One of the biggest strengths of St. Thomas More Cathedral School is the ability of our teachers to meet the needs of the students they teach. This is why I personally chose this school both professionally and personally for my own children. As a mom, it is seriously impressive to watch the amount of “data collection” that teachers do on the daily as they get to know each child–as a spiritual being, a reader, a mathematician, a scientist, a historian, and as a friend/peer to their classmates. These relationships make learning better. These connections do not happen by accident!
Three times a year, we do both formal and informal assessments to re-get to know the children we work with. This is important for multiple reasons, but the most significant is that children change, mature, and grow throughout the school year. The child that walked into the classroom in September is not the same child that walks in after Christmas Break! I am so grateful to be in a place where that is both acknowledged and acted upon.
The Diocese of Arlington requires that each school complete the NWEA MAPS assessment three times each year to measure growth. More information is below, but please be aware that the MAPS testing will take place for grades 2-7 on Monday, 1/9 through Wednesday 1/11. It is imperative that students are well rested, have had a great breakfast, and are on time for this assessment so they can truly show their best knowledge. Thank you for your part in making that happen!
So here’s what is coming this month, by grade level, so that you have an idea of what your teachers are working on and why there may be substitutes in the classroom:
PreK:
PreK completes a growth evaluation using PALS-PK, which assesses letter recognition, letter sound recognition, rhyming, and early reading skills. Mrs. Stockton will also give her students a math and oral language check-in to note the growth of each student and set goals for the second half of the school year.
Kindergarten:
Kindergarten completes a plethora of assessments–
- PALS-K assesses letter recognition, letter sound recognition, rhyming, phonemic awareness, spelling of CVC words, and Concept of Word (beginning reading skill).
- Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Reading Assessment gives the teachers information regarding the accuracy, fluency, and comprehension level of each student as a reader. This assessment allows teachers to form small, differentiated reading groups that target specific skills to further their knowledge.
- The Developmental Spelling Assessment (DSA) focuses each student’s Word Study to work on the spelling skills they need individually (are they sorting by beginning sounds? Ending sounds? Medial vowels?). This information allows the teachers to form differentiated Word Study groups.
- A mid-year math assessment will focus the instruction for the remainder of the year to double check understanding of what has been taught as well as preview what is to come. This is directly made by the K teachers and mimics the structure of the KAMC (Diocesan end of year math assessment for Kindergarten).
- The Sight Word Assessment will give teachers the opportunity to check in on sight word knowledge–officially. This will also inform instruction for the second half of the year both as a whole group and within small groups.
First Grade
- Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Reading Assessment gives the teachers information regarding the accuracy, fluency, and comprehension level of each student as a reader. This assessment allows teachers to form small, differentiated reading groups that target specific skills to further their knowledge.
- The Developmental Spelling Assessment (DSA) focuses each student’s Word Study to work on the spelling skills they need individually. This information allows the teachers to form differentiated Word Study groups.
- A mid-year math assessment from our Everyday Math series will focus the instruction for the remainder of the year to double check understanding of what has been taught as well as preview what is to come.
- The Sight Word Assessment will give teachers the opportunity to check in on sight word knowledge–officially. First grade is working on recognition and beginning to work on spelling of the Dolch Sight Word lists.This will also inform instruction for the second half of the year both as a whole group and within small groups.
Second Grade
- NWEA MAPS is the Diocesan chosen standardized testing measure for grades 2-7. Students will complete a Reading assessment, Math assessment, and Language Arts assessment, which are nationally normed and will help inform instruction for the remainder of the school year.
- Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Reading Assessment gives the teachers information regarding the accuracy, fluency, and comprehension level of each student as a reader. This assessment allows teachers to form small, differentiated reading groups that target specific skills to further their knowledge.
- The Developmental Spelling Assessment (DSA) focuses each student’s Word Study to work on the spelling skills they need individually. This information allows the teachers to form differentiated Word Study groups.
- A mid-year math assessment from our Everyday Math series will focus the instruction for the remainder of the year to double check understanding of what has been taught as well as preview what is to come.
- The Sight Word Assessment will give teachers the opportunity to check in on sight word knowledge–officially. Second grade is working on both recognition and spelling of the Dolch Sight Word lists. This will also inform instruction for the second half of the year both as a whole group and within small groups.
Third through Fifth Grades
- NWEA MAPS is the Diocesan chosen standardized testing measure for grades 2-7. Students will complete a Reading assessment, Math assessment, and Language Arts assessment, which are nationally normed and will help inform instruction for the remainder of the school year.
- Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Reading Assessment gives the teachers information regarding the accuracy, fluency, and comprehension level of each student as a reader. This assessment allows teachers to form small, differentiated reading groups that target specific skills to further their knowledge.
- The Developmental Spelling Assessment (DSA) focuses each student’s Word Study to work on the spelling skills they need individually. This information allows the teachers to form differentiated Word Study groups.
- A mid-year math assessment from our Everyday Math series will focus the instruction for the remainder of the year to double check understanding of what has been taught as well as preview what is to come.
Sixth and Seventh Grades
- NWEA MAPS is the Diocesan chosen standardized testing measure for grades 2-7. Students will complete a Reading assessment, Math assessment, and Language Arts assessment, which are nationally normed and will help inform instruction for the remainder of the school year.
- Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Reading Assessment gives the teachers information regarding the accuracy, fluency, and comprehension level of each student as a reader. This assessment allows teachers to form small, differentiated reading groups that target specific skills to further their knowledge.
- The Developmental Spelling Assessment (DSA) focuses each student’s Word Study to work on the spelling skills they need individually. This information allows the teachers to form differentiated Word Study groups.
- Math assessments are given based upon the math classes and will be up to the individual teacher.
Eighth Grade
- Congratulations to 8th grade for successfully completing the High School Placement Test!
- Informal mid-year assessments may be given at the teacher’s discretion.
I hope that is helpful in terms of what assessments are used in each grade level as well as when they will be happening. Check in with your kid(s)--by the end of January, can they tell you their reading goal?
Questions? Let’s set up a time to talk.