Available this weekend for free are some of the Everyday Math learning apps. Our math curriculum has great resources on the web. McGraw-Hill has created apps for many of the online games and games played in the classroom. For iPads, iPod Touches and iPhones, these are highly recommended for practice. (I was playing Addition Top it with Madeline - she's ready for more!)

           Equivalent Fractions              Divisibility Dash             Addition and Multiplication Top-It
                     

Below is the first message from a wonderful volunteer taking charge of the lost and found. To view a photo of all the pieces in the collection, click on the Lost/Found link on the library home page. QAE Lost/Found Couture Collection. 

Hello QAE families! 

My name is Mindy Katz and I am in charge of the Lost and Found this year.  My son Jesse is in Mrs. Leland's first grade class.  This is Jesse's first year at QAE and he is loving it! I wanted to let everyone know a few things about the Lost and Found items.  There is a rack in the wood building where jackets and sweatshirts are hung up.  The rack is located to the right at the top of the main staircase when you enter the building.  There is also a box for items that can not be hung up under the rack.  This is the only rack of Lost and Found items.  If items are left in the brick building I will be moving them over so they can all be in one place.  Except for water bottles that were found during lunch.  They are on a shelf outside the girls bathroom on your way to the lunchroom. 

I will be updating pictures every two weeks.  Please write your child's name in jackets and clothes.  That way if someone sees something that belongs to a child they know, the lost and found can be avoided.  (I was about to take a picture of a sweatshirt when I realized it was my son's)! If you have any questions feel free to email me at  

Thanks!
Mindy

Three times this year our students will be given the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment. The data becomes an important tool for teachers to begin developing learning plans for their classroom (groups) and students (individual). The data includes detailed information they need to build curriculum and meet their students’ needs, helping them to excel. MAP is a computerized adaptive assessment that captures a student's abilities, comparing the data with other students in the school, district and nation. MAP is one of many ways QAE teachers use to create personalized learning. The assessment is delivered with low stress and emphasis (it's fun) - we want students to enjoy the experience and see this as an opportunity for them to show us what they know. Data from the assessment on each student will be shared with parents soon after it becomes available, usually 3-4 weeks after.

To support your child in being more comfortable taking the assessment, it's encouraged that you have a conversation and provide practice. Clicking here will give K-2 students  an opportunity to see what the testing experience will look like and give them a chance to practice using the computer. Students in grades 3-5 will be given a non-audio version.

Practice assessment for the MAP in primary grades.

MAP Schedule: (Computer Lab)
This Mon and Tues - students in grades 3-5 will be assessed in math and reading. (50 minutes). The following days and next week students in grades K-2 will visit the lab four times for 30 minutes - (two assessments for each math and reading).

Feel free to stop by any time to talk about MAP or see it in action.

Jeffrey

While I very much miss our special McDonald kids and parents, I am loving our new home! I shared with my colleagues during our summer planning retreat that last year was our QAE introduction and this year was really chapter one. The new building comes with lots of wrinkles, but like anything new, time will wear it in well. We decided to call the gray building with all the classrooms (this year) the "treehouse", and the brick building with the library, gym (sort of), computer lab, cafeteria and office the "fort". There's really no rhyme or reason for their names, just felt right. Welcome to the Treehouse and Fort! 

Our new library, while much smaller than Lincoln, is a extraordinary space. It's alive with 8,000 new books, new computers and sunlight shinning in through 20' windows. I am still working on the  library schedule, but my goal is to see all the students in the library for checkout / library lesson / story and computer lab at least once a week. This leaves time during the day to support those teachers/students needing to be in the  the library/lab for project work, or small groups of students working independently. I hoping to fill the volunteer library schedule so that I can be with students in the lab or working one on one. 

Last year, my success as a first year librarian (actually every year of my 20 year career) is the partnerships/relationships I've developed with volunteers. The time voluneers spend in the library model for our students a strong sense of community involvement and allow me to provide greater support for students and teachers. Volunteers make our school great, and if you would like to join our team in the library/lab please let me know. You can either fill out the short  "Volunteer Form" or send me an email. I will be in touch!

My goals is to maintain this blog at least twice a week. Whether it's a book review, something students are working on, a pondering or thought, sharing a great web resource or sharing photos of my daughter Madeline, I hope it's just one more connection (bridge) that makes our school stand out. Every school is as great as it's community. Yes! 

Like last year,  here is my wish list. Not nearly as long as last year, but none the less big:

We have been gifted from SPS surplus with three huge Danish, post modern tables. These tables are fabulous and can accomodate up to 28 students. Comfortable, adjustable, chairs have been ordered. These tables have been used in high schools and middle schools over the years The wood border (laminate in the middle) has been adorned throughout the years with scrapings of many colorful words and designs. Looking for a small team of sanders and painters to beautify these tables and bring them to their true glory.