Math Support, TUSS, more!

May 2, 2011 | Posted in: Class Updates

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Good evening!  Here are a few updates for you!

• Each grade at PGS meets as a data team on a weekly basis to examine student data (usually looking at overall patterns) and to identify needed changes in our instruction.  After a recent screening, we found that many of the students in fourth grade needed review of computational skills.  Each of the teachers on the team has been working with his or her classes for a few weeks on multiplication skills.  We have also had several pull-out tier 2 or tier 3 intervention groups that have worked on multiplication skills.  Both these intervention groups and the direct, whole-class instruction will wrap-up on Friday, when we will retest students.  When the teachers meet to review the data, we’ll determine how to best move forward.  Additionally, we expect to focus on long division in the coming weeks using the same general strategies.  Some students have also been working to reinforce and strengthen subtraction skills.  If your student comes home and tells about how he or she is working with Mrs. Searson, Mrs. Kryzanski, or Mrs. Daly-Byrnes on math, know that their involvement in the multiplication or subtraction groups is intended to be short-term boost to improve skills.  These intervention groups have been effective thus far, and we look forward to ongoing work and success in the coming weeks.
• The Teach Us Something, Somehow project appears to be going very well!  I’ve reviewed students’ midway progress reports, and I’m very pleased with what I’m seeing so far.  (My feedback will go home tomorrow.)  Please remember that the purpose of the midway progress report is to keep me informed of the student’s progress so that I can provide support as necessary.  If that paperwork was submitted late or lacks adequate detail to show me what progress the student has made, I can’t be as effective at supporting your child.  If either situation was true for your child’s progress report, you’ll note that reflected on the scoring rubric.  (I’ll send home copies if your child has NOT received full-credit.  My intent is not to demoralize anyone, but rather, to provide that feedback early on so that there is still plenty of time to adjust plans and ensure that the rest of the project is on-track for success!)
• Remember that any work for Teach Us Something, Somehow is excused from the Break Free of TV [voluntary] prohibition of TV, computers, and video games.
• Our class is presenting at Thursday’s Japan-themed town meeting.  The kids have been learning how to make kid-friendly chopsticks and will work on how to write sequential directions (as you saw in this evening’s homework).  If all goes according to plan, we’ll learn how to make candy sushi tomorrow.  (I need to make it to the supermarket tonight on my way home to see if I can find some sort of fruit roll-up (or equivalent) that will represent seaweed.  We’ll see!)  All students will be involved in our presentation at the town meeting, but not everyone will be speaking aloud.  Parents are invited to the event, which is scheduled to start at 10:30am.