Roderick Review (Week 23) 2/6/17-2/10/17

 Thank you for your donation!

We received this donation of wonderful animal books and they are already being appreciated by our students!  Thank you! 

Coming Up This Week:

Wednesday, February 15th - Beginning Band Concert 

at 7:00 p.m. in the Gibbons Gym.

Thursday, February 16th - School Committee Meeting 

at 7:00 p.n. in the Roderick Library

February Vacation - February 20th - February 24th

School Resumes on Monday, February 27th

Wondering About the New MCAS?

Here is some helpful information in a Q & A format about the upcoming tests in April and May.

Q: What is different about these MCAS tests?

A:  The new tests include questions in the MCAS and PARCC formats that are based on the grade level standards and an increased focus on critical thinking as well.

Q:  What is the plan for moving towards online testing?

A:  This year, the DESE is requiring online testing for grade 4 and it was optional for grades 3, 5, and 6.  By 2019, all grades will have online testing in ELA and Math, with only a few exceptions for specific student accommodations.  This year at Roderick, grade 4 will have both ELA and Math online.  Grade 5 will be doing the paper version of ELA and Science (paper was the only option for Science), but students will have the online version for Math.  Grade 6 will be doing both ELA and Math online.

Q:  When are the MCAS tests this year?

A:  This year's tests will be administered on the following dates:

Grade 4:

ELA: 4/10-4/12    

MATH: 5/15-5/16

Grade 5:

ELA:  4/4-4/6      

MATH: 5/8-5/9

ST&E:  5/18-5/19

Grade 6:

ELA:  4/25-4/26

MATH:  5/10-5/11

Q:  What are students doing in school to prepare them for the MCAS?

A:  Most of the preparation is in the form of the learning that your children are engaged in each and every day in class that will build their knowledge in skills relative to the curriculum frameworks.  Mrs. Fox has also incorporated some of the technical skills that students need such as using scroll bars, toggling between tabs to read different reading selections, and "drag and drop" motions into the technology class.  There will be a brief practice test as well to be sure students feel comfortable and relaxed prior to the actual MCAS tests.

If you are curious about the types of questions that students will encounter, you can browse through some sample Test Items.  Beginning on February 1, the DESE will continue to roll out additional examples.