Benchmarks: are short tests administered throughout the school year - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

 Benchmarks: are short tests administered throughout the school year that give teachers immediate feedback on how students are meeting academic standards.  Measures Student Growth  Designed to Meet Individual Needs  Three Times a Year  1 st – 6 th grade  ELA and Math in 1 st and 2 nd  ELA, Math, Science, & Social Studies in 3 rd – 6 th

 Scholastic Reading Inventory {SRI}: test designed to measure Lexile or reading ability  Lexile is shown as a number with an “L” after it  Common Core Standards “ Lexile ” Ranges by Grade • 2 nd Grade: 420L-650L • 3 rd Grade: 520L-820L • 4 th Grade: 740L-940L • 5 th Grade: 830L-1010L • 6 th Grade: 925L-1070L  www.lexile.com

Georgia Milestones: The Georgia Milestone Assessment System known as Georgia Milestones will replace the CRCT, EOCT and Writing Assessment, beginning in the 2014-15 school year.  3 rd -6 th Grade • Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies  Language Arts, Reading, & Writing will be combined  Writing will be on a separate day  Calculators will be provided for 6 th grade  Norm Referenced Items  Scores will be delayed the first year

How will it be administered?  2014-2015 , 30% of students are expected to take the tests online.  2016-2017 , 80% of students are expected to take the tests online.  2018-2019 , 100% of students are expected to take the tests online.  Paper/pencil versions will be available until 2018- 2019. • During 2018-2019, paper/pencil will be available for the small number of students who cannot interact with computers due to their disability. Braille forms will be available.

What parents can expect?  Testing Window: April 20 th -30 th  Student achievement scores may be initially lower, because the standards are more rigorous  ELA and Math will have constructed response and multiple choice questions  This is a new assessment. Therefore, it is not possible to directly compare the scores on the new test with your student’s CRCT scores from previous years…But we can compare GROWTH

Student Growth Percentiles: Growth percentiles will continue to be calculated.

Examples Constructed Response Test Items

Examples Constructed Response Test Items

Examples Constructed Response Test Items

Examples Constructed Response Test Items

Preparing and Supporting Your Child  Talk to your child about the new test.  Explain the tests will initially be more challenging.  With older children, explain the new assessment was created to provide information to help ensure he or she is on track for success after graduation.  Review test results with your child, taking time to discuss areas of strength and areas where there is room for improvement.  Provide a quiet, comfortable place to study at home.  Make sure child gets a good night’s sleep before the test.  Remind your child of the importance of reading directions carefully and not rushing.  Don’t schedule appointments, trips, or other interruptions during testing.

1. ORAL LANGUAGE 2. PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS 3. PRINT CONCEPTS 4. WRITING 5. ALPHABET & WORD KNOWLEDGE

…Refers to the ability to use words to communicate ideas and thoughts and to use language as a tool to communicate to others EXAMPLES:  Spend time in conversation with your child to develop vocabulary and knowledge of the world.  Label what you see and explain how things work.

…Refers to the ability to recognize, manipulate, and use sounds in words , including the ability to hear and discriminate the sounds in language EXAMPLES:  Play with language to help your child listen to rhymes and letter sounds.  Read nursery rhymes and other rhyming books.  See how many rhyming words you think of together.  Use words that start with the same letter and help your child to hear the letter sounds

… Print awareness describes children’s interest in print , knowledge of the names and distinctive features of various print units (e.g., alphabet letters, words). EXAMPLES:  Read aloud with your child every day.  Talk about the stories you read to make them more meaningful to your child.  Children will learn about books and print, for example we read the words, rather than the pictures, from left to right and from the front of a book to the back.

… the ability to represent ideas in a printed or written format EXAMPLES:  Encourage you child to draw and write by allowing access to pencils, crayons, markers, chalk and a variety of paper.  Activities to develop the muscle strength needed to be able to write successfully include: playing with play dough, tearing and crumpling paper, scooping and pouring.  Using Lego blocks, sticking stickers and using tongs.  Help your child send a letter or write an important list.

… Ability to recognize the letters of the alphabet in isolation, the context of word recognition and word use, and the ability to "read" words and text accurately and quickly EXAMPLES:  Teach your child about letters and words.  Notice words and letters in the world around you.  Read cereal boxes and favorite snacks.  Post your child's name in his or her room.  Point out the letters in your child's name that are in signs and billboards around town.

Questions to spark a discussion when reading at home with your child:  Why does the title make sense?  Who/What is the story/book mostly about?  Who is the main character in this story?  How is the problem solved?  What is the setting (where did it take place)?  Does the book remind you of anything that has happened in the world?  Is this a non-fiction (about real tings, people, events) or fiction (made up by the author) book?

Integrates 30 A joint initiative Supports research minutes of supported by Georgia connecting physical physical activity activity and Departments of seamlessly into Education and Public academic the school day Health performance Brain after sitting quietly Brain after 20 minute walk

Here are a group of terms and phrases you’ll hear throughout the year. These five mathematical concepts are integrated throughout each math unit we teach and are year-long skills we will improve upon. Terms to Know:

Here are a group of terms and phrases you’ll hear throughout the year. These five mathematical concepts are integrated throughout each math unit we teach and are year-long skills we will improve upon. Terms to Know:

Here are a group of terms and phrases you’ll hear throughout the year. These five mathematical concepts are integrated throughout each math unit we teach and are year-long skills we will improve upon. Terms to Know:

FAQs 1. What is Parent Portal? Provides 1 st – 12 th grade parents with anytime/anywhere access to their student's schedule, attendance, and grades by internet. You will also receive an instant email if your child is absent from a class. 2. I have more than one child, do I have to create an account for each child? No. A single login is used for all of your children. 3. How do I create an account? Get Parent Portal Access Code from school 4. Do I need to create a new account each year? No, once you create the account, that account will exist the following school year. 5. Does Parent Portal have an App for my phone? Yes. Please go to the app store and type "infinite campus" and the Parent Portal app is a FREE download.

Please take the following before you leave: 1. Power-Up for 30 2. Parent Portal 3. Reading at Home to Build Comprehension (K-6) 4. Reading for Grades K-3 5. 7 Standards to Effective Parenting 6. Math Vocabulary 7. 10 FREE Learning Websites