OHHHH Benchmarking...
OHHHH Benchmarking…
Ohhhh
the beginning of the year. There is so
much to do from setting up our classrooms, to meeting our new kiddos, Back to
School Nights, ETC, ETC. Andddd one of
the things that we all should be beginning {if not already done}, is
benchmarking.
Andddd this week, I
began the tedious {although EXTREMELY NECESSARY} process of benchmarking ALL of
my students. In addition to benchmarking
all of the students that I had last year {although I benchmarked in June,
sometimes, I encounter the dreaded SUMMER SLIDE…ahhhhhhhh), I also assess all 3rd grade students that
were below grade level expectations in June.
As a Title I ELA teacher, it is very
important that I not only understand my students’ strengths and weaknesses, but
specifically, where they are at the beginning of the year. One of the ways that I assess my students is
by Fountas and Pinnell {F&P} benchmarking.
Throughout the year, I assess my students using F&P 3 times
{beginning of the year, mid-year, and end of the year}.
Yes…you read that
correctly, I assess my students using F&P 3 times per year.
Some teachers assess using these running
records twice a year, some once, and some do not do it at all! Now do
I like hearing the same story and asking the same questions over and over again
{sometimes listening to only one story ALL. DAY. LONG.} of course not. However, in order to ensure that I am able to
create lessons to meet each of my students’ individual needs, I believe it to
be a necessity. Andddd I know that I am
NOT alone-every teacher, in every classroom, needs to be well versed their
students’ abilities.
As educators, we
need to understand where our students’ strengths lie, in order to provide them
the individualized instruction that they need…and DESERVE! When I am
planning our reading strategy lessons, I choose texts based on each of my
students reading levels {for independent/guided practice}. if I choose a text that is above a students’
reading level, they will struggle with understanding the text, AND will
therefore have difficulty understanding the strategy-AND/OR-the text
itself! Similarly, if a text is too easy
for them, they may become easily distracted or worst BORED!! I believe that choosing the right text for
each of my students to be one of the key elements to successful lessons
throughout the year.
I HOPE to be done
assessing my students using the F&P benchmarking system within two weeks
{note that I said HOPE}. Once I have
completed benchmarking, I can begin sending home letters to families with
program information, host a parent information session, ANDDDD then finally
begin teaching!
I hope you are all
having a wonderful year…ANDDDD stay tuned for my next blog on how I prepare for my parent
information sessions!
-Rachel
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