Monday, March 8, 2021

Scheduling Testing (Grades 3-8 and 11)

 

Our major test week will be Monday, April 19 - Thursday, April 22.
Alternate/Make-Up days will be Wednesday, April 28
and Monday, May 10
Tuesday, May 11 will be reserved for Make-Up testing.

Testing will begin each day at 10 am with a brief Zoom meeting 
where I will provide instructions and log-in information.


Please sign up for 2 testing days as soon as you can, so I can plan and prepare.
Sign up for testing days here.

The goal will be to complete one subject (LA/Math) per testing day. There are 2 Language Arts tests, and 2 math tests. They each have a multiple choice/short answer test and a "performance task" test. Your student can choose which subject to start with.

The tests are not timed. Students can take as long as they need. If they need additional days, we will use the alternate and make-up days.

Science tests (except for those scheduled for 11th graders this Friday) are on hold for now because the state is considering requesting a waiver for that requirement this year. More info on that will follow as I get it.

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Want a practice session before testing?
I set up one Interim testing session (a short test practice) for Monday, March 15. But I only have one student signed up. Maybe it is too early?

I can set up another that is closer to actual testing, if people are interested. Please email me if that is something you would like to do.

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Parent/Guardian To-Do List:
  1. Make sure you have an appropriate device with a working camera and microphone. Download and check that you can open the secure browser. 
  2. Prepare a quiet place for your student(s) to test. Provide scratch paper and pencils. 
  3. View the How to Take a Remote Test Video (7:44) with your student(s) before your test session. 
  4. Review the Guidelines for student testing on the Parent/Guardian Notification - CAASPP 2020-21 Letter.
  5. Practice with your student. At a minimum do the Smarter Balanced Training Tests. (These are the yellow ones, the second group that show up as choices.)

Quick Links: 
  • Practice Tests (You are only interested in the Smarter Balanced Practice Tests and Smarter Balanced Training Tests. I'd do the Training Tests first.) 
  • Scoring Guides (you are only looking for CAASPP ELA and Math and possibly CAST science if your student is in 5th, 8th, or 11th)
  • Chromebook Request Form

Two Cool Things

This Jurassic Quest Drive Through looks pretty awesome to me. I have an email in to admin to see if the $49 vehicle fee would be reimbursable as a parent led field trip. I think it should be, but I wanted to check before I said so. If you are interested in going, feel free to email me and I'll let you know what I hear back!

https://www.jurassicquest.com/events/drive-thru-sacramento-ca



Student Treasures has a free Author Kit you can download to create you own book. They also have a $39.99 paid kit that includes publishing. (They are not a Visions vendor though, so that would be out of pocket. However, if this inspires you, Amazon does carry other book making kits that you could order with student funds.)

https://studentreasures.com/homeschool/

They also have some great free lesson plans and worksheets for writing.

https://studentreasures.com/teachers-lounge/lesson-plans/

Upcoming & Notable

 

Deadline to Add a new Community Partner: Friday, March 12
Daylight Saving Time Begins: Sunday, March 14 (set clock 1hr forward)
Deadline to Order Studies Weekly (for this school year): Monday, March 15
Add/Drop Deadline (High School): Friday, March 19
LP8 Begins: Monday, March 22
Sibling Enrollment/Academy Transfer Deadline: 4:30 pm, Friday, March 26
Spring Break - No School: Monday March 29 - Friday, April 2

LP9 Begins: Monday, April 19
Testing: Monday, April 19 - Thursday, April 22
Testing: Wednesday, April 28



Testing: Monday, May 10
Make-up Testing: Tuesday, May 11
LP10 Begins: Monday, May 17
Memorial Day, No School: Monday, May 31



Last Day of School:
 Thursday, June 3

Additional Tutoring for All Grades


From the WIRE

Visions Partners with Sac State
to Provide Additional Tutoring for All Grades

Visions In Education is happy to announce more tutoring opportunities as we partner with Sacramento State’s Partnerships to Advance the Value of Education (PAVE).

PAVE is a K-12 academic tutoring and college mentoring program whose goal is to improve educational opportunities for K-12 students and help them achieve their college, career, or life goals. 

Now through May 14, 2021, Visions students will have several Sacramento State tutors available at various times, including some evenings and weekends. This is in addition to Visions’ Homework Hotline tutors who are available all school days from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for our 6th through 12th grade students.

It’s important to note that:

  • PAVE Tutors will only be available during the hours posted for each tutor on the PAVE Tutor Profiles doc linked below (hours vary by tutor)
  • Tutoring is subject-area specific; please check the tutor’s profile to find the tutor that best fits your tutoring needs
  • PAVE tutoring utilizes Zoom; each tutor has their own Zoom link accessible via their profile
  • All sessions will be recorded
  • Tutoring is available for all grade levels
  • Parents are encouraged to be part of the session

To access PAVE Tutors, please review the
PAVE Tutors’ Profiles document
–this shows the name of the tutor, the subject areas they tutor, and the days and times of availability.  More tutors will be added to this document as they become available.

This Week's Meeting Schedule

LP7 Agenda - Testing Prep

Monday 3/8
Office Day

Tuesday
Virtual
12:00 - Uriah
3:00 - Billy & Ary

Wednesday
Virtual
1:00 - Hunter
2:00 - McKenna

Thursday
Virtual
11:00 - Elijah & Hazel
1:00 - Akira
2:00 - Jonah
4:00 - Jette

Friday
Testing - 10:00
Ella
McKenna
Madison
Logan