Another great week, and report cards!

What a week, as usual we had a lot of things happening and the week went quickly.  We are really hitting our stride, and students take so much pride in their work, and their time at school.

We are beginning to work on division in math.  We are working with division as the inverse of multiplication, and continue to use cuisenaire rods to increase our understanding.  Students are working with multi-digit multiplication, and searching for the patterns and similarities they find between this and multiplication.

We have published a non-fiction book, and are working on others.  Students are currently researching a topic of their choice, and are working to plan out and add which non-fiction text features they wish to add to their writing.  Many students are really putting a significant amount of effort into this research as many of them come in with pages of research they are doing at home.

We are also continuing our work on reading comprehension and fluency.  We are learning and deploying different strategies to increase students fluency, as well as to increase the amount of information they are pulling from their reading.

Finally check you student's Friday folder for their report card!  If you have any questions or want anything clarified please let me know and I will fill you in!

Below is some information "decoding" standards based report cards:

January 2014

Dear  EMES Parents:

You will notice some interim revisions in the reporting system this quarter.  As we continue to craft a consistent curriculum in the Washington Central Supervisory Union, we are shifting our reporting to reflect standards-based grading.   This means that your child earns proficiency scores between 1 and 4.  We will not make major changes  in the report card until our curriculum documents are completed.    

·         A Proficiency Level 1 indicates that the learning is not secure and/or

 incomplete.  More time and opportunities to learn are needed.

·         A Proficiency Level 2 indicates progress toward mastery of the

 standard. Please note that the time frame in which a child learns and

 demonstrates mastery is very individual and can take place at any time

 during the school year. 

·         Once a student demonstrates a thorough understanding of the

 standard, characterized by the ability to apply the skills and or under

 standing with accuracy and quality, s/he would reach a Proficiency

 Level 3.

·         When a child consistently demonstrates thorough knowledge of the

 standard and is able to apply in-depth and or extended conceptual

 knowledge, including higher level thinking skills (critique, connections,

 analysis, etc.), a Proficiency Level 4  score would result. 

If you ever need to check with me on anything please let me know!

-Thanks, 

Dave