Year 9 Parents’ Information Evening Wednesday 16th October 2013

Contents Accelerated Reader The National Picture Year 9 Curriculum Overview English & Maths Key Dates How to Support your Child Next Steps - Year 9 Options

Some background……… 86% of students achieved 5 or more A* to C last year, 64% including English and Maths. The national picture is changing and examinations are becoming more challenging. We want every child to achieve in school in every subject they take. We want to prepare them for life beyond Boswells.

Learning Goals for This Session Teachers will understand that … Accelerated Reader, STAR Reading, and STAR Early Literacy are software programs; best practices make best use of the software and accelerate reading growth. Teachers will know … What happens in an Accelerated Reader classroom in a very general sense. Purposes for administering STAR Reading and STAR Early Literacy. How STAR assessments work. Teachers will be able to … Log in as a student and take a STAR Reading test. Log in as a teacher/administrator and view test details and preferences. Print the STAR Diagnostic Report and locate a student’s ZPD or print the SEL Diagnostic Report. Print and interpret the STAR Reading Range Report and Growth Report, or the SEL Distribution Report and Growth Report. Customize STAR reports.  Notes to the Presenter Introduce yourself. Share information about your experiences with AR. Find out attendees’ level of knowledge and experience with AR, along with role (teacher, librarian, administer) and grade taught. Tell attendees when the breaks will be and where the bathrooms are. Explain that the first three hours (or half-day) deal with the beginning steps of an AR implementation: Getting Started.

Accelerated Reader will help 'I can't find a book that is just right for me' 'My book is not exciting enough' 'I am struggling to read and understand this book' 'I want more choice in the books I read' Correlation study over next few months will give approximate reading age 'I want to read about my own interests' 'The books I'm reading are too easy for me'

What is Accelerated Reader? As we talk about reading, the ZPD is the range of book levels from which students can read in order to experience the most success. Books within the ZPD for students build on what a student has already learned in order to help them advance into more difficult material. With Accelerated Reader, the ZPD represents the level of difficulty at which students can read and maintain an average of at least 85% on AR quizzes.

Logging on to take STAR Tests and AR Quizzes

What is STAR Reading? Quick test to find out the appropriate level of books for your own reading 25 multiple choice questions Answer questions with the keyboard Concentrate and try your best Correlation study over next few months will give approximate reading age

ZPD = Books that are just right for you! Make a note of your own ZPD What is my ZPD? Too Easy Too Hard 2.8 3.2 3.8 4.4 5.0 5.4 2.8 5.4 ZPD: Just Right Renowned psychologist Lev Vygotsky developed the concept of the zone of proximal development, or ZPD. The ZPD refers to the area between the things that a learner can do on her own and the things that she cannot yet do, even with assistance. This is the level at which the most learning can take place. As we talk about reading, the ZPD is the range of book levels from which pupils can read in order to experience the most success. Books within the ZPD for pupils build on what a pupil has already learned in order to help them advance into more difficult material. With Accelerated Reader, the ZPD represents the level of difficulty at which pupils can read and maintain an average of at least 85% on AR quizzes. ZPD = Books that are just right for you! Make a note of your own ZPD

Choose and read your book carefully To get the best start choose books: - at the beginning of your ZPD - not too lengthy - something you find interesting – look at the blurb! 200005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Dahl, Roald ATOS BL: 4.8 Points: 5.0 MY

Hints for Quizzing Take your quiz as soon as you have finished the book Check that you have the right quiz – look at the quiz number! 200005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Dahl, Roald ATOS BL: 4.8 Points: 5.0 MY

Hints for Quizzing Read each question and all possible answers carefully. If you get stuck - ask a teacher to help you read the question Don’t get distracted by your friends, concentrate!

Looking at your results Check your TOPS report for quiz scores Record your score on your Reading Log

What book to choose next? Quiz Score at 100% Well Done! Could move up a book level or attempt a longer book Quiz Score at 80% Good job! Choose book at same level and length if possible Quiz Score below 80% Don’t give up! Choose shorter book or lower book level

Enjoy reading and quizzing! Remember to find out about using BookFinder www.arbookfind.co.uk and Home Connect Good luck and now over to you...

The national picture…… GCSEs and BTECs are becoming more rigorous. GCSE/A-level examinations can only be taken in the summer (apart from E & M GCSE resits in November). Early entry is discouraged (unless the student is ready). Students must stay in education until at least their 18th birthday. All A-levels are likely to be stand alone qualifications by September 2016.

The Year 9 Curriculum Overview English (3 lessons) Mathematics (3 lessons) Science (3 lessons) Modern Foreign Language(s) (3 lessons) Technology (DT, Food, Business Studies – 2 lessons on rotation) PE (2 lessons) Geography (3 lessons per fortnight)

The Year 9 Curriculum (continued) History (3 lessons per fortnight) RE (1 lesson) Art (1 lesson) Dance (1 lesson) Drama (1 lesson) Music (1 lesson) ICT (1 lesson)

English and Maths Key qualifications for when students progress beyond key stage 4. English Language (60% examination, 40% controlled assessment). Mathematics (100% examination). Examination Boards: English (AQA) Mathematics (EdExcel)

English and Maths Year 9 students will start GCSE studies in English and Maths this year. Student attainment is may be presented as GCSE grades rather than levels in these subjects later in the year. Expected progress is approximately two-thirds of a grade per year. English will partly focus on preparing students for Controlled Assessments.

English Controlled Assessment Majority of English Language CA completed in Year 10 Critical to achieve well (worth 40%) One piece at the end of each half-term (the first piece is currently in progress) Under controlled conditions No scope for improvement, so important to get it right first time.

Controlled Assessment Classroom-based assessment under controlled conditions. Attendance and preparation are crucial. Should be aiming to achieve at least in line with overall grade. Cannot be improved, but a different piece can completed.

Science (from Year 10) Triple Science (needs to be chosen as an option) Separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics Double Science (sets 1 & 2) Core Science (Year 10); Additional Science (Year 11) BTEC Science (sets 3 & 4) Principles of Science (Year 10); Applications of Science (Year 11)

Key Dates – Year 9 Date Event Week beginning 11th November Year 9 Interims (1) Monday 10th March Year 9 KS4 Options Evening Week beginning 10th March Year 9 Interims (2) Thursday 20th March Year 9 Parents’ Evening Week beginning 28th April Year 9 Internal Examinations Week beginning 7th July Year 9 Reports

Key Elements for Success Attendance Organisation & planning Goals Ability Hard work Knowing their current attainment and how to improve

Supporting your Child Regular conversations about progress Encourage communication with teachers Attendance (please don’t book holidays in term time!) Controlled assessment Planners & Home Learning Accelerated Reader E-learning Reading (books, newspapers)

Concerns Please contact: For specific subjects, please contact your child’s teacher or the Head of Subject/Skill Area Cathy Rogers – Pastoral Manager (Years 7 - 9) Fiona Lovibond – Head of Year 9 Steve Mansell – Deputy Headteacher (Curriculum)

Next Steps - Options English Maths Science Modern Foreign Language PE 3 Options Choices

Year 9 Key Stage 4 Options Evening: Next Steps – Options Year 9 Key Stage 4 Options Evening: Monday 10th March 2014 Boswells’ Theatre 7pm

Thank you for attending…… You can find this presentation by following the link: http://www.boswells.essex.sch.uk/year9 Password: boswells1