Elementary Collaboration 4.24.19: Science and Social Studies

We are looking forward to our elementary collaborative work next Wednesday, April 24th. Please report to Clay Elementary promptly at 2:30 PM. Our work will focus on Science and Social Studies. A big thank you to teachers who will be sharing!  

Everyone will attend one designated  Science and Social Studies TCI session and then you may choose your sessions.   Take a look over the schedule in advance. Please talk to your PLC  and take the “divide and conquer” approach by attending different sessions from your teammates so you can optimize the learning opportunity.  Arrive a little early so that someone can show you to your session room and please bring a charged laptop.  We look forward to learning together on Wednesday! 

Elementary Collaboration Schedule 4.24.19

Secondary Collaboration and Assessment Administration

Secondary Collaboration

Our final secondary collaboration for the school year will be held on Wednesday, April 17th, from 7:30-9:00 AM.  Secondary staff--please report to the JH Auditorium.  The focus of our work will be continuing the support for Canvas, our learning management system.  There have been a few updates in the current legislative session as well as the work of the grading and reporting committee that will further impact our use of Canvas.  We will share these updates with all staff.  

This has been a pilot year for Canvas, and many teacher teams have explored and experimented with tools that have supported student learning.  We will learn from those in and beyond our district some ways to further implement Canvas.  In addition, you will have some time with your PLC to plan for next steps. 

ISASP Administration

As we approach our first administration of the new state assessments, I would like to thank everyone for their work in learning and supporting this new format. High school students will begin taking these tests on Monday, April 15th.  Students in grades 6-8 will test during the week of April 22nd, and elementary grades will test the following week beginning on April 29th. Information has been sent to parents on both the format as well as the link for practice items. Below are a few reminders and ideas that are on the state FAQ document.

• This is the first year of giving a state writing assessment. The writing assessment will be scored on 4 areas:
• Addresses the prompt
• Organization
• Development
• Language Use

These are the same 4 areas represented on the rubric in the practice items. These rubrics are also available to students during the assessment in student friendly language.

• Be sure to review the Student Honor code prior to testing.
• Arrange rooms so that students cannot see each other's papers of computer screens.
• Remove or cover up any teaching aids on the walls. 
• No electronics are permitted during testing.  This includes smart watches.
• Be sure laptops are in working order, and remind students to have them fully charged for testing.
• All students registered at Southeast Polk during our testing window are to be tested.  Anyone who moves in after our testing window does not need to be tested. We will work with the sending district on anyone who moves in after the testing window has opened to make sure they were not previously tested.

Curriculum team member will be onsite to support testing and answer any questions you might have.  We are looking forward to the opportunity for students to show what they know!