What is PARCC?

Many parents may be wondering what PARCC is? The 5 letter acronym stands for: The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. The assessment was created to measure whether students are on track to be successful in college and their careers. I know what you're thinking, why would my elementary level child need to even be thinking about college or a career now? It's not that they should be writing a college entry level essay or getting their business suit ready for an interview, but more that we as elementary educators are proving your child with the basic building blocks needed for a lifetime of education. These assessments in Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy provide teachers, schools, students, and parents concrete evidence that students are on track in their learning and for success after high school. It also provides a way for teachers to customize learning to meet student needs.

In your child's Media class, we have been working on the technology tools they need to be successful when navigating the PARCC. We have also been working on taking the practice tests so they feel as comfortable as possible when it comes time to take the real assessment. If you would like to look at the practice tests yourself, here is the link to both the Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy practice tests: PARCC PRACTICE TESTS

1: Click on the blue link I provided
2: Select "View English Language Arts/Literacy Practice Test" OR "View Mathematics Practice Test"
3: Select your child's grade level (you must click right on the word for this)
4: Under PBA (Performance Based Assessment) select "Computer-Based Practice Test"

If you are interested in some fun educational PARCC games for your child, please check out: PARCC Games

Here are the Common Core Standards for each game! Standards Covered

Thank you so much for your continued support of our classroom learning.

-Mrs. Henderson : )

2nd Grade: Living, Non-Living, or Dead?

Today in STEM, 2nd grade students had the opportunity to explore some of my classroom "treasures". Before we began our lab, we brainstormed as a class what made something"living". Together students came up with an elaborate list:

                                                

Example of one 2nd grade group brainstorm

After brainstorming we came up with a few things that we all agreed on:

• Living things are made of cells.
• Living things obtain and use energy. 
• Living things grow and develop.
• Living things reproduce.
• Living things respond to their environment. 
• Living things adapt to their environment.

Once we had a good idea of what it means to be living students set out with their recording sheets to decide whether my 15 treasures were "Living, Non-Living, or Dead" and what characteristics each item possessed

Stations: 

1. Algae
2. Fossil
3. Plants inside the fish tank
4. Coral
5. Birds nest
6. Snake skin
7. Large moth
8. Starfish
9. Bone under a microscope
10. Pine cone 
11. Hair under a microscope
12. Yogurt under a microscope
13. Skeleton
14. Glass statue
15. Fish in the fishtank

2nd Grade Scientists: 

While students explored each station we made sure ask questions and reason to the best of our ability what we thought each item was!

Ask your 2nd grader what their favorite item was!

-Mrs. Henderson