Sunday, March 13, 2016

Gearing Up For Assessments

Every spring brings the heightened sense of discomfort in taking standardized tests.    Thankfully, at MRA we believe that a student's learning can be assessed through a multiple of non-traditional venues, as well as traditional testing.   It has been such a relief to teach in an environment where teachers are encouraged to evaluate students' learning through projects and uses of multiple intelligence.  However, our children are growing up in a world where they will have to learn how to pass standardized tests to obtain licenses for different career paths.  So, with that being said, I believe it's important that our students are exposed to and made aware of what standardized tests look and feel like.  For the next couple of weeks we will be taking practice tests during our computer times.  These will be done in a relaxed environment where they can ask all the questions they have and we will be modeling how to work through problems we get stuck on.  Please take time to walk through a few of these problems with your students and encourage them to ask questions.  Problem solving together can create stronger critical thinking skills.

Here is the website for the practice tests.  http://oaksportal.org/students/

Just select "guest school" and click on the grade level your student is in.  Then continue on to the practice tests.  Please let me know if you have any questions.







Sunday, March 6, 2016

6th-8th Oregon Battle Of The Books

For the last six months these ladies have been reading, studying, memorizing titles and authors, logging details into their brains from sixteen different books in order to prepare for the Oregon Battle Of The Books.  

They competed in school battles and then moved on to regionals which were held at Reynold High School this past Saturday.  There were over 60 teams across Clackamas County that came to do battle.  We fought well but were just 15 points shy of making it into the next round.  

I am extremely proud of these young ladies and the dedication they poured into reading and working together as a team.  Way to go Abbey Briley, Chloe Corless,  Jelly Waters,  Lola McIlhenny, and Kayla Appleton.  You make MRA proud!