As you all know, we visit the computer lab twice a week for students to work in Study Island. Study Island is a web-based computer program that allows students to view lessons, answer questions, and play games on standards based topics. This program is designed to help prepare students for end of year standardized testing. It is my job to assign lessons to the students according to areas that need review or remediation, and also monitor the data from their performance in the lab. I recently viewed a report of their "overall performance" in Study Island, and their percentages were alarmingly lower than I expected. As I researched and studied the data further, I have come to the conclusion that students are not taking the time to go back into lessons that they do not do well in. If a student scores less than 70%, they should be going back to the lesson, reviewing the questions they missed, and then going back to retest and improve their percentage. In the coming weeks, we will be implementing some new procedures that will hopefully improve our percentages. I wanted you to be aware of the changes, and familiarize you with the new plan. To begin with, we will complete a "demo" lesson in class so that I can be certain that every student knows how to find their percentage and then view the items they missed in the lesson. I will teach them strategies to use, so that they can learn from their mistakes and improve their percentages when they attempt the topic again. Additionally, instead of having standing assignments that students can work through as they please, we will begin selecting 2-3 topics that will be updated each week. We will choose topics that we have recently covered in class, so that it is review rather than frustrating them with new concepts to master on their own. When the student goes to the lab, they will have the Study Island Log (attached) and will know that they should look for the assignment labeled for that week. The assignment topics will be listed at the top of their log. They have to answer at least 10 questions on each topic and score 70% or higher. If they answer the first 10 questions on topic #1 and they score below 70%, they will be required to go back into that topic, review the lessons and questions they missed, and then attempt at least 10 more questions to improve their percentage. Once they score above 70%, they should show the log to the lab administrator, she will sign it, and they can move to the next topic. Students who complete the entire assignment and score above 70% on all topics, will have the lab administrator sign their log and then they can proceed into the NWEA Learning Path. The NWEA learning path gives them practice on their level, according to their MAP scores, and does not figure into their percentages. At the end of class, I will collect their log, compare it with my report, and then send it home for your review with graded test papers each Monday. Students who finish the assignment with a 90% or higher will be rewarded each week. I am hopeful that holding them accountable and giving them responsibility for their scores (on paper), will motivate them to attempt more questions and improve their percentages. With all of that being said, next week we begin MAP testing during our lab times on Monday and Thursday; for the next 3 weeks. (During testing, students will not work in Study Island, so our new procedures will not begin until March.) This will be our last testing window for the year. You can review the scores from Fall and Winter on the blue card in the back of your student's agenda. Please encourage your student to take their time and do their very best. Also, please make every effort to have your child at school on these days. Although we do not want to pressure them to the point of becoming anxious, it is very important that they understand the significance of this test. I know they will do great and I can't wait for them to show me how much they have learned this year! Thanks for all of your support from home - please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
2 Comments
Hope
2/24/2014 07:15:34 am
I really like the website you have created. I find it a great resource to go for information.
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Mrs. Burnette
2/25/2014 07:50:26 am
Thanks, Hope! I hope the kids use it just as much as the parents do! :)
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My dream is to create a 21st Century classroom that encourages collaboration, integrates technology, and promotes thinking deeply.
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