FRIDAY!! We survived the first week

I know this week has been long and arduous, but everyone has hung in there nicely.  Today we took the district Maze assessment.  It is a 3 minute timed reading test.  Every seventh word of a grade level text has been replaced with a selection of (dogs, words, students) and the student is to choose the correct word.  At the end of 3 minutes, students must stop where they are.  I will grade these over the weekend.  The results will tell me how fast and how accurate each student can read a grade level text.  Students choosing fewer than 15 correct words in a 3 minute test will be screened to determine if further interventions are needed. 

After taking this assessment, students worked at their tables creating nametags that would tell us all more about them.  I know this seems like all we have done this week, but truly these tasks have allowed me a great deal of insight into what students already know and can do.  I have two writing samples that tell me if they can structure a paragraph correctly.  I have heard them read and have tested their ability to summarize fiction text.  I have assessed their reading rate and accuracy.  And best of all, I have been able to get to know who they are and how they fit together in our class.  Knowing who each child is will help me build that relationship and trust that is needed to motivate, inspire, encourage and teach.

Homework:  Read over the weekend.  Some students need to finish their nametags because they did not get to in class.  Most of first block will need to do this because we had a tornado drill today. 

Check out our ambitious writers on the blog.  Damarea and George have already created a blog and done some writing.  I am so proud of the initiative this took.  I can't wait to see what else your students do!