FSSD Instructional Technology
Newsletter Volume II Issue I (Pre K-4)
MICA and TNReady
MICA, Measurement Incorporated Classroom Assessment, is an interactive web-based classroom assessment and learning tool for Tennessee educators. MICA serves as the delivery system for the TNReady Item Sampler, a bank of test items aligned to the Tennessee Academic Standards in English Language Arts and Math for grades 3 through 8 and high school.
The purpose of MICA is to give educators access to items that reflect the rigor and quality of items that will be on TNReady. Teachers can use the items to create their own custom assessments to administer on-demand in their classrooms. Incorporating MICA into regular instructional time provides students with an opportunity to practice with the same online assessment tools they will have on TNReady in MIST, Measurement Incorporated Secure Testing platform. Please contact Lauren or your instructional coach if you would like additional support in implementing MICA.
We want to hear from you! Send an email to: instructionaltech@fssd.org sharing how you are incorporating MICA in your classroom instruction!
Compass + STAR Integration: Differentiated Paths Now Available!
Renaissance Learning™ STAR™ assessments and Compass Learning pinpoint each student’s areas of need and automatically generate an individualized learning path to facilitate personalized learning. The partnership leverages a “test translator” to feed STAR assessment data directly into the Compass Learning management system, where it is translated into scale score-aligned personalized learning paths to help students bridge gaps and make progress towards mastery of standards-aligned objectives. At the end of each FSSD benchmark period, the Renaissance Learning™ STAR™ scores will automatically be transferred to Compass using the test translator, creating your students' learning paths. This is an outstanding opportunity to provide differentiated practice for your students both in school and at home!
For an instructional guide on how to access student learning paths, click here.
TETC: Dec 9th-11th
Also, be on the lookout for an exciting announcement regarding an opportunity to attend TETC with the Instructional Technology Specialists! UPDATE: Application is now here!
Spotlight on Student Engagement: Osmo
With the integration of iPads in K-2, comes the need for effective and engaging resources. Osmo is a set of collaborative learning games for use with the iPad and can be utilized in a variety of content areas. Three FSSD teachers have integrated Osmo in their math and literacy stations. Check out their response and pictures below! To learn more about Osmo, click here and let Lauren know if you would like to try Osmo in your classroom.
In first grade at JES, Drew Wilkerson has utilized Osmo with Wonders vocabulary words and spelling patterns. Drew shared, "My students have been very excited to work with the new Osmo app during technology time! I have made sets of pictures that match our spelling patterns each week, and the students work together or compete, to spell the word using their letter tiles. It has given the students one more way to interact with words, technology, and each other."
Jennifer Marotta (2nd: PGES) shared, "We've been using Osmo for both Literacy and Math Stations every day. For Literacy Stations, we use the Words program. Two students 'compete' in a game of I SPY (similar to Hangman, but based on curriculum subjects such as recycling or rocks and minerals). I also discovered that I can create my own I SPY word set based on the Wonders vocabulary. I can input each vocabulary word along with a picture clue, and students play the game just as they did before, only now they are also accessing the weekly vocabulary! Tangrams is an activity we use during Math Stations. Again, two students work together to problem solve and re-create a given shape with tangram pieces. It is not as easy as it sounds! Both the Words and Tangrams can be set for different levels of difficulty, so differentiation is also very easy."
Engaged with OSMO at MES
PGES Collaboration
Teacher Tips: FSSD Weekly Reading Plan-Wonders Digital Resources
Contact Lauren if you would like support, to schedule a co-teaching lesson, or have questions about this resource!
Contact Info
Email: fleminglau@fssd.org
Website: tinyurl.com/fssdtech
Phone: (615) 472-3125
Twitter: @fssdInstrTech