Friday, pay-day, and (for the time being) a return to a more seasonal weather pattern! Yay!
I'd typically never admit to enjoying indoor recess, but at least for today, it sure felt great to need to prep for the contingency of inclement weather. The kids, likewise, seemed especially docile during their movie time indoors at lunchtime today... I think we were all grateful to see the flurries flying.
Move On When Reading
Here's news: The state has amended its requirement for us to retain students who cannot pass AIMS Reading (rated as Falls Far Below) at the end of third grade. Students identified as SPED, or ELL students who have had less than two years of SEI, will be permitted to advance to fourth grade.
Non-SPED, non-ELL students rated as FFB on AIMS will be retained and will likewise be required to enroll in the district's summer Reading Camp. At the end of Camp students will take the state's required exit exam. If they pass they will be promoted to fourth grade.
Students who fail to pass the exit exam at the end of summer school will be retained in third grade and then be given another opportunity to take the exit exam again in the middle of the school-year. If they pass the state's test mid-year they will be promoted to fourth grade mid-year.
Students who fail to pass the state's test mid-year will continue to be retained in third grade for the balance of the current school year. They will be promoted to fourth grade at the conclusion of the school year regardless of their achievement on AIMS.
Did you know? Had MOWR been in place last year, only three third graders would have met the AIMS FFB criteria for retention. Of those three, two would have passed on to fourth grade due to their SPED status. Only the third student, an ELL student with three years in SEI, would have been retained as a third grader.
It's reasonable to conclude that a similar scenario will play out at Marshall this year.
We have been assured that Pearson will provide us with 2014 third-grade AIMS Reading scores (only) no later than 23 May.
IDMs
Most parents have a very limited idea of what RTI is and what RTI does. That's why it's so important for our classroom teachers to make the initial contact when it comes time to invite parents to IDM meetings. It's ideal if this contact occurs at a point prior to receiving a letter from our RTI Specialists or someone else at the school.
Our parents know and trust you, their child's classroom teacher, immensely. And it's reasonable to assume that they have already heard from you regarding their child's academic and social achievement on many occasions throughout the school year. It's best, then, for the invitation to attend an IDM meeting to come from the classroom teacher.
Plus, it's really unproductive for us to hold IDM meetings without parents. Their attendance is essential (as is yours). A friendly reminder, such as a note or a phone-call home, just prior to the day of the IDM is a super-good thing, too, in order to ensure that everyone who needs to show up will show up.
Thanks (on behalf of the entire IDM-team) for making the call!
Next week we're already half-way through our third quarter (Will you be sending home mid-term grade reports?) and that means we're headed toward spring conferences at a rapid pace. We will release students early for conferences on the following dates and times:
- Wednesday, 12 March: 11:10
- Thursday, 13 March: 12:25
- Friday, 14 March: 12:25
Tier 3 Reminder
Tier 3 students should go to to their Tier 3 intervention prior to going to their homeroom class in the morning.
Calendar
Week B
4-Sight second benchmark (all week)
- Monday, 03 Feb.
- Coe @ National Title 1 (Reasor has the helm)
- Tuesday, 04 Feb.
- Coe @ National Title 1 (Reasor has the helm)
- Grades 3-5 to Sympony at NAU, 8:50-11:00
- Wednesday, 05 Feb.
- Coe @ National Title 1 (Reasor has the helm)
- PTO in the Library, 6:30 (Bob Kuhn will attend to discuss playground plans)
- Friday, 07 Feb.
- Kindergarten Valentine Dance in the Gym, 6:00
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