FHSD Elementary ELA Newsletter
March 2017
Important Upcoming ELA Dates
Assessment Wall: March 1-10
ELA Galileo Benchmarks (Spring): February 20-March 16
Mastery Connect Data Entry for ELA Writing Assessments: March 13-31
Kindergarten & First Grade Reading Summative: March 13-31
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 3rd Quarter ELA Assessments
- Sight Words Assessment for third quarter
- Assessment Wall
- Informative Writing: Students write an information piece about a place they would like to visit or have visited; including facts about the place (not required for MC entry).
Kindergarten's ELA Assessment and Cheat Sheet Document-Document includes a direct link to the assessments within Mastery Connect (no searching required) and outlines each assessment by quarter.
First Grade
- Third Quarter Reading Assessment
- Assessment Wall
- Opinion Writing: Students write an opinion piece about what makes them a good leader (not required for MC entry).
First Grade's ELA Assessment and Cheat Sheet Document-Document includes a direct link to the assessments within Mastery Connect (no searching required) and outlines each assessment by quarter.
Second Grade
- Third Quarter Galileo Reading Benchmark: March 6-16
- Assessment Wall
- Narrative Writing: Students will write a personal narrative (not required for MC entry).
Second Grade's ELA Assessment and Cheat Sheet Document-Document includes a direct link to the assessments within Mastery Connect (no searching required) and outlines each assessment by quarter.
Third Grade
- Third Quarter Galileo Reading Benchmark: March 6-16
- Assessment Wall
- Opinion Writing: Students will write a letter stating their opinion about an individual that should have a monument building in their honor for their contributions to America (not required for MC entry).
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.
Think about information gained from IBD training...
- What are some ways to highlight high leverage standards SL.3.2, SL.3.3, and W.3.8?
- Check out the IBD training information as a refresher
Third Grade's ELA Assessment and Cheat Sheet Document-Document includes a direct link to the assessments within Mastery Connect (no searching required) and outlines each assessment by quarter.
Fourth Grade
Fourth Grade 3rd Quarter ELA Assessments
- Third Quarter Galileo Reading Benchmark
- Assessment Wall
- Opinion Writing: Students will write an opinion piece about an energy source (required for MC entry).
Think about information gained from IBD training...
- What are some ways to highlight high leverage standards RL.4.1, SL.4.3, W.4.8, and L.4.4?
- Check out the IBD training information as a refresher
Reminder: Based on feedback from the revisions team over the summer Mythology was moved to 4th quarter, while energy was moved to 3rd quarter. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact your grade level representative or Carrie Hepburn.
Fourth Grade's ELA Assessment and Cheat Sheet Document-Document includes a direct link to the assessments within Mastery Connect (no searching required) and outlines each assessment by quarter.
Fifth Grade
Fifth Grade 3rd Quarter ELA Assessments
- Third Quarter Galileo Reading Benchmark
- Assessment Wall
- Opinion Writing: Students will write a persuasive piece regarding the funding of the space program (required for MC entry).
Think about information gained from IBD training...
- What are some ways to highlight high leverage standards RL.4.1, SL.4.3, W.4.8, and L.4.4?
- Check out the IBD training information as a refresher
Fifth Grade's ELA Assessment and Cheat Sheet Document-Document includes a direct link to the assessments within Mastery Connect (no searching required) and outlines each assessment by quarter.
Professional Learning Networks
A couple of my favorites on Facebook are:
- Units of Study in Writing TCRWP (based on Lucy Calkins writing)
- Fountas & Pinnell Learning Group
My favorite hashtags on Twitter are:
- #fpliteracy
- #tcrwp
- #LucyCalkins
- #fhsdlearns
Elementary ELA Content Leader
Email: carrie.hepburn@fhsdschools.org
Location: 1405 Hwy D, Saint Charles, MO, United States
Phone: 636-851-6341
Twitter: @CarrieHepburn