RC, DRW, & SRA

The field of education LOVES to use initials for everything, and this can be really confusing at times!  You may see grades with the initials beside them, so here's an explanation of some of my "codes."

You've probably already figured out SP = spelling, SS = social studies, and WB = workbook...

RC = Reading Comprehension
Basically anytime the students read a passage and answer questions, I add RC to the assignment name.

DRW = Digital Readworks
Feel free to click on the link to check it out!  Mrs. Cook and I assign articles for students to read and then answer questions.  It is one of my favorite ways to get ready for the End-of-Grade Milestones test because not only do students read online and answer multiple choice questions, they also have to type short answers and even paragraph responses.  (The Milestones test will ask them to do the very same thing!)

A really cool feature of the typed responses is that when I read/grade them, I have the choice of correct, 0.75, 0.50, 0.25, or incorrect.  (The Milestones test will scores responses on a similar scale.)

I can assign different articles on similar topics or the kids can all read the same article.

SRA = Scholastic Reading
This is the big green box on the counter near the book shelf.  The students were assigned a color based on their reading level.  They read 3-5 cards and answer the questions on the card.  If they make three 100s, they automatically "level up" to the next level.  Once they prove successful at their level (generally 5 cards total), then they level up.

I track their responses to each section, but the overall grade (circled at the top of the paper & entered in the grade book) is their percentage correct on the entire passage.  

If students are always scoring well then they need to be challenged and their level will increase.  You can expect some "dips" in grades as they practice new skills, but don't panic.  As long as they continue to grow and progress, it "will all come out in the wash" as my mom says.

Please let me know if you have specific concerns about your child and his or her progress!  Also, know that Mrs. Cook and I won't "keep" every grade that we take by the end of the term.  If a child didn't do well on a skill and yet later shows mastery, the "old" grade can be dropped or replaced with the new one.  (Of course we can't do this with every single grade all the time, but knowing the material and showing that knowledge consistently is the most important thing.)