"Tell me about assessment."

Dear Lower School Parents,

Not infrequently, I open the door to my office to find a teacher sitting on the rug with a Kindergartner or First Grader. They often have math cubes lined up in front of them ready to be counted or sorted and a book or sheets of words to be read. Typically, the teacher has with her a clipboard on which she’s making notes. They are engaged in our own process of "formal-but-friendly" individual assessment. Screenings such as these take place all over the school; teachers and students find quiet places to work together at pivotal points in the year – in early fall, before conferences and reports, and at year’s end.

Additionally, Lower School teachers use a range of tried-and-true individual reading assessments such as the DRA (Diagnostic Reading Assessment) and the QRI (Qualitative Reading Inventory). Along with other information, these indicate student reading levels and an appropriate range of books for individuals to choose from. Our math program, TERC Investigations, also has within it a series of checkpoints and assessment activities. As stated above, teachers return and re-screen to measure growth and to judge the effectiveness of intervening interventions and supports.

As students mature, we turn to assessments within a more formalized, whole class structure. In Fourth Grade, for example, students prepare for and take the three-day ERB (Education Record Bureau) achievement test, officially called the Comprehensive Testing Program 4 or "CTP4". This is an experience with timed test taking, #2 pencils and bubbling. The test is scored outside of school and mailed to us; we, in turn, mail them to parents. The results of this test remain in a student’s file.

All of these experiences allow teachers to measure student progress as it is reflected in a testing situation and to gauge the effectiveness of their programs. Assessment helps to inform future instruction: teachers can look at the scope of their class and see where gaps and strengths lie. In a systematic way, they can identify areas needing to be revisited or reinforced as well as those mastered by the group. Teachers may decide to skip or add a lesson based on these findings.

Only rarely do screenings hold great surprises because, before any testing begins, teachers have a solid grasp of their students’ conceptual understanding and performance levels - this because the practice of informal anecdotal assessment is daily and ongoing. It occurs as students participate in classroom discussions, as they compose a rough draft, construct a math strategy, choose a book and complete a homework assignment. Teachers take notes, recording them later in a log or journal. Whether students exceed grade level expectations or frequently require support, teachers speak with them about their process, asking them to prove the accuracy of their results, pinpoint an area of difficulty or simply describe their thinking.

The request "Tell me about assessment." is one frequently posed by touring prospective parents – and I respond as I have in this letter. I take it to mean more than how we as teachers chart our students’ progress, but how do you as parents get the information and how does your child – the learner – know how they are doing? Information gathered has value only as it is deconstructed, communicated and used as a basis for further learning

Elaine


Congratulations to the High School students and faculty on being named to the Blackboard High School Awards Honor Roll for excellence in three areas:
· Teaching of Reading and Writing
· Teaching of Math and Science
· Respect by Students for Each Other
There are so many other areas of the high school program we could recognize. After this past weekend’s performance of Ragtime it is hard not to mention our tremendous arts program. In addition, I invite all to join our digital arts students next Tuesday, November 14th at 6:30PM, at the Apple Store SoHo for a showcase of work from LREI. Finally, please join us on Monday, November 20th for a student-organized concert to benefit relief efforts work in Darfur. Tickets are on sale now in both buildings. We are proud of your hard work and of the incredible learning community you have created on Charlton Street.

Philip Kassen

Director


This Week's Attachments:

Tasha and Romy's Class Trip

Fourth Grade Parent Meeting

A Message from Phil About NYSAIS


Announcements:

Parent-Teacher Conference Childcare will be provided tomorrow Friday, November 10th, from 11:45 to 3 o'clock in the Big Room. The cost is ten dollars and pizza will be provided. For more information and to sign up, contact Kate at Kgreathead@lrei.org, 477-5316 ext. 215.
Please remember there is no Afterschool tomorrow and Childcare ends promptly at 3PM.

Benefit Concert for Darfur Hear Our Voices
Please come to a Broadway benefit concert to aid the victims in Darfur.
When: Monday, November 20th, 2006 - 6:30-8:00pm
Where: 40 Charlton St.
Tickets on Sale:
Lower School lobby every morning from 8:00-9:00.
High School with Violeta Picayo
Why: We can make a difference!
Organized by LREI High School students.

Click Here

We invite you to the LREI High School Arts Showcase at the Apple Store SoHo. This will be a wonderful opportunity to see our talented High School students' artistic and technological successes. Join us to experience their photography, film and multimedia creations.
November 14, 2006, 6-8pm
Apple Store, SoHo
103 Prince Street
www.apple.com/retail/soho

A Word from Afterschool:
Dear Parents,
The Afterschool Office is in the midst of planning for the upcoming winter/spring session. If there is an Enrichment class that you would like to see continued on the schedule, or if you have suggestions for other class offerings, please let us know by contacting the Afterschool Office.
Regards,
Cari Kosins
Director of Afterschool
ckosins@lrei.org

Shop News
Fourth Graders' pathways are in the lobby display case! Using chisels, mallets, rasps and files and many materials, children carved out their pathways, smoothed them and created a personal vision.
Thanks. Peggy

Lost and Found
Please be aware that at the end of next week, 11/17, all clothing from our Lost and Found box will be donated to God's Love We Deliver. Please check for your children's lost items.

Scooters
Scooters cannot be left under benches in the main hall - this according to the school's health and safety practices. Please store your child's scooter in their cubby or ask their teacher to indicate a storage area near the classroom. Thank you.

Photo Retakes
If your child missed photo day, retakes will be held on Thursday, November 16th.


In the Upcoming Weeks...

11/10- Lower School Closes at noon for Parent-Teacher Conferences. No Afterschool.

11/14- Gwen and Thomas' Farm Breakfast, 8:30AM

11/14- First and Second Grade Family Math and Science Night, 6:00PM

11/15- Chap and Meredith's Farm Breakfast, 8:00AM

11/15- Fourth Grade Assembly, 8:45AM

11/16- Photo Retake Day

11/16- LS Parent Rep Meeting, 8:45AM

11/20- MS Tour for Fourth Grade Families, 8:45AM

11/21- Kelly and Ayanna's Farm Breakfast, 8:30AM

11/22- School Closes at 12:00 For Thanksgiving Break (11:45 Fours-First Grade)

11/28- Fourth Grade Parent Meeting, "Helping Your Child Navigate Peer Relationships," 8AM

11/29- Fours & EK Assembly, 8:45

12/6- First Grade Assembly, 8:45

12/6- Book Fair