Next week, we will begin "state test season". Third and fourth graders test in the subjects of English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. For each of these subjects, they'll take two tests, both computer-based:
We will ease into testing with a couple of days of practice, where we'll familiarize the kids with the Smarter Balanced interface, practice using the "tools", and go through some sample questions together. You can learn more about the Smarter Balanced tests here: http://www.smarterbalanced.org/parents/ Although we will go over the practice test as a class, most kids find it helpful to also take a look at it at home, with the purpose of building familiarity, comfort, and confidence: http://www.smarterbalanced.org/assessments/practice-and-training-tests/ Blue Heron Test Schedule (subject to change) Week of:
Please do all you can to make sure your child is at school during the testing window. Avoid scheduling vacations and doctors' appointments if at all possible. You can also help your children do their best on the state tests by sending them to school well-rested, well fed with “brain food" for breakfast, and plenty of encouragement fresh in their minds. Third and fourth graders tend to worry about the tests, which can negatively impact their experience and scores. So keep it positive and focus on success as trying your best. This "testing tips" slide show may be helpful to watch together at home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2UZYz_MCv4 Springwater’s philosophy has always been that standardized tests do not meet all students’ needs and gives us a limited view of academic achievement. The state test is just one of many assessment tools we use to capture student understanding. As a result, we don't teach to the test. We do try to help kids know what to expect and foster a positive attitude so that they can have a positive testing experience. We are happy to answer any questions you have about testing at our upcoming conferences. Conferences are student-ledMaking the most of your conferenceWe're eager to see you at conferences. We always enjoy hearing the kids reflect upon their own learning, and we appreciate the opportunity to connect and collaborate with parents. This is your conference. We have an agenda for our time together, but our most important goal is to discuss whatever is most pressing for you regarding your child's learning this year. Come with questions and comments! We plan to use conference time to compare the child's, parents' and teachers' views of strengths and challenges so that we can work as a team to support your child's learning. In class, we use Growth Mindset language. We talk about "strengths/challenges" or "comfort/risk/panic zone" instead of "good at/bad at" or "behind". Check out this infographic for a basic explanation of growth mindset here: http://www.supersmartguy.com/growth-vs-fixed-mindset-episode-9/ Keep in mind that one of the developmental hallmarks of 3rd and 4th graders is sensitivity to criticism. A group of adults sitting around a table discussing your challenges while the spotlight is aimed directly at you can feel overwhelming. We can send the child out of the room the last 5 or 10 minutes of the conference if there is something you want to discuss privately that might be too much for him or her. Just say so. Please be on time for your conference. If you're running late, kindly text Jen (503) 867-2012 or Kathy (503) 314-2055. Feel free knock on the door at your scheduled time. For those waiting outside of Jen/Jon's classroom, the computer lab next door is available for you to wait in out of the rain. If possible, leave younger children at home as they can be distracting. If you need to bring younger siblings, consider having a movie or something else to watch or play with that will engage them the full 30 minutes without interruption. We look forward to making the most of our time together! Binder Purge
Happy spring! Its time to clear out old work and get ready for our upcoming units. Please help your child remove everything from this trimester: Anything related to Frogs or ALL (Additional Language and Literacy - kids know where to find it), comes out. Ask your child "what's a resource you might use again?" These "keepers" include divider tabs! That leaves one clean binder! Homework Read every day.... you should be able to finish least one book over the break. Get outside and get your heart pumping. Cook together. Practice "everyday math" as it comes up. Play board games. Make arts and crafts. Most importantly, enjoy your family time together. Bring those cleaned-out binders back with you on the first day back at school on Weds, 4/4. Warmly, Kathy It's your child's final progress report for 2017 and represents the all their work for the entire first trimester. Progress reports are an opportunity to ask your child about what he or she learned in class this trimester. Look for patterns, celebrate successes, and set small, achievable goals. Use this time a springboard for conversation about learning strengths and challenges.
Binder Review Please take some time over the long weekend to sit down with your child and go through his or her binder together. It serves as a record of learning for the first trimester. Please reach out if you have questions. Binder purge is time to clear out old work and get ready for our upcoming units. After you've done the binder review, help your child remove everything except what's been flagged as important resources to keep for next trimester. Have an amazing weekend! Your child has been diligently working away on completing their end of the unit final project. They were given a menu of options to choose from to make their project. This menu gave complete expectations for what is to go into each of their projects... from having a rough copy all the way to vocabulary that is to be included. In addition to the criteria for the project, we have looked at a scoring guide that I will use to assess their final product.
The projects are coming along. My original hope was that projects would be completed by the end of the day tomorrow. It is not looking like that may happen for many of the kids. I am asking that all kids bring home their projects over the weekend with the scoring guide to score themselves. I would appreciate you looking at the scoring guide with them and giving them any pointers you might see necessary. I am attaching the scoring guide and project outline to this email in case anyone forgets to bring it home. Many of the kids have been looking for random odds and ends here at school to finish out their projects. At this point, many students have been unsuccessful in finding them and might have better luck finding them at home. Their final projects will be shared with the class on Monday as well as their multi-grade level "Biome" on Tuesday. Please make sure that the projects come back to school Monday. Thanks for your support! It's hard to believe we only have one more week before winter break! Where does the time go???? Much Gratitude, Kathy salmon_final_project.pdf Salmon Project Rubric I'm eager to see you at conferences. I always enjoy hearing the kids speak about their own learning, and I appreciate the opportunity to get to know families a little better.
