NWEA Testing
Dear Families.
I hope you had a wonderful autumn-like weekend.
The upcoming week will find us in change and adapt mode once again. Our Michigan Read by 3rd Grade law requires us to have current data on all of our 3rd grade students by October 9th, 2020. The state law requires the data to be tools that are used early in the school year and are used regularly (generally three times per year), to identify any potential issues or challenges for students in demonstrating literacy skills at grade level based upon Michigan’s English Language Arts standards in grades K-3. These tools are often identified as screeners or benchmarking tools. In Dearborn, we use the Northwest Evaluation Assessment (NWEA) for our data.
In a normal year, this test would be administered to the whole class at the beginning of the year. However, with Covid, modifications need to be made.
Even though the Read by 3rd Grade was outlined, ALL DEARBORN ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ARE TESTED K-5. So yes, 4th grade students need to be tested as well. This year we will be testing 6 students at a time, two mornings a week for two weeks. This will allow us to have all testing wrapped up by the October 9th deadline. During those two days a week, students will be assigned self directed enrichment/review lessons during our regularly scheduled Zoom meetings. The days will be Tuesdays and Thursdays for the weeks of September 14th and 21st. Each slot will be 1 hour and 15 minutes long. Please sign up for 2 time slots, one in the week of the 14th and one in the week of the 21st. Both slots may not be needed, but testing can run long for some students. If the second slot you sign up for is not needed, I will communicate that to you asap via email or in person when picking up your child.
On the day and time you sign your child up for testing, they will need to come to school,check in and be escorted to my room; remember only enrolled students are allowed in the building. (We will be entering the main doors by the office) Students can be picked up at the designated ending time indicated on the Sign Up Genius. Please know, Covid protocols will be followed during the students’ visit; including sitting 6 feet apart while in my room. Please ensure that students use the restroom before leaving home and bring a water bottle since all water fountains have been locked down.
HINT: We will be doing this one more time for math as well.
Week at a Glance
September 14th – 18th
Zoom Meetings Begin at 9:00 for ELA
Zoom Meeting Begin at 10:30 for Math
Lessons for the Week:
(Remember these are only a high level view of where I am going; always refer to Schoology’s Daily Folders for daily agenda’s)