6 th and 8 th Grade Parent Meeting

1. 6th and 8th Grade Parent Meeting Welcome!

2. NWEA MAP Test This is a test given to all 3-8th grade Morton students to give us data for each child and grade as to their progress that is 95-99% similar to ISAT

3. What are these colors on my child’s card? These colors let you know how your child did. Red=low Yellow=mid Green=high These colors indicate strengths and weaknesses in the four categories on this test.

4. What are these four categories? • WAV= word analysis and vocabulary • Prefixes, Suffixes, and root words • Context clues • Synonym/antonym • Multiple meaning words

5. What are these four categories? • RSC=Reading Strategies and Comprehension • Making Predictions • Charts, graphs, maps and tables • Text Structures • Comparing selections • Inferences and drawing conclusions • Main idea and details • Summarizing • Sequencing and Ordering • Fact/Opinion • Making connections • Author’s Purpose • Explaining informational sources • Interpreting Instructions

6. What are these four categories? • Lit.=Literature • Plot • Theme • Point of View • Characterization • Literary Devices

7. What are these four categories? • Lit. works= Literary Works • Genres

8. What does the f,w,s stand for? • F=Fall • W=Winter • S=Spring • We take this test 3x a year. This allows you to see your child’s growth over the year. In a perfect world, we want all students green for all categories, or as close as possible.

9. What are these numbers on my child’s card? • The number listed next to f is the score your child received in the fall. • The number listed next to w is the score your child received in the winter. • We will add the Spring score when we take it in May.

10. What is the passing score for my child’s grade? 6th 8th Anything below 212=below 212=passing 238=exceeds • Anything below 210=below • 210=passing • 234=exceeds

11. What can I do to make sure my child is making progress? • Make sure your child reads a minimum 1 hour each and every day!!!! • Use www.studyisland.com to give your child extra practice outside of homework given • Use www.quia.com to check on your child’s progress and give extra practice. Your child’s username is their firstlastname123(i.e. karenbooker123) Passwords may be different, please ask your child or call me for info. • Use handouts to strengthen your child’s ability in each category • Make sure your child is reading books at his/her appropriate reading level

12. What is a reading level? • A reading level is a letter along a spectrum that identifies what grade level your child is reading at independently that is not too hard and not too easy for them to read alone(independently). • It is very important for children to read at their appropriate independent reading level to grow as much as possible! • http://steckvaughn.hmhco.com/HA/correlations/pdf/l/LevelingChart.pdf

13. Class webpage: www.quia.com • This website holds quizzes your child takes based on small groups • This website includes extra activities for you or your child to use for practice • This website holds the homework week by week for your child • IMPORTANT: if your child is missing any work due to absences, detention, forgot to write down homework…or anything else: you and your child are responsible for going online to find out what he/she missed. Once assignments are posted online, it is the student’s responsibility to keep up with the work!

14. What is my child’s teacher currently doing to make sure my child is growing??? • This gives you an overview for how my classroom works and is run. • Please note: it is not a perfect system and does not always follow this format…but we do our best!

15. Planning • My curriculum is designed to go over everything they are tested on twice before ISAT. • Students are grouped according to their reading level and NWEA scores for guided reading. • Vocabulary is incorporated into everyday designed to focus on all areas of vocabulary • Students are given assessments at the end of every unit testing what they were taught and future units • Students are given exit slips daily to assess growth and knowledge on content taught

16. So, what does my child’s day look like? • Upon entering they have 1 min. to get all of their materials out for the day. This is a 2 hour literacy block which includes reading and writing. • They have a vocabulary activity which is different everyday with a new vocabulary word each day. (for example: 1 day= context clues, 1 day =vocabulary maps, 1 day = vocabulary webs, and 1 day = quiz with notes)

17. So, what does my child’s day look like? • After vocabulary we have a whole group lesson(10-15 min.) with small groups happening in the hall. Students are pulled out of the whole group lesson if they are having trouble with the skill and need a small group setting or have demonstrated mastery of an area and are moving on to higher level skills. • Students read independently for 40 min., while teachers are pulling guided reading groups. Some students are being pulled to take Quia quizzes or to work in more small groups based on skills they have not yet mastered or higher order skills.

18. What are guided reading groups? Students are in groups according to their reading level. Students are all reading the same book. Students have a discussion after or all do an activity to build on their reading skill

19. So, what does my child’s day look like? • After reading silently and meeting with their teacher, students move on to writing and have another 10-15 min. lesson whole group while small groups are pulled. • Students write independently after the whole group lesson and meet with their teachers 1:1 or in small groups • After writing independently students complete an exit slip, which is a test question based on the skill they learned that day.

20. I need your help in making sure your child reaches his/her full potential!Questions/ConcernsDon’t hesitate to call 773-230-1248