Another week is gone.

Hard to believe they are flying by like they are but we have now finished week 3 of school. This week I got to visit Ms. Kim's first grade and Ms. Gibson's kindergarten classes for two days each. This was so teachers could get their m-class testing done before our window closes on the 25th. We will soon have a scoring workshop to go over the written responses students completed after reading a book. In order to pass a level J or higher students must pass the writing portion with at least a 2/3 on both written response questions. Our m-class tests align with MSA that students will be taking in 3rd grade and beyond. At the scoring workshop all papers will be double or triple scored. This ensures that there is an objective look at all of the written responses. The county has supplied us with the rubric that aligns with MSA so we are grading on the same criteria. Some parents might think it isn't fair to not move a child's reading level because of writing. Believe me it's a conversation we have had many times. However, this is the county expectation and we need to follow the direction we are given. Teachers are well aware of this and make every effort to improve their writing instruction to help students feel more comfortable with this process. Don't be surprised if your child regresses a bit from where they were during the spring testing window. Most likely they will bounce right back after getting back into the swing of things at school. If you have any questions about the m-class process please feel free to contact me at school or through email. As far as 3rd and 4th grade go MAP-R testing continues. I just finished Ms. Granofsky's class today and they did an amazing job! It isn't easy to look at a computer screen in order to answer questions. I was very proud of all of them. Please continue to read with your children each day and make reading a fun adventure. We are a community of continuous learners. I know I am gaining new knowledge each day! Have a wonderful weekend and please contact me with any questions or information you need.

Mrs. Del Balzo