Instructional Lead Teachers

Testing Strategies

Strategies that make Standardized Testing Easy!!

• Ask questions when directions are unclear
• Understanding pacing
• Read All answer choices before making selection
• Preview comprehension questions prior to reading passage
• Use the process of elimination
• Use context clues
• Use answer choices as a source of information
• Eliminate worthless information
• Skip an item and return to it accurately

Brumby's Academic Coaches would like to invite parents and students of 3rd through 5th grade to a 2 hour Test Prep Class. You can choose from one of the following Saturdays, from 9-11am in the Media Center: February 9th or 23rd. We will be practicing the above listed strategies and many more. It is a great time to prepare for the CRCT and relieve some of our testing anxiety at the same time. We look forward to seeing you there!!

Interactive Math Websites

AAA MATH  - AAA Math features a comprehensive set of interactive arithmetic lessons. Unlimited practice is available on each topic which allows thorough mastery of the concepts. A wide range of lessons (Kindergarten through Eighth grade level) enables learning or review to occur at each individual's current level.

Time for Time - This site addresses one of the typically most difficult skills to master telling time and elapsed time.

Cool Math - An amusement park of math designed for fun! This is a site designed to improve student math, but is also filled with motivational ideas for the teacher, parents and the child.

WW Research and References

Use these sites in writers workshop. These are reference tools kids can use for research, spelling, word choice, etc.

Rhyme Zone Dictionary - find rhymes, synonyms and antonyms

Picture Dictionary -

To browse through the dictionary, click on a letter in the alphabet at the top of the window and you'll see a page of words that start with that letter.

If you don't see any letters at the top of this page, click here.

2,478 illustrated dictionary entries! Each word is used in a meaningful example sentence. Most entries have links to a related web site. Just click on an underlined word (or its accompanying picture), and you'll link to a related page.

ProQuest 12 - elementary online dictionary search engine

Writing and Publishing

Write Online

Back Talk - What do you think this ______ is thinking? Fill the thought balloons to go along with these funny animal pictures and print your creation.

I Spy Riddle - Each month this website will feature an I SPY picture and ask you to write a riddle.

Story Maker - pick a scene, answer a few questions, and we will start your own personalized story which you get to write the ending to

Writer's Block - here kids join together to build a story block by block

Publish your work

Writer's Window - Writer's Window is a site for school aged young writers (aged 5-18) to publish their writing

Storybook - allows students to publish monthly stories or their own creative work

Online Books

Starfall - Where students have fun learning to read!

Clifford the Big Red Dog Stories - 4 interactive stories to choose

Clifford Read and Write - 4 different short stories available; Choose words to complete the sentences in the story

Kiz Club - 3 different levels of stories on topics such as Healthy Habits, Feelings, What's in the Sky?,Seasons; click on the black arrow at the top of the page for more stories

Reading Planet's Stories and Songs - animated and narrated stories to choose from in several different languages

StoryPlace Elementary Library - interactive, online stories

Storyline Online - watch videos of famous actors reading books aloud; 10 books to choose from; follow the directions to watch the video on the full screen

One-Stop Shop

Here is a website that has numerous links for reading, language arts, and math. Click on your grade level to go to the appropriate page on that site.

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

Reading

" A Reader is a Leader" ... Reading is an important skill that requires practice. Just like learning to ride a bike, the more practice, the easier it is. Please find 10-20 minutes every day to read with your child  encouraging a life long love for reading and ultimately success in life. Remember " A Reader is a Leader".

What Good Mathematicians Do!

Good Mathematicians...

• Look for patterns
• Create pictures, diagrams, and charts
• Estimate
• Create a plan to solve a problem
• Explain your work
• Check your work
• Use math for everyday problems
• Seek new ways to find a solution
• May use technology as an aid

Reading Strategy Checklist

Before Reading, I...

• think about the cover, title, and what I know about the topic
• skim, looking at and thinking about pictures, photos, graphs, charts
• read headings and captions
• read the back cover and/or print on the inside of the jacket
• use the five finger method to see if the book is just right for me
• ask questions
• make predictions

During Reading, I...

• make mental pictures
• identify confusing parts and reread these
• use pictures, graphs and charts to understand confusing parts
• identify unfamiliar words and use context clues to figure out their meanings
• stop and retell to see what I remember. If necessary, I reread
• predict and adjust or confirm
• raise questions and read on to discover answers
• jot down a tough word and the page it's on and ask for help

After Reading, I ...

• think about the characters, setting, events or new information
• discuss or write my reactions
• reread parts I enjoy
• skim to find details
• reread to find support for questions