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- What's different about the 'New Report Card'?
- Will we learn about our child's progress before the report card? When?
- What is a RUBRIC ?
- HOMEWORK ?
- Can Progress Reports help students?
- Does each grade have its own style Progress Report?
- How can parents help children do well - or better - in school?
- When will Report Cards be distributed this school year (2007-2008)?
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What's different about the 'New Report Card'?
1. It is based on trimesters instead of quarters, as it was in the past.
2. Each grade (1-8) has its own Report Card with items specific to the
grade. Please note the categories listed under each Subject heading. These
are the specific skills and/or competencies the student are required to
master.
3. Grades for Personal & Social Growth and Effort areas will be based
on a 4 point rubric. That means that instead of receiving "O", "G"
,"S","I",or "U", the student will receive either a "4", "3", "2", or a "1".
Please note the definitions at the top of the left side of the report card.
and also refer to the Rubric for both Personal and Social Growth and Effort
which we sent home in September. We would expect that most of the students
will receive "2"s and "3"s at this first report period. A plus or a check
mark will be placed next to areas where there is either a strength or a
weakness.
4. Grades for Technology, Music, and Physical Education will also be
based on a 4 point rubric (grades 4-8). PLEASE NOTE the definitions of
the "4", the "3" . . . at the top of each Report Card.
Your children and their teachers have worked very hard this trimester. The
Report Cards describe student progress. They tell us (at home and at
school)
what kinds of things your child is learning and able to do, as well as where
more work is needed. To make the most of this "event" it is good to discuss
the report with the child - ask your child if she/he has done her best. Be
sure to celebrate the successes which are shown on the report, and then to
set a goal for this next trimester - one thing the student can do to
improve -
- - maybe to study 10 more minutes each night, or to raise his/her hand in
class, use flash cards to prepare for tests, . . . Keep in mind - it's not
the letters and numbers that matter so much, it is what they say about about
individual student progress.
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Will we learn about our child's progress before the report card? When?
Yes, each grade will use a Progress Report to communicate with
parents regarding student progress. These Progress Reports may look
different for each grade. The 1st Trimester Progress Reports will be sent
home on October 23; 2nd Trimester on January 24; and 3rd Trimester on April
24.
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What is a RUBRIC ?
A RUBRIC is a tool used to evaluate an assessment. Rubrics are used
with Performance Assessments (projects) and Writing assignments.
The Rubric lists the skills or knowledge that must be demonstrated by
the student. The student should receive the Rubric when the
assignment/activity is given. The expectations are stated or listed, and
are quite clear to the student. He/she knows exactly what he/she has to
do to get a good grade.
However, the best thing about a Rubric is that after it is scored by the
teacher, it shows specifically what the student knows or can do, and
what he/she doesn't know or can't do. Actually, the grade itself is almost
incidental. What is important is that you, the parent, and your child
review the scored rubric and acknowledge the student success, and
then make a plan to correct any weaknesses which were indicated on
the Rubric.
While Rubrics are not really a new way to do things, the use of Rubrics
in our classrooms is relatively recent. While visiting classrooms these
past few weeks, I have seen some of our teachers using Rubrics for
assessing student work such as: Oral Reports, Math word problems,
and Book Reports.
Our "Special" teachers are using Rubrics to assess student progress
and achievement in the areas of Music, Technology and Physical
Education (grades 4-8). All of our teachers are using a Rubric for
assessing Personal and Social Growth, and a Rubric for assessing
Effort. Teachers have reviewed these Rubrics with the children and we
hope that they are aware of the expectations.
Simply put, a RUBRIC is like a recipe. It, in effect, spells out what you
have to do to get a "4" or . . . RUBRICS help students become
independent learners.
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HOMEWORK ?
Homework doesn't have to be a drag. It shouldn't be a negative
experience. It should help children to learn to work on their own.
Research has shown that homework extends the time available for learning,
and
children who spend more time on homework usually do better in school.
Homework can help children develop good habits and attitudes toward
work. It can also teach self-discipline and responsibility.
We also know that teachers, students as well as parents and caregivers
all play a vital part in the homework
process.
The following tips can help to make HOMEWORK a good learning
experience for your child(ren): 1) Set a regular time for homework; 2)
Choose a fairly quiet study area with good lighting and supplies nearby;
3) Remove distractions such as the TV, radio, telephone, toys, etc.; 4)
Provide aids to good organization, such as folders and
calendars/planners; 5) Look over the homework, but do not do it for your
child; 6) Review tests, assignments, and all communications from the
teacher and school; 7) Contact the teacher if there's a problem with
homework - be sure you know the appropriate length of time for homework for
your child's grade; and finally, 8) Homework is usually more than writing
and math problems- STUDYING is homework too!
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Can Progress Reports help students?
We certainly hope Progress Reports will improve student performance.
Our hope is that parent and student will sit together and review the
Progress
Report. Strengths and weaknesses- areas where improvement is
needed- should be discussed. Students, even at a very young age, can set new
goals for themselves, and this is a perfect time to do that. Parents can
help
by suggesting some choices, some ideas for improvement such as
choosing a different time to do homework; taking a short break between
subjects; using flashcards; or even using the home computer to practice
spelling words.
Whatever you do, be sure to celebrate good work. If satisfactory
progress has been achieved to date, celebrate. Remember that each child's
best is different.
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Does each grade have its own style Progress Report?
In most cases, yes. With moving into trimesters this school year, we
decided that all grades (1-8) would use some kind of progress report. Before
this year, only the upper grades used progress reports, and only to report
on students who were experiencing difficulty.
All grades are using a progress report which resembles the report card
(without specific grades).
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How can parents help children do well - or better - in school?
According to research, the following are the top ten ways you can help your
child succeed in the classrrom:
1) Create an environment in your home that encourages learning (i.e. use of
puzzles, paints, computers, educational TV programs, good music, magazines,
etc.)
2) Provide your children with a well-balanced "schedule". Establish
routines
that include set times for meals, play, work, and bedtime.
3)Read to your children every day. It will expose your children to material
that might be too difficult to read on their own, and it will help build
their vocabularies.
4) Encourage your them to read extensively - expose them to a wide variety
of
interesting reading materials. Studies report that as much as 75% of what
children learn will come from the printed page.
5) Show your children how to be organized. Show them how to use such
organizational tools such as calendars, notebooks, schoolbags, etc.
6) Teach them effective study skills - read textbooks(i.e headings,
pictures,
captions, etc.); prepare for tests (flashcards, outlines, tape
recorder, . . .); regular study time and place.
7) Urge them to participate in class - ask questions, volunteer answers, and
take notes.
8) Help them to learn how to tackle homework assignments - it should become
their responsibility. Help them learn which assignments to do first, how to
plan the time, and not to rush through it. Also, help them learn that
reading and studying are important kinds of homework.
9) Talk to your children about school. Ask them to name one good thing that
happened that day . . . at least one new thing they learned. Most
importantly, show them that you are genuinely interested and concerned with
that major part of their lives.
10)Develop a good relationship with your children's teachers. Always
consider
yourself as a partner in this education process/business. You and the
teachers both are interested in your children's success as students.
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When will Report Cards be distributed this school year (2007-2008)?
1st Trimester - December 5th
2nd Trimester - March 13th
3rd Trimester - June 12th
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