Elementary Essentials

The window for voting has closed. Thanks to everyone who completed the survey and voted for their choice of a new ELA resource (EL Education or Wit and Wisdom) to teach comprehension. We received about 300 votes and will begin the final phase of this process. After negotiations are completed, we will share the resource that was selected.

Comprehending text is a complex task. Watch this video to learn more about how readers comprehend text. LITERACY BRIEF #7 – Why is Comprehending Text So Hard?

Here is a link to the article highlighted in the Literacy Brief video. The Progression of Reading

Comprehension by P. David Pearson and David Liben.

For those of you utilizing IXL in your buildings, please refer to the following video for some key reminders around how to assign skills, interpret scores, and look back at your classes data!

There has been updated guidance on allowable manipulatives. Language around nested manipulatives has been isolated to that of volume containers. Therefore, the nested blank fraction bars has been confirmed as allowable by KSDE's math coordinator. I have attached an example of what would now be allowable. Keep in mind that it must be blank. Click here!

Thank you all for your continued diligence with the QBA windows! Please continue to provide any feedback that would be helpful in ensuring that the assessments are meaningful to your instruction! The conversations around the data with you all have been so powerful! Quarter 3's window will run for the final 2 weeks of the quarter right before Spring Break, falling from February 26 to March 8. If you have any questions or concerns around QBAs, please do note hesitate to reach out to your support specialist and/or Spencer!

Lots of information in the Science newsletter from KSDE! KSDE Science Newsletter

It includes:

• A paid opportunity for elementary teachers to provide feedback on documents, while learning more about the standards.
• Access to Science Practice Tests in Kite, which more closely resemble the rigor of the NGSS standards that students will see on the KAP Summative Science Assessment.
• A Whole Kids Garden Grant Program
• Book study, collaboration meetings, and more!!!

Please check out the social studies newsletter for important social studies related items. Social Studies contest #4 will be in the next newsletter. Enter for chance to win!

I hope each of you has had an amazing week. Please reach out if I can assist or support you. Thanks for all you do! ~Julie