Wentworth Family News
Week of October 13 - October 16
Getting Ready for iReady!
October 15, 2020
Dear Wentworth Families,
The purpose of this letter is to share information regarding an important online tool that we will be using this year. This tool is part of a program called i-Ready. Below, you will find information about the program and how we will be using it this fall.
Please watch this 2 minute video: Introducing i-Ready at Home
What is i-Ready?
i-Ready is an online program for reading and mathematics that will help us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform instruction. The two tools are the i-Ready Diagnostic and the i-Ready Online Instruction. You will hear more about i-Ready Online Instruction later. The first step to assigning high quality online instruction to meet your child’s learning needs is the i-Ready Diagnostic.
The i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions to suit your child’s needs. Each item a student receives is based on their answer to the previous question. For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier ones. The purpose of this is not to give your child a score or grade but to determine how to best support their learning. It is not a placement test. Our teachers use the information to help them identify where to target their instruction. We plan to implement the assessment at least twice this year to monitor student progress. This assessment can be taken at school or at home. In order to maximize our in person instructional time, we are planning for most students to take the diagnostic at home this fall.
If your child is taking the i-Ready Diagnostic at home, here is some important information:
Work with your child to determine a quiet, comfortable work space to take the assessment and gather the supplies needed. More information will be provided by your child’s classroom teacher in how you can partner to ensure a successful experience.
How to help your child with this assessment: help is not always helpful. Remember it is not an achievement test. Learning what your child cannot answer is as important as what they can answer. The purpose is to identify an accurate instructional level. Please do not answer questions for your child.
Here is a Checklist for Administering the Diagnostic at Home.
During the assessment, there will also be an opportunity for you or your child to re-enter a Google Meet to address technical issues. Your child’s teacher will provide you with additional information.
You can also learn more about i-Ready by visiting i-ReadyCentral.com/FamilyCenter.
~Here is specific information about how we will implement the i-Ready Diagnostic this fall for Wentworth students~
Staff PD and preparation will take place beginning on Wednesday October 14. Teachers will work with students to prepare to take the at home diagnostic by providing log in information as well as reminders and practice about how to navigate the iReady platform.
Wednesday, October 28: Cohorts A, B, and D* will take the iReady Reading Diagnostic
Cohort C will take the iReady Reading Diagnostic this week as well, and the specific date/time will be communicated by your child’s fully remote teacher.
9:10-9:40 - Morning Meeting, Instructions and Reminders
9:40-10:00 Break
10:00-10:50 Reading Session 1
10:50-11:10 Break
11:10-12:00 Reading Session 2
Wednesday, November 4: Cohorts A, B, and D* will take the iReady Math Diagnostic
Cohort C will take the iReady Math Diagnostic this week as well, and the specific date/time will be communicated by your child’s fully remote teacher.
9:10-9:40 - Morning Meeting, Instructions and Reminders
9:40-10:00 Break
10:00-10:50 Math Session 1
10:50-11:10 Break
11:10-12:00 Math Session 2
*Some cohort D students will take the diagnostic at school - your child’s case manager will contact you directly about specific schedule details as necessary
Teachers will be available throughout the assessment via a Google Meets link (teachers will share the specific link with your child) for technology or navigational needs.
We will communicate makeup and extra time sessions to students who require additional time or who are absent during the scheduled administration times.
Thank you for your continued support and for being a partner in your child’s learning! You can learn more about i-Ready by visiting i-ReadyCentral.com/FamilyCenter.
Sincerely,
Kelli Crosby
Principal
Ergonomics for At Home Learners
Enjoy These Beautiful Fall Days!
Play Outside
All Roads Lead to Wentworth
What's Growing Now?
Chromebook Cases - Coming Home with Students Next Week!
The Scarborough School Department is pleased to provide a Chromebook case for each student. These cases will not be collected at the end of the year, and it is expected that they will last for the student's entire time at the Wentworth School phase level (through grades 3, 4 and 5) and perhaps beyond. The case should be used whenever the Chromebook is being transported. It is permissible for Chromebooks which are properly in their cases to be carried in the student’s backpack.