: students previously completed Passage III from 1572C during Blitz
• Mission Script: (read aloud after vids and before working) Remember, for many of you, to finish the test you must focus on each passage as a separate test. For Reading, it is imperative that you focus on completing each passage in 8 min 45 sec.
• Answers: at end of test

Mission 10 – Reading Continued (need test form 1572C from Blitz)

• Students Open Blitz Manuals to Mission 10
• Turn to Reading Code Crackers in manual
• Watch Reading Strategy video
• Read script
• 8 min 45 sec to Complete Passage IV (#31-40) from Reading test 1163E
  • Simplify (4 min 30 sec)
  • Answer questions (4 min)
  • Guess (15 sec)
• Reading test from Blitz (form 1572C)
  • Passage III (#21-30)
  • Pay attention to the Multiple Texts, working one part of the passage at a time
  • Complete this passage in 8 min 45 sec