Mrs. Pitcher’s Classroom Newsletter

What is DRA again?DRA stands for Developmental Reading Assessment. Teachers in grades K-2 assess students using a DRA three times during the course of the school year. A DRA consists of a child reading an unseen text on his/her independent reading level. Running records are similar to DRAs and are given on a formative basis to inform instruction. Running records may be on a seen or unseen text. The DRA and running record assess for: oral reading (ability to call the words on the page), fluency (speed & expression or intonation), retelling/comprehension (ability to share or retell the story to a friend who has never seen/heard/read the text).

If you are going to eat a school lunch with your child please call the kitchen by 9:30 am.  847-5064

DRA testing window started today:

Sni -A- Bar Grain Valley Schools

November 28, 2011

gpitcher@grainvalley.k12.mo.us

Check out Mrs. Pitcher’s webpagehttp://mrspitcher.webs.com/

This will be a place where I will upload newsletters, student work and videos. There are educational games that your child can play.

Specials schedule:Monday: PE

Tuesday: ART

Wednesday: LIBRARY

Thursday: MUSIC

Friday: COMPUTER

Our Schedule:8:40-School starts-Morning work (Be here on time because we start reading instruction right away!)

9:00-Readers workshop

10:00-Word Work

10:30-Science/Social Studies

10:50-11:15 Lunch

11:20 Writer’s Workshop

12:20 Math

1:05-1:30 Recess

1:40 Math/ math games

2:40 specials

3:30 Pack up-Go home

Monday : 4.9

Tuesday: word work Family letter

Wednesday: 5.1

Thursday: word work 5.2

Friday: NO HOMEWORK!!!

Mrs. Pitcher’s Classroom Newsletter Page 2

Upcoming Events

11-30 At home reading logs due

11-30Picture Retakes

12-2 Movie Night

12-8 PTA meeting 6:50

12/21-12/31 Winter break

Reading: I am starting to test students with the DRA to see how they have progressed tomorrow. We test three times a year. I tested in late September to October. Then we test late November to December and then in the spring. I attached the DRA rubric I use to evaluate your child when they read.

Word work: New word sorts will be sent home today. I added a new game you can play at home. It requires a die but can be played without one at home.

Writing: We are starting to write a expository text. We picked a topic today to research and write about. Wednesday we will be checking a book out to help us in our research. Feel free to help your child research at home. They can bring their research to school to help them.

Social Studies: We played Who Wants to be a Millionaire Native American edition. It’s on my website if you want to play under PowerPoints in the resources section. Ask your child some of the differences between Woodland and Plains Native Americans.

Math: Math Test Wednesday! Make sure to read the family letter it goes home tomorrow.

gpitcher@grainvalley.k12.mo.us

This Week’s Assignments

This Week’s Homework