Meet our New Report Card

1. Meet our New Report Card 2nd Cup of Coffee October 24, 2007

2. Why a new report card? z To better communicate with parents z To better align assessment with curriculum and instruction z To separate grades for achievement and learning & social skills z To enhance consistency across classrooms and grades

3. Who created the report card? z Parents & Teachers provided input during the 2005-06 school year. • District committee met to study, establish beliefs, collect samples and create a framework. • Teachers and administrators worked during 2006-07 year to create contents of the report card.

4. What is the goal of the report card? z To provide parents/guardians with clear and accurate information about their child’s achievement and learning and social skills progress

5. Remember… z The report card is just one component of our grade reporting system, which also includes many other opportunities for parent communication (e.g. newsletters, conferences, informal conversations, phone calls, student work samples, homework, etc..)

6. How is the new report card different from before? • Standards-based • Clearer grading scale • Achievement & Learning and Social Skills grades separated z More information from special subject teachers (1-3)

7. What is a standards-based report card? • The content of the report card is based on our expectations of what students should know and be able to do in addition to what the state standards expect of our students. • Students are graded against this standard.

8. What is the grading scale? • 4 Student exceeds grade level standards for this objective. • 3 Student meets grade level standards for this objective. • 2 Student is on the way to meeting grade level standards for this objective. • 1 Student is not yet meeting grade level standards for this objective.

9. What is different about the specials grades? z There are more specific standards for each special subject (art, music, physical education, and Spanish). z Achievement & Learning and Social Skills grades are separated.

10. What are the achievement grade categories? z Reading z Writing z Social Studies z Mathematics z Science z Handwriting z Specials: Art, Computers, Music, P.E., Spanish

11. What are the Learning & Social Skills grade categories? • Effort • Participation • Behavior • Organization • Independence • Home School Connection

12. So, what is expected for my child? • A mark of 3means that your child is right on target and performing as expected for his/her grade level • This mark should be celebrated! • A mark of 4will be given much less often.

13. So, what is expected? z A grade of 3 is the expected grade for your child. That tells you that your child is right on target for where he/she should be at this time of the school year.

14. A (4) Represents A Student Who: • Consistently exceeds grade level standards/expectations. • Consistently goes above & beyond a task. • Consistently uses higher level thinking and problem solving skills. • Shows independence, creativity, & focus.

15. A (3) Represents: • A students who frequently meets grade level standards/expectations. • A student who frequently uses higher level thinking and problem solving skills. • A student who thoroughly and successfully completes tasks.

16. A (2) Represents: • A students who is on the way to meeting grade level standards/expectations. • A student who needs adult support to complete the task. • A student who needs more time/instruction to develop the skill.

17. A (1) Represents: • A student who is not yet meeting grade level standards/expectations. • A student who has difficulty completing a task and seldom meets the expectation for a task.

18. Things to embrace: • A 3 is a grade level expectation. • A 2 may reflect that a student needs more time or adult assistance. • A student has the opportunity to reach and extend their learning/knowledge by demonstrating divergent thinking and advanced problem-solving. • The new report cards provide important information specific to our curriculum & current methodology in instructional practices.

19. Something to avoid: • Equating a number indicator to a letter grade. (Ex. Equating a 3 to a letter (B).)

20. Finally: • This new report card reflects the hard work & efforts of the Ramsey School District Staff. • We recognize this is a shift in the way we communicate student progress…however, we believe that it is both effective and purposeful. We believe it represents a clear process for communicating how your child is performing, while giving you pertinent information about our curriculum expectations.

21. What does the report card look like?

22. Please join us for the next part of this journey: • Our teachers have set up grade level stations for you to visit. These stations will demonstrate some of the report card indicators for specific subjects. Teachers will have sample rubrics and informational materials for you to look at. • A question sheet will be placed on the sample table. If you wish to record a question on this sheet, we would be happy to answer it.

23. Thank you teachers: • Kindergarten: Ms. Azar & Mrs. Martin • Grade 1: Mrs. Sales & Mrs. Romaglia • Grade 2: Mrs. Clewley & Mrs. Lutz • Grade 3: Mrs. Ebeling & Ms. Glidear

24. Thank you for coming today… z Please help other parents understand our new report card - you are now a “report card ambassador!”