Saturday, April 28, 2012

James and the Giant Peach copies needed




Next week we will begin reading James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. Our class set only has 14 books and I am in need of 6 more copies. If your are able check a copy out from a library, purchase a hard copy or download a copy to your child's Nook or Kindle this would be deeply appreciated.

Below a book review of the novel.

Roald Dahl was a champion of the underdog and all things little—in this case, an orphaned boy oppressed by two nasty, self-centered aunts. How James escapes his miserable life with the horrible aunts and becomes a hero is a Dahlicious fantasy of the highest order. You will never forget resourceful little James and his new family of magically overgrown insects—a ladybug, a spider, a grasshopper, a glowworm, a silkworm, and the chronic complainer, a centipede with a hundred gorgeous shoes. Their adventures aboard a luscious peach as large as a house take them across the Atlantic Ocean, through waters infested with peach-eating sharks and skies inhabited by malevolent Cloudmen, to a ticker-tape parade in New York City. This happily ever after contemporary fairy tale is a twentieth-century classic that every child deserves to know.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Grade 4 TCAP Testing Schedule 2011-2012

Thank you for sending the snacks and drinks for our TCAP test next week. Your generosity and support is deeply appreciated. Below are some test day strategies and our testing schedule.

- See that your child is rested and eats breakfast. 
- See that your child arrives at school on time and is relaxed.
- Encourage your child to do the best work possible.
- Do not send your child to school if illness is apparent.
- Do not remove your child from school on test days for appointments.

Monday: Review

Tuesday: Reading and LA Part 1
Tuesday: Reading and LA Part 2

Wednesday: Math Part 1
Wednesday: Math Part 2

Thursday: Science Part 1
Thursday: Science Part 2

Friday: Social Studies Part 1
Friday: Social Studies Part 2

Sunday, April 15, 2012

TCAP Snacks

Dear Parents,

Next week, April 24th - 27th, the students will be taking the TCAP assessments. I would like to provide them with a quick, healthy snack in between test sections. Below I have a list of items and the quantities needed that were most popular last year. If you are interested in donating/sending an item in for next week, please look for a hard copy of this note in your child's folder on Monday. I will send out a confirmation notice on Friday to make sure that we do not have too many duplicates. As always, thank you for your continued support in helping to make next week run smoothly.




- snack bags of goldfish, pretzels, raisins, granola bars, Baby Bell cheese, and crackers
- 28 juice boxes or pouches (Apple & Eve, Capri Sun, Juice Boxes)
- 28 half pint bottles of water (8 FL OZ)
- a bundle of frozen grapes for Monday (enough for each student to have 4-6 grapes)
- a bundle of frozen grapes for Tuesday
- a bundle of frozen grapes for Wednesday
- a bundle of frozen grapes for Thursday
- _____________________ anything you think the students would enjoy!



Frequently Asked Questions about the Achievement Test


What is the TCAP Achievement Test?

The TCAP Achievement test uses multiple choice questions that provide a measure of knowledge and application skills in various subject areas for grades K-8. The results of the TCAP Achievement Test provide valuable information regarding student's progress in Tennessee.

Who will take the TCAP Achievement Test?

The TCAP Achievement test is mandated for all students in grades 3-8. The test is not mandated for grades K-2; however, school systems may elect to test students in K, 1 and/or 2.

What subjects are covered on the test?

The test for K includes reading, language arts, and mathematics.

The test for grade 1 includes reading, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, word analysis, vocabulary, and math computation.

The test for grade 2 includes reading, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, word analysis, vocabulary, language mechanics, math computation, and spelling.

The tests for grades 3-8 include reading, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.

The tests are broken into segments for students to take over several days.

When will the test be administered to Tennessee students?

See testing schedule by clicking here. Schools should schedule test administration during this testing window.

What are the accommodations for special populations?

Assessment Accommodations - There are English Language Learner Accommodations, Allowable Accommodations, as well as Special Accommodations available.

How will the scores be used?

The results are provided to teachers and school administrators to help them address the instructional needs of Tennessee students. They may be used as one measure of student achievement during the current school year.

What types of score reports will be generated from the TCAP Achievement Test?

