Ms. Cummings
Here are the class averages from the Workshop Interim Assessments-
8th Grade 1st period - 61% 2nd period- 65% 7th Grade 4th period- 51% 5th period-54% 6th Grade 6th period- 57% 7th period- 65% This assessment was administered at the end of part one of the Workshop to assess student proficiency of the strategies that were taught during the first part of the unit. It consisted of two reading passages with 15 questions (comprehension & vocabulary). Please email me if you would like to discuss your child's individual score/data. I am hoping to see these averages increase when we take the end-of-workshop assessment. * We will be taking the mid-year RI December 16th & 17th. Please encourage your child to read at least 20 minutes daily, so they can experience growth with their Lexile level. All classes went to the computer lab to take the Interim Workshop Assessment. This assesses students on comprehension and vocabulary strategies that were taught in the first half of the Workshop. We will have an End of Workshop Assessment later this semester.
Students please be reminded that all the technology required for my class is provided. Cell phones are not needed to complete assignments. The program cannot be accessed on your cell phones. Phones are expected to be put up and out of sight. Students will be asked to put phones away when I see them out. However, students who continue to choose not to follow the expectations will have their phones taken to the office for parents to pick up. Our book #3 deadline is Nov. 15th Happy Reading! Hello,
Here is an update on what's been happening in class: In 8th grade- We are reading "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson and analyzing the story elements (setting, characters, plot, and theme). In 7th grade- We are focusing on making inferences while reading informational texts. In 6th grade- We are focusing on finding the central idea and relevant details as we read informational texts. *Reminder- Breakfast Club starts on Oct. 29th at 7:45 for students who have been contacted via letter or phone call. Up coming- Next week we will be taking our interim workshop assessment. Hello,
Friday, October 11th is our Book 2 deadline. I will be extending it for a week because of being out for Fall Break. I have several students who have already read and passed the quiz for 3+ books this year! Way to go!! Reminder **Students should be working on completing a QuickWrite as they read their books. I am looking forward to meeting with many of you next week during conference week. Happy Reading! Happy Fall! Hope you all had a wonderful break.
Conference week is just around the corner, so please check out the Cooper website to schedule your Parent/Teacher conference. Reminder * Students should be reading at home each night for at least 20 minutes. September 13th was our Book #1 deadline. All students should have finished their first book and taken the quiz for that book. *October 11th is our Book #2 deadline.
Please encourage your child to use the time given in the Independent Reading rotation wisely. If they are reading books within their Lexile range they should be reading 6-10 pages per rotation. Parent teacher conferences are coming up Oct. 14-18th. Information on how to sign-up will be on the Cooper homepage. Happy Reading! All classes have started the first Workshop.
We are off to a great start in READ 180! I have been introducing and modeling daily instructional routines/procedures as we learn what it means to have a growth mindset.
The 7th & 8th graders started working on the computer in the Student App. 6th graders will be starting in the next few days. All students have chosen their first independent reading book. Two students have already finished and passed the quiz for their 1st book! WAY TO GO! All of the students in our class have taken the Reading Inventory (RI), and everyone knows their Lexile score. We have completed goal setting conferences. Each student has an individual growth goal which they will be working towards meeting/exceeding by the end of the year. I have included a chart of the current Lexile proficiency bands. Please take a moment to review the chart with your child. Students should be reading a minimum of 20 minutes each night. (The only way to become a better reader is to read.) We have a brand new READ 180 program. It is READ 180 Universal, and I am super excited to share all the new routines, lessons, student applications, and book titles with my classes. The Universal program is more rigorous, and the topics and readings are more relevant, which will help to keep the students engaged. During the first weeks of school, each class will focus on getting to know one another through team/community building lessons. These lessons are geared toward helping to establish classroom routines and procedures, communicating high expectations, and introducing the idea of a growth mindset. I will be making updates to this site weekly. Please see the Parent Resources tab for the link to syllabus. I look am looking forward to an amazing year! Thank you to all who showed up and participated in our Summer Book Club. Most of us completed our 3 book goal this summer!
July 17th (NOT July 24th) was our final meeting. Most of the students were finishing up their last book, so I will be looking forward to touching base with each of them sometime during the first week of school. Thank you parents for your support.
