We Survived PARCC Testing!

Hey all!

Well, we survived our first week of "PARCC" testing. Our state isn't actually using the official PARCC test. We are using a PARCC-like test. I feel that my students were very prepared for the test, which I am thankful for!

Here are some great recourses we have used this year to help us with our comprehension, vocabulary, and text-based evidence:

* Read Works
https://www.readworks.org

* Writing to Texts
* Common Core Reading- Warm-Ups & Test Practice
* Language Arts 4 Today (Our bell work)
* 25 Complex Text Passages to Meet the Common Core

* Wonders (McGraw-Hill) Weekly and Unit Tests (Grade 5)

* Wonders Count Down to Common Core Assessments (McGraw-Hill)

* PARCC Practice Tests

http://parcc.pearson.com/practice-tests/english/ 

Now I get to breathe a little and look forward to next week! It's Teacher Appreciate Week next week at A.C. Steere! We are currently reading our novel, The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker, and completing our novel packet. We are also focusing on grammar, proofreading, spelling, and vocabulary the next couple of weeks. After the first week of April, we will focus more on Test-Prep for the PARCC End of Year test.

I hope you all have had a fantastic week!

Update!!! :)

Hello everyone!!! I know it's been quite a while! Here are a few updates from the last month or so! I have been extremely busy, as I'm sure you all can relate!

This week my students made predictions about what would happen next in our novel. The students really enjoyed this little activity! They had to write a paragraph describing hat would happen next and draw a picture.

One of my fantastic 5th graders received 1st place for an art competition! The contest's theme was "The World Will be a Better Place if...". Amelia chose to do an anti-bullying theme. Isn't it awesome?She even made me a colored copy that I laminated! It will forever hang in my room! Did I mention she's in talented arts?

We've been giving "Cold Read" assessments, or comprehension passages, as required by our parish. I think they are rigorous and a great preparation for the PARRC assessment. However, I think they are extremely difficult and many of my students are struggling. My top students are failing the assessments. I'm not sure how I feel about PARRC, but I fear that these cold reads are taking away the love of reading. It's a good thing that I refuse to just teach from the text book! My students are really enjoying our novel, Number the Stars. Some have even finished the book already at home! They still have to read along with us though until we finish! haha

My 5th graders are also doing a great job with writing for our school newspaper, The Gator Gazette. I'm really enjoying working with them on this! 

We had a great time at our school fall carnival! Have I told y'all that I am blessed to work here? I work with the best faculty and staff who have become my friends, and we have amazing parents!!! I still have days that are stressful, but overall this school makes me so happy!!!

The 5th grade team and a fantastic student!

I had fun dressing up as Katniss form The Hunger Games on Halloween! My students really got a kick out of it too! They know I'm obsessed with it! This is a picture of Ms. Berry and me!! :)

I presented at a mini RTI workshop. I'm really liking the opportunities I am receiving to continue to present and grow in my career. I'm still a newbie at it, but hopefully more experience will come my way! :)

Well that's all folks! I'll try to update again soon!