The reports for grades Kindergarten (K) through 2 will provide information comparing the achievement of Tennessee students with the performance of students from across the nation.

The reports for grades 3 through 8 will provide information concerning performance on specific objectives (criterion-referenced) and a description of student performance on academic skills based on the grade span standards (performance levels).

What types of items will be on the test?

The TCAP Achievement Test will include Criterion-Referenced items for all students in grades 3 through 8 in Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.

What are Criterion-Referenced Tests (CRT) ?

Criterion-Referenced items measure a student's performance according to specific standards, rather than to the performance of other test takers. These items are directly aligned with the Content Standards and State Performance Indicators.

What can parent, teachers, school counselors and administrators do to help prepare students for the test?

During the School Year:
•Communicate any concerns regarding the student's performance immediately.
•Be aware of your school's testing dates and times.
•Ensure that the student completes all homework assignments.
•Parents should set aside a daily study time.
•Discuss the students' school work with him or her regularly.
•Praise the student for hard work and good effort.
•Encourage the student to ask questions at home and in class.
•Convey to the student the importance of a good education.

On the Day of Testing Parent Should:
•Provide a healthy breakfast for your child.
•Make sure that your child attends school.
•Be sure that your child is at school on time and relaxed.
•Encourage your child to do the best work possible.
•Not cause your child any unnecessary stress regarding the test.

Go to http://www.tn.gov/education/assessment/ach_faq.shtml
for more information

Friday, April 6, 2012

TCAP and More

Frequently Asked Questions about the Achievement Test


What is the TCAP Achievement Test?

The TCAP Achievement test uses multiple choice questions that provide a measure of knowledge and application skills in various subject areas for grades K-8. The results of the TCAP Achievement Test provide valuable information regarding student's progress in Tennessee.

Who will take the TCAP Achievement Test?

The TCAP Achievement test is mandated for all students in grades 3-8. The test is not mandated for grades K-2; however, school systems may elect to test students in K, 1 and/or 2.

What subjects are covered on the test?

The test for K includes reading, language arts, and mathematics.

The test for grade 1 includes reading, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, word analysis, vocabulary, and math computation.

The test for grade 2 includes reading, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, word analysis, vocabulary, language mechanics, math computation, and spelling.

The tests for grades 3-8 include reading, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.

The tests are broken into segments for students to take over several days.

When will the test be administered to Tennessee students?

See testing schedule by clicking here. Schools should schedule test administration during this testing window.

What are the accommodations for special populations?

Assessment Accommodations - There are English Language Learner Accommodations, Allowable Accommodations, as well as Special Accommodations available.

How will the scores be used?

The results are provided to teachers and school administrators to help them address the instructional needs of Tennessee students. They may be used as one measure of student achievement during the current school year.

What types of score reports will be generated from the TCAP Achievement Test?

The reports for grades Kindergarten (K) through 2 will provide information comparing the achievement of Tennessee students with the performance of students from across the nation.

The reports for grades 3 through 8 will provide information concerning performance on specific objectives (criterion-referenced) and a description of student performance on academic skills based on the grade span standards (performance levels).

What types of items will be on the test?

The TCAP Achievement Test will include Criterion-Referenced items for all students in grades 3 through 8 in Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.

What are Criterion-Referenced Tests (CRT) ?

Criterion-Referenced items measure a student's performance according to specific standards, rather than to the performance of other test takers. These items are directly aligned with the Content Standards and State Performance Indicators.

What can parent, teachers, school counselors and administrators do to help prepare students for the test?

During the School Year:
•Communicate any concerns regarding the student's performance immediately.
•Be aware of your school's testing dates and times.
•Ensure that the student completes all homework assignments.
•Parents should set aside a daily study time.
•Discuss the students' school work with him or her regularly.
•Praise the student for hard work and good effort.
•Encourage the student to ask questions at home and in class.
•Convey to the student the importance of a good education.

On the Day of Testing Parent Should:
•Provide a healthy breakfast for your child.
•Make sure that your child attends school.
•Be sure that your child is at school on time and relaxed.
•Encourage your child to do the best work possible.
•Not cause your child any unnecessary stress regarding the test.

Go to http://www.tn.gov/education/assessment/ach_faq.shtml

for more information