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To see what's happening at Marion Elementary School, click the links below.
ABBIT
ABBIT is a national honor roll program that awards students for making all A's and B's on their report card in a grading period. ABBIT stands for "A's and B's because I try". In order to be a member of ABBIT a student must be reading on grade level and have an E or S in conduct.
Accelerated Reader (AR)
Reading research has shown that for students to improve in their reading ability, the students must read and read and read! The more students read, the better readers they become. Students who practice reading at least an hour each day for a year show 2 years growth on achievement tests! We know practice is important in other areas, like sports, but we are not aware of the importance of practice for academic subjects. To encourage and motivate our boys and girls to grow in their reading ability to their highest potential, we have set aside a 40 minute slot of time in each class for students to read books of their choice on their tested reading level and to take tests on these books on a computer. This is known as the Accelerated Reader time because of the computer management program
which tests the students.
In August or September (or when a child enrolls at MES), each student takes a reading test called STAR (Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading). This test identifies the child's comfortable range for practicing reading, and the child's reading range is written on the log they keep as they read. Each range has a color assigned to it, and the books are marked with colored tape so the child can easily spot books in the correct reading range.
The students follow three steps to participate:
1. Select a book. The children pick books from a growing list of Accelerated Reader test. To see if a quiz is available go to the Renaissance Learning website at www.renlearn.com and choose Order Quizzes under Quick Find! in the left hand column.
2. Read the book. The students must read the book carefully to remember what they read. They are also permitted to take tests on books the teacher reads to them or with them. They can test on books you read to or with them at home also if there are quizzes on these books. (Please send a note with their name and the name of the book read stating whether or not you helped them with the reading.) It is against the rules to take tests over movies they have seen if they have not also read the book.
3. Take the test. When they have thoroughly read the book, the students come to the computer to take a test on the book. Most of the test have five or ten questions depending on the length and difficulty of the book. The child may take the test only one time. Each time a test is passed, the computer awards points based on the length and difficulty of the book and the percentage answered correctly.
The students are challenged to reach increasingly difficult goals by earning certain numbers of points and reading books of greater length and higher grade level while maintaining an average of 85%.
Point clubs are one way of recognizing students' reading practice. As students earn 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, etc. points, they become members of the clubs.
More important goals are the certifications goals each child is encouraged to reach. The chart below explains the certification goals in more detail. Students are rewarded for any point club or certification goal reached by having their names announced on the intercom on Fridays and having their names placed on the Wall of Fame (2nd grade - outside the Principal's office, 3rd grade - in the cafeteria). A Reading Celebration is held each nine weeks to recognize the levels reached by each student during that grading period.
If you have questions, please feel free to call 870-739-5120.
Mrs. Lisa Heath is the AR Coordinator
Accelerated Reader Certification Goals
As students progress, there are a series of levels for them to accomplish. Students can recertify at any level except Independent Reader. The levels and requirements are:
Ready Reader |
Accumulate 5 points through any combination of Read To and Read With |
Independent Reader |
Read Independently and pass Reading Practice quizzes for 3 books at 1.2 level or higher; Accumulate 10 points. |
Rising Reader |
Accumulate 10 points in independent reading including 3 books at 1.6 level or higher. |
Super Readers |
Read independently and pass Reading Practice Quizzes for 3 books at 2.0 book level or higher worth 1 point or more. |
Advanced Reader |
Read independently and pass Reading Practice Quizzes for 3 books at 3.0 book level or higher worth 2 points or more. |
Star Reader |
Read independently and pass Reading Practice Quizzes for 3 books at 4.0 book level or higher worth 4 points or more. |
Classic Reader |
Read independently and pass Reading Practice Quizzes for 3 books at 6.0 book level or higher worth 7 points or more. |
Honors Reader |
Read, pass Reading Practice Quizzes, and accumulate 100 points for books from a list of challenging, specially selected literature. (Honors Reader Book List may be obtained from Mrs. Heath.) |
AR Carnival
At the end of each school year, Marion Elementary holds an Accelerated Reader Carnival to reward the children for all the reading they've done throughout the school year. Games are set up around the gym, and prizes are awarded for each game. Most games even have a consolation
prize. The Students use their AR points as their tickets to play the games and participate in all the carnival events. Each grade level has 45 minutes to come to the gym for the carnival. For the 2005 and 2006 carnivals, we had Larry the Clown lead a parade around the neighborhood to and from the gym. Parents donate snack cakes, canned drinks, and
prizes to help make the carnival a success. The Volunteer Committee provides volunteers to assist with the carnival: supervising games, deducting points, and helping make the carnival a great success!