Please visit the Cooper website to register to attend our Summer Book Club. Who: Rising 7th & 8th grade students who were enrolled in READ 180 When: We will meet on Wednesdays from 8:30-11:00 (June 12, 19, 26) (July 10, 17, 24) Where: Cooper Media Center Why: Typically, growth gains made to the Lexile during the year are lost over the summer because students aren’t independently reading over the break. This will be an opportunity for reluctant readers to find book that they can relate to and enjoy reading. Mark your calendars for CULTURAL NIGHT
An evening of performances, presentations and fun while showcasing Cooper Middle School's diverse culture. Tuesday, May 14, 2019 Doors Open at 6:15 pm 1st Performance at 6:30 pm Visit the Cooper Website for more info. __________________________________________________________ Our year-end RI data 8th Grade 1st period - 77% of students met/exceeded their goal 41% more than doubled their growth goal 2nd period - 68% of students met/exceeded their goal 46% more than doubled their growth goal 7th Grade 4th period - 80% of students met/exceeded their goal 38% more than doubled their growth goal 5th period - 67% of students met/exceeded their goal 45% more than doubled their growth goal 6th Grade 6th period - 79% of students met/exceeded their goal 33% more than doubled their growth goal 7th period - 81% of students met/exceeded their goal 35% more than doubled their growth goal I am very proud of the students who worked so hard all year to make great progress! In class this week, we are focusing on catching up in our Independent Reading and Instructional Software rotations.
Many parents have emailed me asking how they can help their child raise their grade in this class, or what they can do over the summer to help their child with reading to prepare them for next year. The absolute best way to help is to encourage them to read daily, and providing the time for them to read without distractions. There is ample time in class for every student to complete the book deadlines. However, if they do not use their rotation time wisely students can read at home, then come to school to take the quiz on the book. Also, I have shown students how to sign up for a free vocabulary.com account. This is a fun way for the kids to build their vocabulary. Students can use this site over the summer to help build their vocabulary. We will be taking our year-end RI next week. Happy Reading! 7th grade Connections survey for next year
https://forms.gle/yzu22UeCfKHcmPgC7 6th grade Connections survey for next year https://forms.gle/vxe6H2SPkbPAURFm6 Only one more week until Spring Break!
Parents please ask your child how many books they have read this year in class. By now, every student should have passed at least 6 Reading Counts quizzes on books they have read in class. Some students have read as many as 22 books! Remind them the only way to become a better reader is to read. Also, take a minute to check out the apps and websites I have listed in the parent resource tab. Have a great week!! 8th Grade- Comprehension focus: Making inferences as we read "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers.
7th Grade- Comprehension focus: Story Elements (setting, characters, plot/events, theme) of a short story. We are reading "he Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allen Poe. 6th Grade- Comprehension focus: Story Elements (setting, characters, plot/events, theme) of a short story. We are reading " Louisa Please Come Home" by Shirley Jackson. Please remind your child to read at least 20 minutes each night. If they do not have a book please encourage them to visit the Cobb Virtual Library or see the instructions for Library Pass under the parent resource tab. They can also access eReads (instructions are under the parent resource tab). Happy READING! Hello,
I hope everyone is reading. We are heading in to the final stretch, and the goal is to have 10 books read with the Reading Counts quizzes passed by the end of the year. Students are given 15-20 minutes daily during class to read. However, several students are behind on the deadlines for having their independent reading books read. Please encourage your child to use their time in Independent Reading rotation wisely. Please contact me with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your child's progress in class. I hope you have all had a great weekend.
This week: 8th grade -Students will be finishing up their personal narratives to turn in. 7th grade -Students will be finishing up their argument essays to turn in. 6th grade -Students will be finishing up their narrative paragraphs to turn in. Students should be working towards meeting the 5th book deadline (February 15th). Please ask your child what they are reading in class. It is beneficial to get reluctant readers talking about texts. Discussions will help them form connections. Please remember that students can access eReads and eBooks from home (link is under the parent resources button). They can be reading at home, and then they can come to class to take the Reading Counts quiz. This will help them to meet the class requirements, and give them the additional 20-30 minutes of home practice that we know increases student success. Have a great week! Happy reading!! We will be starting off the week with the Book Talk presentations on Monday.
Tuesday, we will begin the writing section of the workshop by analyzing student models in the rBook. -8th grade writing focus will be personal narratives -7th grade writing focus will be argument essays -6th grade writing focus will be personal narratives Students will be brainstorming and drafting their essays this week during whole/small group. Have a wonderful week! Remember to READ, READ, READ... Welcome Back! I hope you all had a great break.
We will be starting off the second semester with our Book Talks. Each student will be presenting a 1-3 minute Book Talk for a book they read during the first semester. This assignment gives students the opportunity to share what they have been reading with their classmates, and hopefully interested in reading a new book. Class data after the December mid-year RI: Ask your child if they met/exceeded their individual growth goal, and remind them that reading outside of school will help them to achieve this goal. 1st period - 43% of the class met/exceeded their growth goals 2nd period- 47% of the class met/exceeded their growth goals 4th period- 42% of the class met/exceeded their growth goals 5th period - 29% of the class met/exceeded their growth goals 6th period- 45% of the class met/exceeded their growth goals 7th period- 71% of the class met/exceeded their growth goals Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child's progress in READ 180.
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