ISTEP and More
Part 1 Testing Window 2/27/17--3/10/17
Students are ready to show what they know!
Dear Parents/Guardians,
On Tuesday we begin Part 1 of the the ISTEP. We are confident that our students are prepared and ready to show what they know as they have been working very hard this year. Our teachers are encouraging students to get a good night’s rest each night, eat a healthy breakfast, and have a positive attitude about the test! Below you will find our testing schedule for each grade level.
One bonus to ISTEP+ testing is that there is no homework during the week. This gives children and parents a chance to come home and spend time together without worrying about getting schoolwork done. Also in this newsletter, I have included a nice clip and information about raising confident readers and the joy of reading together.
Thank you for your support!
Julie Thacker
Ways You Can Support Your Child
1. Make sure your child is at school every day, for the full day during the ISTEP+ testing window. We ask that you not schedule appointments during the testing times. If students arrive late to school, they will not be allowed to enter the classroom, while the test is in progress.
2. Set an earlier bedtime so that your child is well rested when coming to school.
3. Encourage your child to eat breakfast every day either at school or at home.
4. Let them know how much YOU believe in them and encourage them to do their best.
5. Please have your child keep their phone at home or be prepared to turn it into the teacher! We will be collecting ALL cell phones during testing. This is a required part of testing security. NO exceptions.
6. Please note that students will not have homework next week.
Purpose of ISTEP+
Literacy Lifestyle
Promote authentic reading throughout the day to show your child that it is an essential skill. Encourage reading to learn information and for pleasure. Here are some helpful tips:
- Read printed words anywhere you find them - mail, advertisements, recipes, street signs, billboards, names of shops, etc.
- Learn new words together. Show an interest in building your own vocabulary.
- Carry books with you everywhere you go. Find a few minutes to read some pages while running errands or waiting at the doctor's office.
Home Environment
Create a comfortable reading and writing environment at home. Here are some helpful tips:
- Have a place where your child can easily access books, magazines, newspapers, and writing materials.
- Turn off the television and spend time reading or journaling as a family.
- Write notes to your children or type them emails.
- Encourage use of a dictionary or thesaurus.
Reading Together
Read with your child 20 minutes each night. Hearing your language patterns and expressions builds your child's fluency and vocabulary. Here are some helpful tips:
- Read high interest short stories or chapter books that get your child excited about reading.
- Take turns reading aloud with your child.
- Read sections of the newspaper or magazine articles together.
- Re-read favorite books. Encourage your child to tell what happens next. This reinforces comprehension skills.
Selecting Books
Help your child select reading materials that are of interest and at the appropriate reading level. Here are some helpful tips:
- Explore your child's interests.
- Ask your child's teacher or librarian to help create a suitable reading list.
- Read book reviews and search for award-winning book lists such as the Newbery Medal and Young Hoosier Award winners.
- Share your childhood favorites.
Talking About Books
Talk with your child about what he or she is reading. Ask questions to promote thinking and discussion.
How do you like your book?
What's your favorite part so far?
Who's your favorite character?
Who's your least favorite character?
What do you think will happen next?
How do you think it's going to end?
How would you have changed the story?
What would you have done if you were the main character?
How did the book make you feel?
Did the book teach you any lessons?