Volunteers Wanted
Marion Elementary School has a wonderful volunteer committee. The MES Volunteer Committee meets the second Monday of every month. Notes are sent home during the week of the meeting as a reminder. The volunteer committee helps with class parties, fundraisers, AR, the Super "B" Store, tutoring, treats for the teachers, helping at school, and much, much more. The MES Volunteer Committee can always use more people to help out. Contact the MES office for more details at 870-739-5120.
WATCH D.O.G.S
A new program to our campus this year is the WATCH D.O.G.S. program. D.O.G.S. stands for Dads of Great Students. However, participation is not limited to just dads. Uncles, grandfathers, and older brothers are also welcome to participate in the WATCH D.O.G.S. program. The program is a national initiative founded by a group of dads that were concerned about school safety. Dads are encouraged to volunteer one day per year in their child's school. The day is intended to let dads become familiar with activities at school. Dads will be asked to monitor hallways, observe in their child's classroom, eat lunch with their child, and visit with children that need extra attention. This will help dads connect with the child at school and become familiar with what the child experiences
each day. This is a wonderful opportunity to form parent/teacher relationships. To find out more information about WATCH D.O.G.S., contact Dana Robbins or Jamie Brothers at MES or visit the WATCH D.O.G.S. website at www.watchdogs.net
Super "B" Store
Students may earn Super "B" Tickets for super behavior. Once a month the students can spend their Super "B" Tickets at the Super "B" Store. Students can use their tickets to purchase items such as toys, pens, jewelry, books, and lots of other goodies. Around the holidays, the students can use their tickets to buy gifts for family members or friends.
The second and third grade classrooms have different super behavior themes for each nine weeks.
The behavior theme for second grade during the third 9 weeks is POPCORN. The students must have an E or S in conduct to earn popcorn and a movie.
The behavior theme for third grade during the third 9 weeks is a MOVIE. The students must have an E or S in conduct to earn a movie.
Gifted and Talented (GT)
How is a child referred to GT?
"The school's Gifted and Talented program, TEAM (Talent Enrichment and Acceleration at Marion) could be an option for students who exhibit high learning potential and abilities. Placement in the TEAM program begins after 2nd grade and continues through 12th grade. Parents who would like to refer a child for testing to be in the TEAM program must submit testing request forms before the cut off date of March 1. Forms are in the school counselor's office."
How does placement in GT happen?
Gifted and talented instruction at Marion School District uses the acronym TEAM – Talent Enrichment and Acceleration at Marion. Placement in TEAM starts at the end of 2nd grade and can continue through high school. Students who need TEAM services can be identified only after a battery of tests and other measures have been completed and compiled. The results are placed on student profile forms which focus on students’ learning potential, creativity, and task commitment are then examined by a committee to make placement decisions. This committee is made up of educators with experience and expertise across all levels and areas. Student profile forms do not have names on them; students are identified by number only. The committee is divided into two groups and both
groups must concur on placement decisions before placement is determined. Since students’ grades are an indicator of success at teacher-directed thinking rather than divergent thinking, they are not used to determine placement in TEAM. Another problem with using grade outcomes is that they can fluctuate among teachers. Students who are identified for services in the TEAM program can be served in a number of ways: math, reading/language arts, content area enrichment, or multiple services, which is a combination of all these areas.
© Copyright 2006 Marion School District No. 3 of Crittenden County Arkansas.
Last Updated: 12-Jan-07
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