FHSD Elementary ELA Newsletter
November 2016
Important Second Quarter ELA Dates
Assessment Wall: December 8-21
ELA Galileo Benchmarks: November 30-December 20
Mastery Connect Data Entry for ELA Writing Assessments: January 9-20
Kindergarten & First Grade Reading Summative: January 9-20
Interested in Curriculum?
With the new curriculum cycle, Units of Study for Early Childhood through third grade is in step 1. Basically, step 1 involves reviewing best practice research, analyzing district data, examining the standards, identifying priority standards, determining common instructional units and performance events, and updating the course description in order to prepare to write new curriculum the next year. This is a two year commitment for curriculum writers. The second year will include utilizing step 1 work to write the Units of Study curriculum. This process will include 2 release days throughout the course of this year and 6+ release days next school year. If you are interested in participating in the Units of Study curriculum writing team please fill out an application via the Google Form (must be logged in district Google account) by November 23rd.
Please let Sherri Lorton or Carrie Hepburn know if have any questions!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 2nd Quarter ELA Assessments
- Sight Words Assessment for second quarter
- Assessment Wall
- Narrative Writing: Students write about something students have done with their family
First Grade
- Second Quarter Reading Assessment
- Assessment Wall
- Opinion Writing: Students write an opinion piece about their favorite fairy tale. (not required for MC entry)
Second Grade
- Second Quarter Galileo Reading Benchmark
- Assessment Wall
- Informational Writing: Students will write an informational piece about Native Americans.
Third Grade
- Second Quarter Galileo Reading Benchmark
- Assessment Wall
- Informational Writing: Students will write an informational piece about ecosystems.
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.
Fourth Grade
Fourth Grade 2nd Quarter ELA Assessments
- Second Quarter Galileo Reading Benchmark
- Assessment Wall
- Opinion Writing: Students will write a literary essay.
Fourth Grade IBD Training Information
Fifth Grade
Fifth Grade 2nd Quarter ELA Assessments
- Second Quarter Galileo Reading Benchmark
- Assessment Wall
- Opinion Writing: Students will write an argumentative essay.
Fifth Grade IBD Training Information
Innovation Time
April Burton, is hosting a plethora of drop-in Tech PD opportunities. Innovation Time is a new way to PD and is designed around teachers’ schedules and needs. You can attend ANY Innovation Time and get support with ANY technology needs you might have. Mark your calendar for our next Innovation Time meeting on Dec. 8. We will be looking at design thinking and coding. Contact April Burton with questions.
Resisting the Frenzy: Staying the Course of Common Sense in Literacy Teaching
- the recommended five instructional contexts for reading that will give students five kinds of reading opportunities using different levels of support,
- the purpose of an interactive read aloud, shared reading, guided reading, independent reading, and literature discussion groups.
If you are interested in FREE professional development opportunities regarding literacy check out:
- join the F&P community at Fountas & Pinnell's website,
- follow them on Twitter @fountaspinnell (#fpliteracy),
- and on Facebook at Fountas & Pinnell Literacy Learning Group.
Elementary ELA Content Leader
Email: carrie.hepburn@fhsdschools.org
Location: 1405 Hwy D, Saint Charles, MO, United States
Phone: 636-851-6341
Twitter: @CarrieHepburn