1. Presentation Topic # 6: Finding Time in a Demanding Schedule to Assess Our Students

2. REA 628 Fall 2008 Paducah Group Shannon Hamlet – Sharpe Elementary shannon.hamlet@marshall.kyschools.us shannon.hamlet@marshall.kyschools.us Karen Smith – McNabb Elementary karen.smith@paducah.kyschools.us karen.smith@paducah.kyschools.us Stacey Smith – Calvert City Elementary stacey.smith2@marshall.kyschools.us stacey.smith2@marshall.kyschools.us

3. Slide Show Table of Contents Successes from Shannon Knowledge Achieved by Karen Splendid Ideas from Stacey * We each contributed three ideas or methods where we find time in our schools to teach and assess our students. In the process, we meet many of the teaching standards including technology, leadership roles, parent involvement, and collaboration.

4. Successes from Shannon Eliminate Transition Time Wait Before & After School Extra Time Technology Learning Programs

5. Eliminate Transition Time Wait One way was find time to do some supplemental work with a student is that once we line up from recess, she directly goes on in to work with the KY reads person. She goes inside once we blow the whistle. After we line up, you know time is wasted getting kids in line etc. She is with the KY reads person as the other students are transitioning to the class and taking a restroom break. By the time all this is done and we are ready to switch classes, she has had a 15 minute supplemental class and taken her own r/r break. If she is late to class, it is no more than 5 minutes.

6. Before & After School Extra Time We also have a Corrective Reading class first thing in the morning. Even though the bell does not ring until 8; students are dismissed to the classroom at 7:45; during this time the reading group takes their breakfast to the class and has their corrective reading group then. Another time is that we have a homework room in the afternoons. We dismiss all our students to the gym then they go on to the buses or cars from there. For those who ride a later bus, they may go to the homework room for additional help. The teacher has to identify what students need this extra help. Usually for the later buses, they can stay in the homework room for about 15 minutes. This is very beneficial.

7. Technology Learning Programs Last year we had a student who needed time to go to Headsprout which is a computer program that is mainly targeted for primary students. Since my student was in the 4th grade, we did not want to embarrass her by making her go with the younger students. For this time, she left lunch about 10 minutes early, (when kids are just talking and not eating) and then she went on to her specials class from there. (She missed the transition time of leaving lunch, restroom break and then going to specials.) Of course we made sure these kids got their restroom breaks, etc. just they went by themselves and didn't have to wait in line or anything.

8. Knowledge Achieved by Karen Utilize Preservice and Student Teachers Go Green Tick Tock – Use the Clock

9. Utilize Preservice and Student Teachers I have contacted the adjunct teachers with our 2 + 2 program at the Paducah Campus to have practicum hours completed in my classroom. They get to practice assessments (running records, Dolch lists, comprehension) and you get the summary results to plan instruction. Having a student teacher gives you the same option or you can pull students while the student teacher is teaching their lessons. Any volunteer will do. (Just make sure you know your school policy and follow it before you bring people into your room and building.)

10. Go Green One big time saver I have implemented this year is to go paperless on my multiple choice comprehension weekly assessments. I create the test online with Renaissance Place. While the whole class works on written open response practice, I pull and observe individual students while they take the multiple choice on line. It computes the score for me so it saves the time of grading papers later. I do anecdotal records while observing my below level students. I have found when I have them read it aloud and think aloud it gives insight that I would not have with a pencil/paper quiet assessment. I find where they are in their logical thinking growth and know where to plan their instruction from there.

11. Tick Tock – Use the Clock I personally have adopted a pre-bell to post-bell teaching philosophy. I teach my RTI group during breakfast. They get to go through the café line early and bring breakfast with them. They love it and actually get much more time to eat this way in addition to the small group instruction. I use reciprocal teaching strategies for this time. My initial results with their assessment results at mid- term were promising. Planning during the day for me is not feasible. I do it after school or at home. I use my planning time to pull students for mini- lessons and assessments. Exit slips are a quick way to assess immediate comprehension of a skill and a good filler for those fill a 5 minute interval of transition times.

12. Splendid Ideas from Stacey Parent Volunteers High School Dual Credit Student Collaborative Efforts

13. Parent Volunteers The school where I work is blessed with many parents who want to volunteer. Teachers can utilize this volunteer labor to make copies, classroom materials, etc. which frees up the teacher to use that time saved to assess students in small groups or individually. Community volunteers are great for this purpose, too.

14. High School Dual Credit Student I know that some high schools now offer some introduction courses to education and those students have to serve practicum hours. Using them during assessment would give them some experience in the classroom.

15. Collaborative Efforts Also, at our school we do our reading groups by ability. I actually go into the classroom, take a group and supplement their reading with a phonics lesson or extra reading. During this time, the teacher is able to assess the other students. This can also be done with an aid that comes in or a Title 1 teacher. I see this being really effective in the classrooms that I have worked in. We also can rotate groups to give the teacher the ability to assess all groups.

16. Summary Make the most of the time you have with your students. Time on task = results Utilize all available help that you can. Every extra set of hands and ears give you an edge on individual assessments. Make the best use of all the technology that is out there. Look for or customize programs that are user friendly and do what you need them to do.

17. And don’t forget, the clock is ….. Ticking