FHSD Elementary ELA Newsletter
October 2016
Important Second Quarter ELA Dates
Assessment Wall: December 8-21
ELA Galileo Benchmarks: November 30-December 20
Mastery Connect Data Entry for ELA Writing Assessments: January 9-20
Kindergarten & First Grade Reading Summative: January 9-20
Interested in Curriculum?
With the new curriculum cycle, Units of Study for Early Childhood through third grade is in step 1. Basically, step 1 involves reviewing best practice research, analyzing district data, examining the standards, identifying priority standards, determining common instructional units and performance events, and updating the course description in order to prepare to write new curriculum the next year. This is a two year commitment for curriculum writers. The second year will include utilizing step 1 work to write the Units of Study curriculum. This process will include 2 release days throughout the course of this year and 6+ release days next school year. If you are interested in participating in the Units of Study curriculum writing team please fill out an application via the Google Form (must be logged in district Google account) by November 23rd.
Please let Sherri Lorton or Carrie Hepburn know if have any questions!Voice Thread
Due to the single sign-on portal, things have changed for VoiceThread for 16-17.
- Students will use the VoiceThread link under Learning Commons on your school’s website
- That link will direct them to the FHSD Portal
- They will use their AD Credentials when logging in:
- Username: first initial+last name+last three digits of ID
- Password: Fh+ID
There are some instructions for some trouble-shooting, using the app and what will happen the first time that students log-in on HowellNet; http://howellnet.sharpschool.net/professional_development/technology/?portalId=2671325&pageId=26826337&objectId.830640=27071363&contextId.830640=26826340&parentId.830640=26826341
Elementary Writing Scoring Guide
Tips:
1. Look at scoring guide early in the quarter to gain an understanding of the quarterly expectations for the genre being taught
2. Discuss writing behaviors with team and lit coach to gain a clear understanding of how to teach writing behaviors in writing mini-lessons
3. Student friendly scoring guides are located on HowellNET with the Units of Study resources (able to be modified as necessary)
Purpose of the Scoring Guide According to Best Practice
1. Assess performance toward standards and writing behaviors
2. Help teachers teach
3. Help coordinate instruction and assessment
4. Help students learn – provides next steps for students
Kindergarten
Kindergarten 2nd Quarter ELA Assessments
- Sight Words Assessment for second quarter
- Assessment Wall
- Narrative Writing: Students write about something students have done with their family
First Grade
- Second Quarter Reading Assessment
- Assessment Wall
- Opinion Writing: Students write an opinion piece about their favorite fairy tale. (not required for MC entry)
Second Grade
- Second Quarter Galileo Reading Benchmark
- Assessment Wall
- Informational Writing: Students will write an informational piece about Native Americans.
Third Grade
- Second Quarter Galileo Reading Benchmark
- Assessment Wall
- Informational Writing: Students will write an informational piece about ecosystems.
Reminder Assessment change for 2016-2017:
Based on feedback regarding third grade's writing assessments, the assessments for second and fourth quarter have been changed. The second quarter assessment will be an ecosystem informational writing piece and fourth quarter will be narrative writing including a weather related event.
Fourth Grade
Fourth Grade 2nd Quarter ELA Assessments
- Second Quarter Galileo Reading Benchmark
- Assessment Wall
- Opinion Writing: Students will write a literary essay.
Fifth Grade
Fifth Grade 2nd Quarter ELA Assessments
- Second Quarter Galileo Reading Benchmark
- Assessment Wall
- Opinion Writing: Students will write an argumentative essay.
Innovation Time
April Burton, is hosting a plethora of drop-in Tech PD opportunities. Innovation Time is a new way to PD and is designed around teachers’ schedules and needs. You can attend ANY Innovation Time and get support with ANY technology needs you might have. Upcoming Innovation Times are November 10 (BOE), and December 8 (DLC). The topic for November is Google Goodies.... You don't want to miss it!
Resisting the Frenzy: Staying the Course of Common Sense in Literacy Teaching
- students having a meaningful and interesting reading and writing lives,
- including structured opportunities to talk throughout the day,
- utilizing a variety of high quality fiction and nonfiction texts, primary and secondary sources, as well as poetry
- and students being acknowledged as unique learners.
Elementary ELA Content Leader
Email: carrie.hepburn@fhsdschools.org
Location: 1405 Hwy D, Saint Charles, MO, United States
Phone: 636-851-6341
Twitter: @CarrieHepburn