Reading News: Act 20
Dear Families,
As we have for many years, SASD students participate in screening in mathematics and reading in the Fall, Winter and Spring. A screener is an assessment that quickly checks your child’s reading or math skills.
This year, as part of 2023 Wisconsin Act 20, all Wisconsin students in grades 4K-3 are taking an assessment called the aimswebPlus early reading screener. aimswebPlus is very similar to screeners we have used in the past. Our students in grades 4-5 will also participate in screening using Fastbridge as we did last year.
Below are some answers to questions you may have:
What skills are tested?
The screener will check important literacy skills including alphabet knowledge, letter sound knowledge, phonemic awareness, decoding, and oral vocabulary. The skills are tested differently based on your child’s grade level. Please review the additional information about reading skills included at the end of this letter.
What information will families/caregivers receive?
In Fall 2024, you will receive your child’s test results at Fall Conferences. If your child would benefit from extra help in reading, we will notify you sooner via email in the next two weeks. We will also share a plan to help your child meet grade-level goals.
How will we use the information?
The information from the early reading screener is one way that your child’s teacher will learn about your child's reading skills.
If you have any questions or need more information about the early reading screener, please don't hesitate to reach out!
Sincerely,
Erin Conrad
Please use the links below to sign up for Fall Conferences with your student's homeroom teacher! These conferences are a great opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, share any concerns, and work together to support their academic and personal growth. We encourage all families to participate!
Simply click the link corresponding to your child’s homeroom teacher and choose a time slot that works best for you. If you need assistance or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to seeing you!
Last week, our 4th grade students had a milky and cheesy trip to the Dairy Expo! They explored the world of agriculture and got an in-depth look at Wisconsin’s thriving dairy industry. The students learned about the process of dairy farming, the journey from farm to table, and the important role it plays in our local economy. A highlight of the day was getting up close with cows, calves, and other farm animals, which made the learning experience even more hands-on. It was a fun, educational adventure that connected what they’ve been learning in the classroom with real-world applications!
2023 Wisconsin Act 20 requires that children are assessed in the early reading skills of alphabet knowledge, letter sound knowledge, phonemic awareness, and decoding. These skills are assessed differently depending on the student’s grade level. You can learn more about these important early reading skills below:
Alphabet knowledge: Knowing the names of printed letters.
Letter sound knowledge: Knowing the sounds of printed letters.
Phonemic awareness: Hearing , saying, and manipulating individual sounds in spoken words.
Decoding skills: Connecting sounds to written letters to read printed words.
Oral vocabulary: Understanding the meanings of words when speaking or listening.
aimswebPlus Reading Screening Assessments to Measure Skills
The aimswebPlus reading screeners that measure the skills above are based on a student’s grade level. More details are below:
Letter naming fluency (5K): Measures a student’s knowledge of upper-and lower-case letters. Your child will have one minute to say the names of visually presented upper-and lowercase letters that they know.
Letter word sounds fluency (4K-5K): Measures a student’s letter sound knowledge. Your child will have one minute to say the sounds of visually presented letters, syllables, and words that they know.
Initial sounds (4K-5K): Measures a student’s phonemic awareness. Your child will be provided a page with four pictures. Your child will be asked to either point to a picture of a word that matches the initial sound the teacher says or make the initial sound of a word spoken by the teacher. This assessment will take 2-3 minutes.
Phoneme segmentation (1st grade): Measures a student’s phonemic awareness. Your child will listen to a word that is spoken by the teacher and then say each sound they hear in the word. This assessment will take 2-3 minutes.
Auditory vocabulary (5K-1st grade): Measures a student’s knowledge of words commonly found in 5-year old Kindergarten and Grade 1 reading materials. Your child will match a picture to an orally presented word. This assessment will take 2-4 minutes.
Vocabulary (2nd- 3rd grade): Measures a student’s knowledge of the meanings of grade-appropriate words. Your child will choose the meaning of target words by selecting from multiple choice options. This is an untimed, computerized assessment that typically takes 4-7 minutes.
Oral Reading Fluency (1st-5th grade): Measures a student’s decoding skills. Your child will read two stories aloud, each for one minute.
SHS’s “Trunk or Treat” next Wednesday!
🎭The SHS Performing Arts presents Lionel Bart's OLIVER!
This musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' beloved story features a talented cast of 37 students and will captivate audiences of all ages!
Show Dates:
📅Friday, November 1 @ 7 pm
📅Saturday, November 2 @ 7 pm
📅Sunday, November 3 @ 1 pm
📍Location: SHS Performing Arts Theater (enter from the back parking lot off Devonshire Rd)
🎟️Tickets are available at https://ow.ly/yBvP50THYqb or at the door (no cash sales).
We Want to Hear from You! 🍎
Do you have thoughts on our school lunch program? We’re always looking for ways to improve and ensure our students enjoy healthy, delicious meals. Whether you love the current menu or have suggestions for new items, we want your feedback!
Please take a moment to fill out our quick School Lunch Survey and let us know what you think. Your input will help us shape a better dining experience for all our students!
Survey Link: bit.ly/4gAkuLg OR scan the QR code
Thank you for helping us make school lunch even better!
If you’ve ever considered making extra money by helping as a substitute in the school, Lauren at ESS would love to share some information with you! ESS is hiring for several substitute positions in SASD. To learn more about these opportunities or the steps needed to start your sub career, you can email Lauren at lamburn@ess.com or give her a call at 608.607.7326.
ESS partners with SASD to provide substitute teachers, aides, and more. You can find them on Facebook at ESS WI. From now through September 13th, please like/follow ESS WI for an entry to win a $50 Amazon gift card! For an extra entry, please like and comment on a post (one additional entry for every new post you like and comment on). For another additional entry, share one of our posts! (one additional entry per share).
Our winner* will be announced on Monday, September 16th!
*additional winners may be chosen based on the total number of entries
Office hours: 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
School hours: 7:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Doors open at 7:35 a.m.
Please try to get your student to school by 7:35 every day. It gives your students ample time to get to their locker, chat with friends, and grab breakfast. We start our morning meeting at 7:45 and it is hard for kids to walk in late to the classroom when everyone is already begun the day.
If students are not in their classroom at 7:45 they will be marked tardy.
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE FOR 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR
Kegonsa Elementary School
Ms. Conrad, Principal (877-5201)
Mrs. Nelson, Dean of Students (877-5222)
Mrs. Southern, Front Office Admin Assistant (877-5202)
Mr. Schultz, School Counselor (877-5229)
Mrs. Menon, School Psychologist (877-5276)
Mrs. McDermot, School Social Worker (440-0270)
Mrs. Hart, Health Assistant (877-5204)
Email: erin.conrad@stoughton.k12.wi.us
Website: http://www.stoughton.k12.wi.us/page.cfm?p=619
Location: Kegonsa Elementary School, Vernon Street, Stoughton, WI, United States
Phone: 608-877-5202
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stoughtonschools/
Twitter: @WeAreStoughton