Academic Challenges

Central Valley Charter Schools want to encourage our students to take pride and ownership in their educational journey. We are offering opportunities and incentives for our students as they work towards mastery of essential skills, such as Sight Words, Math Facts, Writing, and Reading. Your student will receive awards/prizes as they accomplish the grade level goals throughout the year, and earn special recognition and prizes at the end of the school year for completing the academic challenge. Students are welcome to participate in any challenge that promotes their academic growth. If your student would like to participate, please let your IST know so that they can support your efforts by verifying progress and submitting their name for the awards/prizes.

To participate in the challenge, use the sight words from your curriculum or from our CVCS word list. As your student masters the grade level progress goals throughout the year, just initial and date the attached verification chart and show it to your IST at your Learning Period meetings. Challenge begins in Learning Period #2.

Grade Level Goals:

TK: 3 words each Learning Period for a total of 24 at the end of the year

Kindergarten: 5 words each Learning Period for a total of 40 at the end of the year

1st & 2nd: 10 words each Learning Period for a total of 80 at the end of the year

Resources:

Sight Word Verification Chart

Sight Word Activities

Become a Math Facts Master with daily practice. To participate in this challenge, choose a timed method that works best for your student: math fact worksheets, flashcards, online games, etc. As your student masters the progress goals throughout the year, just initial and date the verification chart to show your IST at your Learning Period meetings. Math Fact check-ins will be in Learning Periods 2, 4, 6, 8.

Grade Level Goals (under 5 minutes):

TK/K: addition up to 5 (LP2: 15, LP4: 30, LP6: 45, LP8: 60)

1st/2nd: addition up to 20 (LP2: 25, LP4: 50, LP6: 75, LP8: 100)

3rd - 6th: multiplication up to 12 (LP2: 25, LP4: 50, LP6: 75, LP8: 100)

Resources:

Math Fact Verification

FactMonster.com

Math Fact Practice Pages

All students are encouraged to participate in the Writing Challenge this school year. During Learning Periods 2, 4, 6, your IST will be reviewing a writing genre with your student and providing resources. Your student will be asked to bring their completed writing assignment to the next learning period meeting to review it with your IST.

Writing Genres:

Narrative (due LP3)

Informative (due LP5)

Opinion (due LP7)

Resources will be provided by your IST

Reading is FUN! Encourage your student to read daily by participating in our Reading Challenge. Students should read (or be read to) for 20 minutes each day. Use the Reading Log to keep track of the book titles, dates, and minutes spent reading. Goal for all students is 300 minutes each learning period. Bring your completed Reading Log to your next Learning Period meeting to show your IST.

Resources:

Reading Log

This is your opportunity to receive DOUBLE the rewards for reading! Nothing Bundt Cakes is inviting Pre-K through Elementary students to participate in their youth reading program, "Books & Bundts." Just enter 400 minutes on their provided reading log, turn it into the Fresno or Clovis location, and receive a FREE Bundtlet! Be sure to take a picture or make a copy of the reading log to show your IST at your Learning Period meeting to document your participation in our Reading Challenge as well.

Books & Bundts Information

Books & Bundts Reading Log