Old Man Winter Reminds Us of His Power

The Fall Party is Tonight, from 6-8:00pm.  If you haven't already purchased tickets, they are $8 at the door.  A raffle, drink, and snack tickets are included with admission.  Please promptly pick up your students at 8pm.  Please.

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Please click the link above, or here, to visit the PTO Newsletter.

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We had an action-packed week this week here at school.  Besides the run of the mill fun that comes with middle school life, the 6g students were treated to the mathtastical wizardry of Mike Byster, and all students took part in CAMFEL; The Pledge assembly.  Camfel is a visual/audio bonanza with the solid message of encouraging students to value one another.  

This is one of the follow up questions that students were encouraged to think about after the show: "What can you pledge to do that would make your school a more welcome and safer place?"  Ask your child... what would they pledge?

Mike Byster, 6g students, and many parents

Thanks to the PTO Cultural Arts committee for their continued support.

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The 2012 ILLINOIS STATE SCHOOL REPORT CARDS are now online on the District 96 website. State and federal laws require public schools to release report cards to the public annually, providing the opportunity to compare data–including academic, financial, and demographic information–statewide.  Each State School Report Card also includes information on areas of success and planned improvement.

Illinois students in Grades 3 – 8 take the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). Reading and math are tested in Grades 3 – 8; science is tested in Grades 4 and 7 only. In overall student performance on the ISAT administered March 2012 in reading, math, and science, 96.6 percent of District 96 students in Grades 3–8 meet or exceed the Illinois Learning Standards.


See STATE REPORT CARDS for each District 96 school, as well as a STATE REPORT CARD FOR THE DISTRICT.

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STANDARDS-BASED REPORTING "Question of the Week" 

What are the Common Core Standards?

We've spoken a great deal about the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) to which our learning standards in District 96 are directly aligned. As indicated on the CCSS website, the Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. You can see the standards themselves for all grade levels by visiting the CCSS site (linked above). 


But how are these standards changing our work, and how do they fit in with standards-based reporting? The CCSS are far more rigorous that previous versions of the Illinois State Standards, the research-base that we have historically used to develop our learning standards and curriculum frameworks.  The chart below illustrates the standards in place for 8th graders in the past. This was our list of reading standards, based on the past version of the Illinois State Learning Standards:

Reading Standards--8th Grade

Identify the best summary of a fiction or nonfiction passage.

Draw literal meanings and inferences about text   and support them with textual evidence.

Determine inferential meanings within a poem.

Compose an extended response by combining details from a text (stated ideas) with inferences and connections (unstated ideas).


The chart below illustrates our current standards for reading at the 8th grade level. As you can see, there are many more standards! More importantly, the complexity of what we expect students to do is clearly at a new level. These are the mastery level, or 3.0, targets for ALL 8th graders in District 96. 

CCSS-Aligned Reading Standards--8th Grade

LITERATURE

Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text explicitly says.

Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of inferences drawn from the text.

Determine a theme or central idea of a text.  Analyze the theme or central idea’s development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot.

Provide an objective summary of the text.

Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings and verbal irony.

Compare and contrast the structure of two or more texts or media.

INFORMATIONAL TEXT (NON-FICTION)

Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text explicitly says.

Determine the central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.

Evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text assessing whether the evidence is relevant and sufficient.

Determine an author’s point of view (perspective) or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.

Analyze a case in which two or more texts provide conflicting information on the same topic.


Clearly, the rigor and clarity have increased, which is good for kids! Now, consider the fact that, for  learning standards where it is appropriate, we have created scales to clarify what it looks like for a student who has already mastered the standard to truly extend their learning. This "4.0" thinking helps us differentiate to truly take our students to new levels. Our new reporting format will allow us to clearly articulate for students--and parents--what specific standards students have mastered, where they need additional instruction, and where we have been able to extend their thinking. This level of specificity will truly impact student learning and take our communication to new levels!

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Don't forget to check the Homework Hotline for daily lists of assignments.

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Mr. Grana reading to students in the ILC program.

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Students, and teachers, are all encouraged to dress up in their favorite costumes on Halloween day next week.  Stop by, and perhaps you'll see me and Mr. Grana dressed up, too.

Bundle up, and have a great weekend,

Chris