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SAGE, IXL, Utah Compose Updates

Dec10

I know there has been a bit of confusion regarding the online homework lately.  For that I apologize.  I am still trying to sort out the best way to utilize all of our resources without overwhelming your children and your families.  I know some of you have several children at MMA and the expected work from each class varies.

Last week the first SAGE assignment was given.  I set a one week due date for this assignment (it was due on Monday, December 8).  Very few students completed, or even began, the assignment.  This could have been poor communication on my part, or a misunderstanding on your child’s part.   I have extended the due date to Friday, December 12.  This will give your child a couple of extra days to log on and do the assignment.  Again, you can access these assignments with your child’s log in that is recorded in the back of their planner.

The web address is www.sageportal.org  Once there you must choose students and families and then SAGE Formative.  At this point you can enter your child’s login information.

On Monday, December 15 there will be a new IXL assignment given which will also be available on the blog sometime over the weekend.

We have been working hard in the classroom learning about different types of essays.  I have two learning groups at this time, argumentative essays and informative (or expository) essays.  As such, there has been no Utah Compose updates because we are working with a couple of specific articles and infographics that are not a part of the Utah Compose curriculum.  I’m really excited about the progress your children are making with their outlines.  Our first rough drafts will be turned in this Friday, and from those your students will edit, revise and make a final draft.   It is my desire that these face to face lessons will enable your children to make the most of Utah Compose when we pick it up full swing after the holiday break.

As a reminder, our International Festival is next week.  Your children should be well on their way to a completed project.  If your child has lost their note packet, you can print another one from the PDF page.  Due date for this project is Wednesday, December 16.

And finally, we have our class pancake breakfast on Friday, December 19th.  Thank you to all the parents who have volunteered to help and donate supplies and food.   Please let me know no later than Monday, December 15 if you plan on having breakfast with us that morning so we can plan accordingly.

~Cheers

November 10 Updates

Nov10

Happy Monday!

I hope you all had a nice weekend enjoying this warm weather.

We have a lot of things happening this week.

Tuesday, November 11 we will begin our interim SAGE testing.  We are not making a big deal about the testing; however, we want your children to do their best and we will be testing all day.  Please make sure your child gets a good night sleep and a healthy protein packed breakfast.  In addition, please pack a healthy snack that can be eaten during testing. Healthy options include apples with peanut butter, cheese sticks, whole grain crackers and hummus, veggies and dip.  Please do not send items that are loaded with sugar as the energy your children derive from snack and lunch needs to sustain them throughout the day.

Wednesday, November 12 from 6:30-8:30 is Get Down and Dirty with Montessori Materials.  An email with details was sent out by the office in addition to details in the November newsletter.

Friday, November 14 is an early release day for professional development.   Please make arrangements to pick your children up at 1:00pm.  We have an assembly this day as well.  Local author, Gary Hogg, will be presenting.  An order form will be coming home with your children today in the event that you would like to purchase his books.

Today we will begin talking about our annual international festival and the expectations for this home project.  This will be taking place December 17th and 18th and is always a favorite of the students.

New IXL assignments will be coming home today.  These assignments support the lessons your students have had in the classroom over the last 2 weeks.  Please encourage your children to practice this work, it does have an impact on their ability to progress through the curriculum and provides another avenue to practice their test taking skills.

In addition to IXL, we now have a writing practice program called Utah Compose.  For those of you familiar with Utah Write, this is replacing that program.  This version is much nicer and has far more resources.  We began an introductory run during class last week, but this will become an at home writing assignment.  New prompts will be given on Wednesdays and are due the following Tuesday by 6pm.  In order to be able to design lessons that will address your child’s needs, the writing must be completed by this deadline.  Your child’s login and password can be found in the back of their planner.

That feels like enough for this update.

Have a wonderful week!

 

Utah Compose and Business for the Coming Week

Nov2

Beginning tomorrow, all students will have access to the Utah Compose writing tool.  This is an internet based writing program designed to help students improve their writing skills.  This website replaces Utah Write, a site that level 5 students have used in the past to help prepare them for the DWA (direct writing assessment).

Each week your student will receive a writing lesson during class and a writing assignment that will need to be completed at home.  They will have some time to utilize the computers in class, but because of the limited resources in the classroom and time during the day, students will need to do a portion of the work at home.

All students will be logging in and resetting passwords tomorrow in order to be able to utilize this great resource at home.  At that time, we will be learning how to navigate the site and begin the first writing assignment.  The more time they are able to spend with this resource, the better they will do on the assessment and the better their writing will become.

Feel free to email me with any questions you may have.  As always, if you do not have access to the internet, we will make arrangements for your student to have time during class.

In other news, our school has decided to participate in the interim testing for SAGE.   Our class will test Tuesday, November 11 and Tuesday November 18.  This will enable the children to experience a form of the test, before they have to take the test in the spring.   In addition to the testing, students will be doing practice assignments in class utilizing the SAGE portal.  This practice will help them become familiar with the site and the types of questions they will encounter on the SAGE Summative.

This week we will also be discussing the expectations for the next book report (due November 21).  This month the students will be doing a scrapbook page book report.  All information for this report and the expectations (with a rubric) will come home this week and will be available on the blog.  I was so excited with the creativity and thoughtfulness the students put into October’s report!   We had sandwiches and wardrobes, posters and puppet shows.  Your children are so clever!

With the weather cooling off, please be sure your children are dressed appropriately. Unless there is lightening or extreme freezing temperatures, all students go outside for recess everyday.  Students who do not have appropriate clothing, will not be allowed to stay inside.  Make it routine for your children to check the weather.  4th level students are studying weather in science so this would be a great practical extension on their weekly science lessons.

~Cheers

 

Utah Write and Continent Reports

Nov18

Good Morning!

Last week, all level 4 and level 5 students were instructed on the log in process for Utah Write.  We walked through all of the steps for pre-writing and writing together and they all have their first assignment.  This assignment is due Thursday, November 21.  The students have some time in class to utilize Utah Write, but due to the limited resources and time within the day, I have asked them to spend 20 minutes a night writing at home in order to prepare for the DWA in February.    Most of the children who have spent time on the website in class love it and I don’t anticipate it being much of a chore for them at home.

In addition to Utah Write, continent packets have been handed out.   I have re-written the expectations so that they are a little more clear and will send the new page home today.  The continent project includes a display board for a specific country located on the continent your child has chosen.  The continent report can be a power-point presentation though the specific country report MUST be on a display board of some type.  The students will be participating in an international festival and will not be able to share a power-point presentation at this time.

This is a big project, though a really fun one for the students.  The due date for these reports is January 30, 2014.