Literacy+Meeting+Notes

Literacy Specialists 10/27/09

BMS- Update Kristen – Getting NWEA up and running …has been priority Week from tomorrow will analyze NWEA data with staff Printed out scores for math & reading COACHING; From EL, we have a set of comprehension Strategies to focus on with teachers

Morse- Michelle – we've created a Literacy Coaches log I've been sharing PSAT & SAT questions & We're - MCLP project identified 8 THINQUIRY STRATEGIES to use - Shared WIKI &

Challenges: Organizing students by classes – should we organize by teams? (MHS had same problem – kids were by advisories which made no sense) Logins -teachers need access to all students in their house (Kristen has done all of that this year at BMS – a lot after the fact-David I. & Kristen will meet to share strategies for this)

Can't practically administer it just on desktops…need to use

David- Looking at NWEA scores for students at high school who had RIT scores – can see the advantage –


 * Let's find a report with a visual graph for the end of the year (for parents who aren't as focused on the numbers…)

Why are lexile scores reported in a range on the NWEA? More accurate to show a range… Often students choose books that are too difficult for them…but to show a range within which students could probably function

Pam: I've charted their DRA, NWEA, SDRT & Lexile (SRI) scores, and did a chart like David did last year, it involves some interpolation

COACHING focus: Changing students' perceptions of themselves as readers – and overcome an overall feeling that they're "dumb" Reminds me of John Brogan, How many of you are writers? (In 1st grade they all raise their hands, in 10th only 2 do!) Helping kids recognize that reading happens all day – not just at school Technology piece is huge – too – reading all night & all day on the Internet – DOES count…IF YOU READ! THinquiry strategies – or others that give every student a change to contribute to the discussion

NEXT TIME: Bring reports/scores for current students in 180 (NWEA's & SRI ) Let's look at multiple measures & see how they correlate/don't Let's agree on a format for documenting growth of 180 students & literacy support students

Kristin & Pam will bring How is SYS 44 working @ each school? BMS – lots of tech problems (David – you HAVE to have Admin rights to fix a lot of little things in Sys 44) MHS - Glenn is having good success with it at MHS Other Agenda Items: FLEX curriculum – B & C levels are same text! Should middle students do something different Yr 2?? Maybe Topic Software – could just do a higher level of Topic Software & more class novels &