12/1/23 <-------------- Love this!
If you can believe it, December is here. The last month of 2023 is upon us and the school year is rolling along. I am so proud of the staff and students for their hard work, for pushing forward as we move toward Winter Break. Check out the blog this week!
NWEA MAP Testing
All students in grades K-8 will be participating in the NWEA MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) on Wednesday, December 6th and Thursday, December 7th. The MAP assessment is a norm-referenced, computerized adaptive test that helps teachers, parents, and administrators improve learning for all students and make informed decisions to promote students' academic growth. Like in previous years, all students will take the MAP test during the school day. Students will take the reading assessment on Wednesday and the math assessment on Thursday.
6th Grade: Assessment will begin at 8:30 am following PE/Exploratory classes
7th/8th Grade: Assessment will start promptly at 7:45 am
A healthy breakfast, a good night's sleep, and some positive words of encouragement will help set up students for success.
Sense of Belonging Survey (REPEAT)
In District 96, we believe that feedback from students regarding their perception of the school climate and teacher-student relationships provides valuable input about their sense of belonging. Our school district is committed to providing our students with every opportunity to succeed. Substantial research indicates that supporting students’ social-emotional development improves their readiness to learn, positive classroom engagement, and overall academic performance. As a result, District 96 will administer a student belonging survey to all students EC-8. These surveys are below for your review. A physical copy will be available from the district office upon request.
Surveys Below:
With this information, the District can make thoughtful and informed decisions to support students' deeper sense of belonging at school. As always, student privacy and safety are of the utmost importance. This survey is FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act), and PPRA (The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment) certified. The collected data will improve our students’ sense of belonging and will only be used by our schools. Student responses will support group patterns so schools can provide support in those targeted areas. Thank you for supporting our school communities and their corresponding sense of belonging.
If you would like to exclude your child from participating in the survey, please contact your child/children’s building principal.
Current Patriot Consortium Mathematics Placement Process- 8th Grade Only
The consortium has created criteria that define the four strands of mathematical proficiency to highlight the attributes of a proficient mathematical thinker. The criteria are grouped into three categories (See chart on second page):
- Procedural Skills & Fluency (How well you can correctly use mathematics.)
- Conceptual Understanding (How well you utilize mathematical ideas, transfer your knowledge into new situations, and apply it to new contexts.)
- Problem Solving with Adaptive Reasoning and Strategic Competence (How well you can apply strategies and sound reasoning.)
Over the course of the year, the mathematics teachers will be discussing these criteria with the students in class to create a portrait of each student. This portrait will be used to recommend the students into the mathematics course at Stevenson High School that matches their content knowledge as well as level of mathematics proficiency at this time.
As a district and consortium, it is our vision that each student moves on to the next course in the sequence providing that there are no significant gaps in content knowledge. If there are significant gaps in content knowledge and a change in recommendation occurs, we will contact you. We feel that this process allows a mathematical picture of the student to develop over time, which will provide a more informed recommendation.
Course Sequence for Bridge Algebra 1 Students
-Algebra 1 with Mentor Math or Algebra 1 with Math Guided Study will be recommended if students need to reinforce and refresh targets in Units 1-4
-Algebra 1 will be recommended if students have mastered targets in Units 1-4
Course Sequence for Algebra 1 Students
-Geometry will be recommended if students need to reinforce and refresh targets in Units 1-4
-Geometry AB/BC will be recommended if students have mastered targets in Units 1-4
Course Sequence for Geometry Students
-Algebra 2 will be recommended if students need to reinforce and refresh targets in Units 1-3
-Algebra 2 AB/BC will be recommended if students have mastered targets in Units 1-3
PORTRAIT OF A MATHEMATICALLY PROFICIENT STUDENT
Procedural Skills & Fluency
How well you can correctly use mathematics.
(skill in carrying out procedures flexibly, accurately, efficiently, and appropriately)
-I can identify and use the most efficient method for the problem. (MP7)
-I can use mathematical computations, terms, symbols, formulas, and language appropriately. (MP5, 6)
-I can recognize the algebraic structure in problems and use rules or procedures to solve or simplify. (MP7)
-I can solve problems with accuracy. (MP6)
Conceptual Understanding
How well you utilize mathematical ideas, transfer your knowledge into new situations, and apply it to new contexts.
(comprehension of mathematical concepts, operations, and relations)
-I can use diagrams, pictures, and symbols to justify my work. (MP4)
-I can understand and justify the “why” of the procedure. (MP3)
-I can justify solutions algebraically, graphically, and numerically. (MP3)
-I can explain my solution with sound mathematical reasoning using precise mathematics vocabulary and terminology. (MP3, 8)
-I can determine the reasonableness of my answer. (MP2)
Problem Solving with Adaptive Reasoning and Strategic Competence
How well you can apply strategies and sound reasoning.
(capacity for logical thought, reflection, explanation, and justification and ability to formulate, represent, and solve mathematical problems)
-I can select and use all the pertinent information to solve the problem. (MP2)
-I can determine a solving strategy by forming logical relationships among concepts and situations. (MP7, 8)
-I can represent a situation mathematically using modeling. (MP4)
-I can retain and apply information and skills from previous units to solve problems alongside new concepts. (MP7,8)
-I can make connections between multiple mathematical concepts to solve problems in unfamiliar situations. (MP7,8)
-I can persevere when encountering new and difficult concepts.(MP1)
Click here for the Woodlawn Daily Announcements
Finally, you win some, you lose some, and some get rained out, but you have to dress for all of them. As I may have mentioned in previous blogs, the game of baseball was instrumental in my life. I have been a fan, played, coached, and enjoyed every aspect of the game. I respect the game and all that it has done for me throughout my lifetime.
The game itself can be very humbling. There are times when will you struggle, get frustrated, and feel like you are never going to succeed. Luckily, it is a team sport and others around you can pick you up when you are on the struggle bus. My dad was also a big baseball fan, and he always would tell me that no matter what, if you played well on defense, you were contributing to the team. Throughout my life, I have kept the mindset that if I persevere, work hard, stay focused, and contribute in some small way, whatever team I am on, was going to be successful. Some would call it "staying relentless.”
Winning brought me the highest highs and losing built my resolve. I was on good teams and I was on teams that struggled. Driving in a game-winning run and having your teammates mob you is an absolute thrill, while striking out to end a game hurts. Through it all, I had the support of my parents, teammates, and coaches. The game itself gave me so much to appreciate. Think about the thing or things in life that taught you about resilience and share those stories with your children. They need to hear that life isn’t all SPARKLES AND BUTTERFLIES. You need to work through challenges and come out better for it on the other side. Thanks for reading my thoughts and if you want to know about an error I made 47 years ago that cost our team the championship, I can tell you about it in great detail. That one still stings.
Pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training in 12 weeks.
Have a great weekend.