First Meeting Notes, April 3, 2008

April 3, 2008 Transition Team Meeting

Present at Meeting:

Ann Frye, Kathryn Corrigan, Sue Fedorwich, Kelly Simmons, Joann Byrne, Marisa Potter

Academic Assessments that are being done in Third Grade:

Math
-Benchmark assessments by topic and covering cumulative information.
-NTH Benchmark Assessments Math (green sheet) for Third Grade.
-New York State Math Tests.

ELA
-NTH Benchmark Assessments ELA (green sheet) for Third Grade.
-New York State ELA Tests.
-DRA/DIBELS
-AIS Levels: Strategic (Benchmark), Intensive (Low), Some Risk (Middle)

Science/Social Studies
-Benchmark results from each classroom.

Other
-Pink/Blue sheets which give information about each student.


Content in Third/Fourth Grade:

Cursive Writing
3rd Grade-Zaner/Blosner, teach the steps of each letter, should be able to write their name in cursive.
4th Grade-Practice all the letters and require a signature and header in cursive. Some teachers also do certain writing pieces and spelling words in cursive.

Third grade will give fourth grade a curriculum map and third grade will receive a fourth grade curriculum map.

Homework Expectations

3rd grade-2 times a week and one subject a day. Some have assignment charts and some do not have charts. Some teachers do Friday folders as well.
4th grade-4 times a week and two subjects a day. All students have assignment charts and Friday folders.

Math

Facts

3rd Grade-Familiarized with multiplication facts up to 12 by the end of the school year.
4th Grade-Should know multiplication facts up to 12 by the end of the school year.

Intervention
3rd and 4th Grade- In order to be successful students need additional intervention time in addition to the regular classroom time.

Grouping:

Issues
-Certain children end up with the same children year after year.
-CSE/AIS mean that certain children must be placed in certain rooms.
-Self contained and switching teachers for subjects.

Timeline
-Completed in June as a group meeting between 3rd and 4th grade after 3rd grade has tentatively placed students in certain classes.

Transition

Open House for 3rd graders with 4th graders present.

Questions:
-What happens to the cumulative folder in fourth grade?
-Does it continue throughout Middle School and get added information?
-What should happen with the cumulative folders between 3rd and 4th? What should be in the cumulative folders?
-Writing curriculum? Spelling? Consistency among grade levels?

Things We Need:
-Some kind of data chart to know what interventions a child has received.
-Sue will share IEP summary sheet with Chris for help with CSE students.
-Transition information for families (possibly a transition pamphlet): grading systems, recess policy, homework, learning links.
-Time to meet with each other as a whole grade level.