This is your conference. I have an agenda for our time together, but the most important goal is to discuss whatever is most pressing for you regarding your child's learning this year. Come with questions and comments! The plan is to use conference time to compare the child's, parents' and teachers' views of strengths and challenges so that we can work as a team to support your child's learning. In class, we use the language of "strength/challenge" or "comfort/risk/panic zone" instead of "good at/bad at" or "behind". You can learn more about the language of fixed mindset vs. growth mindset here: TED Talk: Growth Mindset Keep in mind that one of the developmental hallmarks of 3rd and 4th graders is sensitivity to criticism. A group of adults sitting around a table discussing your challenges while the spotlight is aimed directly at you can feel overwhelming. We can send the child out of the room the last 5 or 10 minutes of the conference if there is something you want to discuss privately that might be too much for him or her. Just say so. Please be on time for your conference. If you're running late, kindly text Jen (503) 867-2012 or Kathy (503) 314-2055. Feel free knock on the door at your scheduled time. If possible, leave younger children at home as they can be distracting. If you need to bring younger siblings, consider having a movie or something else to watch or play with that will engage them the full 30 minutes without interruption. We look forward to making the most of our time together! Post-conference binder review You'll go home from your conference with your child's progress report and binder. Please take some time after conferences to sit down with your child and go through his or her binder together. Binders are due back at school on Monday, October 30th. Thanks to our faithful FFS volunteers! Please remind to post pictures on our Springwater Shutterfly account (if you don't know how, just ask April at the front desk).
This week's happenings and reminders:
Coming up:
Thanks to all our FFS volunteers! It was a gorgeous day on Friday, did you take any photos? If so, please be sure to post your photos to the Springwater Shutterfly account. Not sure how to do that? Contact April in the office and she'll send you a special invite. Also! Be sure to sign in and log your hours at the office when you volunteer for FFS and any other time. Thank you!
THIS WEEK: 10/9 Music Residency begins with Ellen Whyte! *All School Concert on 11/16 at 6:00 pm at the Jackson Campus auditorium. Mark your calendars* 10/11 Wacky Sock Wednesday: have you heard the rumor? It's true, we've got a Wacky Sock Wednesday happening at Springwater! Everyone is invited to wear your silliest socks. 10/12 Online Conference Sign Ups Begin at 9:00 am, be prepared to click that link and get your time slot! 10/13 No School! OTHER NEWS: Lunch Volunteers are needed! Can't make it in? Do you know someone who would love being a lunch helper and spend an hour a day with kids? What a great opportunity for a retired grandparent, a family friend, or neighbor! Just have them fill out a background check and sign them up at the link below. http://www.springwaterschool.com/volunteers/lunch-help-volunteer-opportunities/ BOX TOPS! Save your box tops! Please check the expiration dates and drop off at the office by 10/26. This is such an easy way to bring in money for the school. Here is a list of products with box tops: https://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/participating-products Oregon City Library Field Trip Tuesday, 10/17
Both Blue Heron Classes, 11:00-1:30 Each class will rotate through a library tour, a lesson with the Children's Librarian, and time to browse and check out books. We'll eat lunch there as well, so please send a lunch that doesn't need refrigeration or microwaving. Please let us know if you'd like to come along as a chaperone. If your child doesn't already have an OC Library card, you'll find an application in his/her backpack today. Please fill it out and visit the library in advance of our trip. This will allow your child to get his or her very own card and use it bring home the day of our trip- what a powerful rite of passage! First, a huge thank you to everyone who came out to Curriculum Night and Family Friday! We had great a great turn-out for both events!
*If you were not able to make it to Curriculum Night, here is the link for a re-cap: Curriculum Night Recap Here is what's going on this week: Tuesday 9/25 - Blue Heron Fish Hatchery Field Trip! Details about the field trip are on the blog: http://kathysblueherons.weebly.com/communication. Want to chaperone? Contact Kathy directly. Wednesday, 9/27 -PICTURE DAY! *Please remember to send in the picture order form with your child. -Art with Jen on Wednesdays started last week. If you are interested in helping with art, please sign up here: Art with Teacher Jen! Thursday, 9/28 -Metro Q&A during morning meeting. Come learn about the changes and what is planned for the Clear Creek Natural Area. Good info for field studies parents! -DINE OUT! at the Clackamas Town Center Chipotle! This is an all-day event from 11am to 10pm. You will need to show the flyer: Chipotle Dine-Out Friday, 9/29 NO SCHOOL, Teacher Workday -Script Orders are due. Please contact Rebecca at: [email protected], if you have any questions about this = free money for the school! *** Coming Up *** Lunch sign-up sheets are available on the Springwater website or click the link here: Lunch Helpers Every Tuesday will be hot lunch day and 2-3 helpers are needed to prep the food starting around 10:30am in order to be ready by 12:15pm. Please consider helping at least one Tuesday! -October 6th is our next Friday Field Study! Please sign up on the Springwater website so we know who to expect. *See the Sept 22nd addition of Springwater Weekly for other important information and additional volunteer opportunities. Please let me know what questions you have and enjoy your week! |
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