Happy Friday Magee Families:
I hope you had a great week. Last week, I shared a video with you about our Academic Achievement and Excellence Goal. After reflecting on the video, I realized I may have used words or language that many of you may be unfamiliar with. I appreciate those who reached out to me with questions and suggestions for how to help with a collective understanding.
To further our collective understanding, I have included some definitions in this message for all of you. I hope that may further help you understand what myView provides as well as how we are continuiing to support the continued growth in all aspects of English/Language Arts. After reviewing the definitions, please feel free to review the same video from last week and let me know if you have any further questions.
Definitions:
Phonics: involves matching the sounds of the spoken English language with individual letters or groups of letters. (i.e.: 'Th', 'Ch', 'au', etc.)
Word Study: an approach to spelling instruction to support the identification of letter and sound patterns to strengthen word spelling without the full need of memorization.
Writing Conventions: capitalization, punctuation, handwriting, spelling, paragraphing, grammar.
Comprehension: the action or ability to understand what one has read or what was read to them.
Fluency: the ability to read, speak, or write easily, well, and quickly while still comprehending what was read, spoken, or written.
Project-Based Learning: a teaching method, in which, students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to a complex question(s) related to the content the students just learned. (i.e.: What makes a safe playground? How does our environment affect us?)
Practically Significant Increase: the action steps that are put into place are positively impacting a large number of students' achievement and growth. When we see this growth, we know this did not happen by chance. Our implemented action steps provided the increase of achievement and growth.
Scaled Score: it represents the total number of correct questions answered during the assessment. The score is then put on a standardized scale for comparison.
FASTBridge: is a Nationally normed assessment that combines a computer adaptive test (meaning questions adapt to what a student knows and does not know). So depending on how a student answers their questions the assessment could progressively get harder the more correct answers a student submits. It also includes curriculum-based measures to help identify skill gaps in students' learning and provides recommendations for further reading and mathematics instruction.
College Pathway: scores fall within the 85th percentile or higher in comparison to peers of similar age. A student or students in this designation will meet their grade-level goals.
Low Risk: students are likely to meet their goals with continued grade-level instruction.
Some Risk: additional support is needed to fill skill gaps. (This may mean a student receives additional support one-on-one or in small group with the classroom teacher to fill those skill gaps).
High Risk: intensive support is needed to fill skill gaps. (Intervention is provided to students during team time with the Interventionist or Instructional Coach. Intervention is typically 4-5 days per week, for 6-8 weeks).
If you have any additional questions, please let me know.
Don't forget the following:
No School - Monday, October 2nd
Magee's Annual Report Presentation - Tuesday, October 3rd - KMHS at 7:00 PM
Take Care:
Justin Nies and the Magee Elementary Team
