Priority Standard Report

 

Stacey, Robyn, and Tameka have been discussing the Priority Standard Report that impact our 3-8 students during PLCs. High-priority standards are those standards that appear frequently on the M-STEP. This report provides an overview of how well students performed on each high-priority standard when assessed on interims.

Previously, only deans had access to this report—now, teachers do too! This report includes a feature that allows you to click on a standard to see a list of students who had the same proficiency score (percentage). This is an extremely helpful report when pulling bubble students for workshop. It’s our expectation that you are utilizing this tool in workshop with bubble students at least once a week until the conclusion of state testing. Please click HERE for instructions on how to navigate and utilize the Priority Standard Report.

Trimester 3 Assessment Reflection Questions

 

You have the choice between proficiency or growth for Trimester 3 when responding to your assessment data. If you would like to change your focus, please take this survey indicating your selection by 4 PM on Tuesday, April 2. You will only take the survey if your focus is changing.

If you do not respond by the deadline, you will automatically default to your Trimester 2 focus. Please note that selections cannot be changed after the deadline. No exceptions.

As a reminder, if you select proficiency, you do not have to track your data, NHA does that for you. However, if your focus is growth, you need to continue completing the tracking sheet after each assessment. Please click here to access Tracy’s video to help simplify the tracking sheet process.

If your class reaches their expected proficiency—75% (advanced) and 50% (standard), then you do not have to complete the questions for that assessment. However, those that selected growth would still need to complete the tracking sheet after every assessment regardless of your proficiency score.

Please reach out if you have any questions prior to making your selection because again no changes can be made after the deadline.

We hope this continues to show you that we value your feedback and respond accordingly!

Celebrating Small Wins

It’s important to celebrate. If you implement the backwards planning strategies from our ½ day PD and you see small wins/gains with your assessment data, please share them with me. I would love to see more emails like the one I received from Teri.

Thank you for being a team that RESPONDS! 

Assessment Reflection Questions

The leadership team greatly appreciates your feedback! We utilized your feedback here and selected our three assessment reflection questions.

We look forward to you responding to these questions on your upcoming assessments. Thank you for your collaboration and insight in responding to data! We will be providing you with an update regarding tracking growth at our staff meeting.

Common Assessment

 

NHA has done extensive research around their initiative to improve fidelity with common assessment administration. They have found through internal analysis and external research that taking our common assessments improves learning results. Our Information and Analytics team found “the odds of a student who completes all of their common assessment assignments being proficient on Interim 1 were 47% higher than those students who did not complete their common assessments.”  

As we approach the final months of school, let’s be intentional regarding common assessment administration to ensure our students continue to make academic gains in preparation of next school year. 

Interim 3

 

This year, like last, we will not be giving ELA Interim 3 (Mock State Test) in its entirety. Rather, you will break it up and utilize it as a teaching/reviewing tool. Use the questions for Do Nows, small group lessons, Exit Tickets, independent practice, etc. Every teacher in grades 3-8 should take Interim 3 themselves and discuss the test as grade level teams in order to develop a plan for addressing those standards needing re-teaching and additional practice. Use the assessment data located in Gradebook to assist you with developing a plan for each student.

Benchmark Testing

 

Benchmark testing (Y5-3 AimswebPlus, 4-6 DIBELS) will begin for virtual students on Friday January 8 and in person students on January 11.  Intervention staff will conduct all benchmark testing for grades Y5-6 and won’t be following their typical service schedule.  All 7^th and 8^th graders will need to have their regular progress monitoring conducted at this point in the year. Please encourage students to continue reading as you have.  We really want to see students showing growth from the beginning of the year. The intervention team will provide more communication as it approaches.  Your flexibility and support, as always, are appreciated!

Interim 1

 

Did you know that Interim 1 is now available on Edcite? Our 3^rd through 8^th grade students take the ELA assessment the week of November 9-13. Please take the time to review the assessment prior to administration. I would encourage you to follow our workshop cycle (see image above) from last year. All interims will be entered into gradebook to count towards overall grades. We don’t want our students taking an assessment that contains content that hasn’t been taught.

