Tawanka Times
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Mark Your Calendar
2/2 - School Store
2/9 - Tawanka's Got Talent registration due
2/9 - PTO Designer Bag Bingo @ Hilltop AA
2/13 - Tawanka's Got Talent auditions @ 5 PM (Cafetorium)
2/16 - Morning PTO Meeting @ 9:30 (Cafetorium)
2/16 - School Store
2/23 PTO Family Paint Night @ 6:30 (Cafetorium)
Eagles Spirit Day tomorrow!
Visitor Kiosk is Now Operational
The new visitor ID kiosk is now operational is the entrance vestibule. Please be sure to have your driver's license with you when you come to visit. The kiosk will scan your license and register you as a visitor before you will be given access into the office. Please see the photos below for a quick tutorial on how the system works. Also, be sure to inform your emergency contacts about this change to ensure they bring proper ID as well.
Tawanka's Got Talent registration is open
Students may form groups or perform alone. We will be holding auditions this year to ensure we have a variety of acts on stage.
Registration packets are available in Mr. Barber's music room.
Important Dates to Remember:
February 9th- Registration form due to the office
February 13th- Auditions at Tawanka 5pm
March 14th - Dress Rehearsal at Poquessing 6-8 pm
March 23rd- Tawanka’s Got Talent at Poquessing 7-8:30 pm
Automated Absence Calls Will Begin Soon
Groundhog's Day Predictions in First Grade
Watch Phil live tomorrow by clicking on the following link.
Children’s Progress Academic Assessment (CPAA)
What is CPAA?
Early childhood educators need an efficient way to assess students in the early years, sometimes before students can read or write. Children’s Progress Academic Assessment uses audio and visuals to gain insights into student’s skill gaps in literacy and math. When students provide an incorrect response, CPAA provides scaffolding to help kids learn.
CPAA helps answer these key questions:
- What is each student currently able to do and ready to learn?
- Which skills are emerging?
- How can we work with each student on specific skills, both in class and at home?
Second Chances
After each incorrect response, students receive a second chance. They see the question again, with scaffolding. Researchers at Columbia University and MIT designed the test to be adaptive in this way to mirror a 1:1 student-teacher interaction and match the developmental needs of younger students.
The CPAA scoring algorithm takes into account how much scaffolding each student requires, and reports include item-level information.
4th graders learn to use Nearpod on their Chromebooks
We Build Futures Award Recipients at Tawanka
We are so proud of Mrs. Duffy, our school counselor, for all that she does to make Tawanka a welcoming, supportive environment for students and staff.
Ms. Eppolito is a patient, caring instructional assistant who is always quick on her feet to support the needs of our BCIU students.
Read to Succeed Book Challenge
Read to Succeed is a free program sponsored by Six Flags Theme Parks. Every student who completes six hours of recreational reading before February 19, 2018 is eligible for a free admission ticket.
This Reading Challenge runs from February 4 - 21.
From Title I Reading: Getting the Most Out of Nonfiction Reading Time
from: Reading Rockets
Reading together remains one of the most important things adults can do with their young learner. Today, recommendations include reading information or nonfiction books with much more regularity. Nonfiction books present many opportunities to learn new concepts and vocabulary, as well as broaden a student’s view of the world. Nonfiction books are written differently than picture books in that there are often more pictures, graphics, charts and photographs included within the pages. Parents can ease the transition into more nonfiction reading by encouraging your child to preview a book before reading and to be an active reader who asks lots of questions.
Take a "Book Walk"
One great way to make predictions about an unfamiliar nonfiction text is to take a "walk" through the book before reading. By looking closely together at the front and back cover, the index, table of contents, the glossary, and the photographs or other images, readers can start to get a sense about the topic. This scanning and skimming helps set the expectation for the reading. Take the time to walk through the book before starting to read.
Encourage Questions
A second way to develop more understanding with nonfiction books is to encourage your child to be an active reader who asks lots of questions. Parents can model these behaviors by talking or thinking out loud as you turn the pages of the book. This is a helpful way for your child to see and hear what a successful reader does when faced with difficult or unfamiliar topics. For example, "When I looked at this photograph, I asked myself, "Where is Antarctica? Is that the same place as the South Pole?" Then talk together about how and what you would need to do to find the answer to the questions. This will reinforce that many questions can be answered by reading a text closely and by paying attention to captions and picture titles. Some children enjoy writing their questions on sticky notes and working to answer them during the reading. Previewing a text and asking questions are two terrific ways to navigate nonfiction texts. Enjoy spending more time with some fascinating informational books!
Tawanka Elementary
Website: www.neshaminy.org/Tawanka
Location: Tawanka Elementary School, Brownsville Road, Feasterville-Trevose, PA, United States