RIT Brief
Volume 3, Number 10, June 2018
**********************************************
KEA/K-3 FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT NEWS FOR THE PIEDMONT-TRIAD, NORTHWEST AND WESTERN REGIONS
**********************************************
Welcome Western Region!
**********************************************
Summer is calling!
'Twas several weeks before summer vacation
And throughout the elementary school,
Teachers were carefully closing out their year
While savoring thoughts of hitting the pool!
Ahhh Summer! It brings you well-deserved opportunities for rest, play, renewal and reflection on the past year. We hope your school year was successful in every way possible. Some wonderful success stories have been shared by school districts related to their implementation of the NC K3 Formative Assessment Process beyond day 60. Districts reported seeing children's increased academic performance and fewer behavioral issues. Teachers reported being more knowledgeable/skilled in identifying and meeting the needs of the whole child.
Keep checking the Community of Practice page on our wiki to see what other districts are saying and doing as well as the resources they have created and shared.
**********************************************
Early Adopters of the NC K-3 Formative Assessment Process
Do you have questions about implementing the NC K-3 FAP beyond kindergarten? The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's Office of Early Learning is partnering with several districts who have become early adopters of this work. These districts will serve as a model for others, paving the way for innovation throughout the state.
Click here for more information about Early Adopters on the wiki.
Watch the video below for FAQs about the Early Adoption Process. To download a transcript of the video, click here.
**********************************************
Temporary Interruption of Service for NC K-3 Formative Assessment Platform
Please be advised that access to the North Carolina K-3 Formative Assessment Process platform has been temporarily disabled. We apologize for the inconvenience, and we thank you for your patience and understanding.
The interruption in service is occurring as NCDPI and Teaching Strategies work together to accomplish the following two goals:
- Moving all users to the single-sign on (NC EdCloud). This will allow for streamlined, ease of use - one location for all of your NCDPI applications. Important note: all users will need to use their UID as their username to log on once this change occurs.
- Removal of the family portal feature from the platform. This action is to reduce redundancy and allow for a new NCDPI agency-wide family portal currently under development.
Your Regional Consultant will provide an update as soon as access has been restored.
**********************************************
MYTHBUSTERS
Read the following statement. Decide if the statement is a fact or a myth. Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter to see the correct answer.
Fact or Myth: EC students are exempt from the KEA.
**********************************************
Spotlighting the Formative Assessment Process
Each of the past five issues of the RIT Brief focused on one of the critical components of the Formative Assessment Process (FAP): Selecting Learning Targets, Developing Criteria for Success, Eliciting Evidence of Learning, Interpreting the Evidence, and Adapting/Responding to Learning Needs. A link to modules designed to define and provide examples of each critical component was provided. Click here to review these modules found on our wiki.
There are other resources located on our wiki related to the FAP which you may find helpful as you plan PD around that topic.
Critical Components Matching Activity: This hands-on activity is designed for participants to review the five Critical Components of the NC K-3 Formative Assessment Process. Participants will sequence the Critical Components in the correct order and then match each component to its definition. Note: There is not a first step, second step sequence that results in finishing the process with a final step, but rather an ongoing process represented by the circular graphic.
Formative Assessment Jigsaw Activity : This activity involves using the Five Critical Components Handout (below) with this Jigsaw handout inviting participants to follow the directions on the handout to get to know NC 5 Critical Components.
Five Critical Components Handout
Self-Reflection Tool for FAP: This tool is important for educators as they begin implementation of the formative assessment process. It helps them to know the expected implementation of the Five Critical Components and uses "I can" statements to support reflection and professional goal-setting.
PLC Protocol Template: This template provides a framework for teachers as they come together to learn about formative assessment and apply their understanding of the construct progressions for the KEA.
The Practice Profile : This document describes what teachers would be doing as they engage in the Formative Assessment Process.
**********************************************
Stay Connected to the NCDPI K-3 Literacy Division
Mia Johnson and Kim McWhirter, K-3 Literacy Consultants, will be offering a writing seminar July 9-12 at NCAAT in Cullowhee. During this time participants will discover new ways to turn reading strategies into writing opportunities that deepen comprehension and extend student learning. This intensive, interactive program will focus on the power of the teacher as the “mentor-model” in exploring multiple tools for unlocking “thinking” in the classroom, through the process of developing your own “writing life”. Strategies will include the use of journal responses, writing as inquiry across the content areas, and the power of authentic interactions with poetry and prompts.
Register for the seminar here.
Quick Link: NC Read to Achieve LiveBinder
Contact information for Regional K-3 Literacy Consultants:
Piedmont-Triad: Rebecca Belcastro at rebecca.belcastro@dpi.nc.gov
Northwest: Mia Johnson at mia.johnson@dpi.nc.gov
Western: Kimberli McWhirter at Kimberli.McWhiter@dpi.nc.gov
**********************************************
Fact or Myth Answer: MYTH
All teachers of kindergarten students use the KEA to the extent that it is helpful to inform instruction and/or support development.
For the MYTHBUSTERS PowerPoint for use in your PD, click here.
**********************************************
THIS RIT BRIEF IS PROVIDED FOR YOU BY: PIEDMONT-TRIAD, NORTHWEST and WESTERN REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION TEAMS
Contact your Regional Consultant for additional information:
Northwest: Nicki Young
Piedmont-Triad: Cindy Dewey
Western: Donna Albaugh