Edcite

 Don’t forget to utilize the resources on the Virtual Staff Learning Hub while you are navigating Edcite. There are four short video tutorials to help you understand this assessment platform.

Regardless, if you are virtual or an in-person teacher, all students will be using Edcite to take the interim assessments. You can administer other assessment through EdCite too.

One of the benefits to EdCite is that you can see how students are progressing through the assessments as they are working (how many questions complete, etc.). 

Next Wednesday, we will be spending some time exploring Edcite further. 

Interim 3

We have just four weeks left before Spring Break and state testing. While you’ve worked tirelessly all year to help our students master standards in math, ELA, science, and social studies, now is the time to ensure that they are ready to “show what they know.” This year, like last, we will not be giving Interim 3 (Mock State Test) in its entirety. Rather, you’ll be breaking it up as a teaching/reviewing tool. Suggestions include using test items as Do Nows, small group lessons, Exit Tickets, independent practice, etc. Every teacher in grades 3-8 should take Interim 3 themselves and discuss the test as grade level teams in order to develop a plan for addressing those standards needing re-teaching and additional practice. Use the assessment data located in Gradebook to assist you with developing a plan for each student. 

Let's make sure our students don't feel like Mr. Bean...

Interims

We begin administering interim assessments next week.

Grade	Acc. Math	Math	ELA	Science	Social Studies
3		Feb 11-12	Feb 18-19
4		Feb 10-11	Feb 17-18	Feb 19-20	Feb 12-13
5		Feb 18-19	Feb 10-12	Feb 13-14	Feb 20-21
6		Feb 18-19	Feb 13-14	Feb 26-27	Feb 24-25
7	Feb 12-13	Feb 14	Feb 18-19	Feb 19	Feb 13
8	Feb 11-12	Feb 11-12	Feb 18	Feb 12	Feb 19

All interim assessments need to be scanned in by February 21, except for 6^th grade Science and Social Studies, who received an extension. All Interims must be submitted in gradebook. Please make sure that you are creating a testing environment for students to put forth their best effort. Our school goal focuses on increasing our proficiency on Interims.

School Goal:

To increase the number of students proficient on Interims 1 and 2 by 5% from the 2018-19 school year in both ELA (55% and 57%) and math (48% and 51%) through personalized instruction (workshop).

I look forward to at least 5% or more of our students becoming proficient than last year.

Interim 2 Testing Window

We are happy to announce that NHA has extended our school's interim testing window by two weeks. This gives you additional time for instruction prior to administering Interim 2. Big shout out to Jamie Steeb and Nancy Kouba for making this happen! 

New Testing Windows: February 10^th (3-5 Math) and February 17^th (6-8 Math & 3-8 ELA)

With that being said, there will be a tighter turn around with our scan by date. We have an additional week. 

New Scan by Date: February 21^st

Interims

I’m really looking forward to seeing the results of interims. As you’re administering the assessments, please don’t forget to give students an adequate amount of time to complete their test. This doesn’t mean however that testing sessions go on for an unreasonable length of time. A best practice is to break the test up into two sessions on two different days. It’s also best not to give two tests in one day. Thank you for ensuring that students have the best possible testing environment by implementing testing accommodations, adjusting the lighting in your room so that that it’s not too dark, rearranging desks to avoid distractions, and keeping the room calm and quiet.

Interim Assessments

We will be administering interim assessments soon. Your dean will be working with grade level teams to finalize administration dates within the testing window.

November 4-8

3-5 Math Interim 1

November 11-15

6-8 Math Interim 1

November 11-15

3-8 ELA Interim 1

November 11-15

3-8 Science & Social Studies 

All interim assessments need to be scanned in by November 20. All interim must be submitted in gradebook. Please make sure that you are creating a testing environment for students to put forth their best effort. Our school goal focuses on increasing our proficiency on interims.

School Goal:

To increase the number of students proficient on Interims 1 and 2 by 5% from the 2018-19 school year in both ELA (55% and 57%) and math (48% and 51%) through personalized instruction (workshop).

I look forward to at least 5% or more of our students becoming proficient than last year.