Newsletter 11

Newsletter 11                                                                  5/9/2012

 

Dear Families,

 

Just a reminder, our first MSP test (reading) is tomorrow, Thursday. The other one (math) is next Monday. We take breaks about every 30 minutes. If you’d like to send in a special healthy snack for students to eat during the breaks, that would be great. It’s best if it’s not too big, nor too messy. In case you didn’t see the previous newsletter, here again is some information about the test.

Measurements of Student Progress (MSP)

The Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) is the state’s exam for students in grades 3-8. The MSP name conveys the goal of the test: to measure student progress. State testing should never be the sole judge of a student’s academic skills and knowledge. A student’s entire performance should always be considered. (emphasis mine)The MSP reading and math … exams take one day. Schools and districts have the choice to pick their testing days within the testing windows. (excerpted from http://www.k12.wa.us/assessment/StateTesting/MSP.aspx)

We take the reading test on May 10.

We take the mathematics test on May 14.

We have been learning about test format, and ways to answer so that people scoring the test will know students understood and did what was asked. I’m noticing lots of ability to do the reading and the math, but some lacking in how to express it on paper. This is understandable: it’s their first experience with standardized tests. So we’re practicing.

Our typical routine is to check the work from the day before, introduce the new work, give them time to do it, and go over it that day or the next day. Students do the work with a regular pencil and check with a colored pencil or marker, so it’s easy to see what they did well and what they could have done better.

Since most of the math is reviewing what we’ve done all year, I’m asking students to try and fix incorrect answers by themselves. If they cannot, they should ask someone: family, friend, me, etc. until they understand what to do. I’m still seeing a bunch of computation errors: students who have not yet memorized their addition/subtraction facts, or their multiplication/division facts. That is something they should continue to practice at home, as needed.

When MSP practice work comes home, have your child tell you about it—especially what they did well, and anything they had to correct. If something comes home incomplete, we probably did that part when the child was absent. Please have the child complete the unfinished part, and talk about it at home. If there are any questions, please send it back to school and we’ll go over it.

If your child has any kind of conflict with testing on either May 10 or May 14, please let us know as soon as possible.

I have seen continual improvement on the practice tests. Thanks for all you’re doing to help and support your child, not least of which would be reading to them, and reminding them that it’s okay to relax—do their best, and forget the rest. J

Animal Reports

Our papier-mâché animals are mostly done, except for a few final touches. Look for pictures soon on Twitter. Now we’re using our notes to write paragraphs that have a topic sentences and detail sentences. We already wrote introductions, and we’ll end with conclusions. If your home read aloud happens to be nonfiction, maybe there is a conclusion you can talk about with your child. The more examples they see, the better.

Field Trips and Volunteering

There are several forms, as well as a PowerPoint presentation, that must be completed and verified before anyone can volunteer in our district.

The reason for this reminder is that we plan to take several field trips before the end of the year, and we’d love parents to join us—but they can’t if the forms aren’t turned in soon enough to verify all the information. I’m not sure of the field trip dates yet, but if you think there is any chance you might want to come with us to the cemetery, museum, or Franklin mine, the best time to do this stuff is now.

We’ll walk to the cemetery and museum, but we’ll need parents to help drive kids to the Franklin mine. There are additional forms required for that. I’m hoping several people will be able to help, since without drivers, we cannot go. Again, if you think it’s possible you might be able to help, please do the forms ASAP.

If you get this newsletter on email, I’m attaching the forms for volunteers, and for driving. If you need me to send paper copies, please let me know.

If you have computer access, you can also find the volunteer forms here: http://www.enumclaw.wednet.edu/families/volunteers.aspx. That page has a link to both volunteer forms, as well as a link to the page with the PowerPoint information. If you need computer access, we can provide that here at school.

If you have questions, you can ask Patti in the office. (Or ask me, and I’ll ask Patti. J)

Calendar

May 10--MSP Reading

May 14--MSP Math

Chapter Book

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

 

Sincerely,

 

Jeff