Tickets
Each week, the students in D4 have an opportunity to earn LeMay Way tickets for many different things. Earning a perfect score on a spelling test, turning in homework on time, and completing reading goals are just a few examples of ways students can earn tickets. I also try to pick random events to award tickets for from time to time, too... clean desks, a perfect heading on an assignment, neat handwriting, etc. Every two weeks, students may turn in their tickets for items from the prize box. From time to time, check in with your child to see what kinds of things he/she is doing to earn tickets in class and celebrate their great effort! : )
Testing
Tests,, tests, and more tests! We do quite a bit of testing in third grade. Here's a run down of the big ones and what you can do to help your child prepare.
MAP Testing - This computerized test assesses students' learning in the areas of math and reading. Each portion of the test is administered on a different day, and it is NOT timed so students may take as long as they like to complete it. The cool thing about the MAP test is that it is differentiated for each individual student. The difficulty level changes depending on how your child answers each question, so no two students end up taking the same test. This test is given three times a year.... once at the beginning of school, then either right before or right after winter break, and then again at the end of the year. Results from the MAP testing help guide instruction in the classroom because they give us VERY specific feedback as to which concepts students understand well and which concepts need extra support. (NOTE: We should be transitioning this year to just 2 rounds of MAP testing - fall and winter - since we have state testing at the end of the year.)
NSCAS - The Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System is a computerized test that assesses students' learning in the areas of reading and math. Each portion of the test is split into two testing sessions that are NOT timed, so students may take as long as they like to complete it. State testing begins in late March and runs throughout the month of April. The NSCAS test is taken by ALL students across Nebraska, and scores are reported to the state in order to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching / learning for students in our schools.
Whew! That's the low down on testing. Now, "What can I do to help?" you ask?! : ) Simple! Practice, practice, practice! There aren't specific skills I can tell you to practice, but make an effort to have your child read and review basic math facts on a daily basis. Twenty minutes of reading before bed each night can make a world of difference in your child's education (not to mention the fact that it helps them wind down before bed time)! And practicing basic math facts isn't something that has to be a chore... there are tons of fun websites full of games that students LOVE to play. Running short on time? Practice in the car! You can even make a game out of it... look for numbers on street signs and billboards. After your child finds two numbers, have them add, subtract, multiply, or divide those numbers and tell you the answer! There are other ways to help out, too. Regular attendance (and getting to school on time each day) ensures that your child won't miss out on important instruction necessary for learning. Making sure your child gets plenty of sleep and eats a healthy breakfast on testing days will help them focus and perform better, too. And finally, please make note of testing days on your family calendar and try to avoid scheduling appointments during testing. Research shows that students who have to make up testing sessions often don't do as well as their classmates who are there for the regular sessions. (We generally try to do most of our testing in the morning, so afternoon appointments are usually okay.) Thanks for your continued help and support!!!
MAP Testing - This computerized test assesses students' learning in the areas of math and reading. Each portion of the test is administered on a different day, and it is NOT timed so students may take as long as they like to complete it. The cool thing about the MAP test is that it is differentiated for each individual student. The difficulty level changes depending on how your child answers each question, so no two students end up taking the same test. This test is given three times a year.... once at the beginning of school, then either right before or right after winter break, and then again at the end of the year. Results from the MAP testing help guide instruction in the classroom because they give us VERY specific feedback as to which concepts students understand well and which concepts need extra support. (NOTE: We should be transitioning this year to just 2 rounds of MAP testing - fall and winter - since we have state testing at the end of the year.)
NSCAS - The Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System is a computerized test that assesses students' learning in the areas of reading and math. Each portion of the test is split into two testing sessions that are NOT timed, so students may take as long as they like to complete it. State testing begins in late March and runs throughout the month of April. The NSCAS test is taken by ALL students across Nebraska, and scores are reported to the state in order to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching / learning for students in our schools.
Whew! That's the low down on testing. Now, "What can I do to help?" you ask?! : ) Simple! Practice, practice, practice! There aren't specific skills I can tell you to practice, but make an effort to have your child read and review basic math facts on a daily basis. Twenty minutes of reading before bed each night can make a world of difference in your child's education (not to mention the fact that it helps them wind down before bed time)! And practicing basic math facts isn't something that has to be a chore... there are tons of fun websites full of games that students LOVE to play. Running short on time? Practice in the car! You can even make a game out of it... look for numbers on street signs and billboards. After your child finds two numbers, have them add, subtract, multiply, or divide those numbers and tell you the answer! There are other ways to help out, too. Regular attendance (and getting to school on time each day) ensures that your child won't miss out on important instruction necessary for learning. Making sure your child gets plenty of sleep and eats a healthy breakfast on testing days will help them focus and perform better, too. And finally, please make note of testing days on your family calendar and try to avoid scheduling appointments during testing. Research shows that students who have to make up testing sessions often don't do as well as their classmates who are there for the regular sessions. (We generally try to do most of our testing in the morning, so afternoon appointments are usually okay.) Thanks for your continued help and support!!!