New Fountas & Pinnell Reading Benchmarks
What is the benchmarking assessment that my child takes? Fountas & Pinnell have developed a Benchmarking Assessment System (BAS) in order to help teachers determine what reading skills your child has mastered and which she/he still needs to learn. In Ames, all K-5 students read aloud all or portions of a text and then engage in a comprehension conversation with the teacher to allow the teacher to better understand how to help the student in a variety of areas, including reading with accuracy and expression, and understanding the meaning of the text. This assessment is administered to all students twice per year. Fountas & Pinnell have created a 3rd edition of the benchmarking materials which include revised rubrics, texts, teacher prompts, and online capabilities. ACSD purchased this 3rd edition for all elementary buildings as these improvements will allow teachers to more clearly target instruction with each student. Your child’s level may be lower than in the past as the 3rd edition materials are much more rigorous. This drop in levels has been predicted by the publisher and does not indicate that your child’s skills in reading have decreased.
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Storm of Kindness School Supply Campaign
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb3vns56JtA Hurricane’s Harvey and Irma ravaged southern parts of the United States and Christy Franco’s 4th grade class at Fellows Elementary School followed the events closely as a part of their current events study. The students began asking questions about what would happen with the schools in the area and were genuinely concerned about the welfare of the students and schools that were impacted by the storm and flooding. Franco capitalized on their enthusiasm to help and began organizing the “Storm of Kindness” school supply campaign. She reached out to Principal Brandon Schrauth and Fellows PTO President Angie Weber to organize the drive. Students made posters for the campaign and with the help of a local videography company and Fellows parent, Tom Haggas from Cheshire Moon Films, produced a video to highlight their efforts and to educate the community on how they can help.
Read moreLinks to video presentations from pilot materials representatives
Thanks to everyone who came to view our video presentations from the representatives for each of our K-2 foundational skills materials pilot programs. For those…
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Brandon Schrauth announced as next Fellows principal
Pending Board approval, Schrauth will assume leadership July 1. Superintendent Tim Taylor announced April 19 that he will be recommending to the Board of Education…
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District seeks proposals for school-based mental health services
The District is seeking proposals in order to provide access to a full array of mental health services to students in each of its five elementary schools…
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Give feedback on Literacy Pilot materials
Materials on display through March 27 Now is your chance to peruse teacher and student resources and hands-on learning accessories for the three sets of…
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Jamet Colton receives 2017 Ames Humanitarian Award
Jamet Colton, who works as an Educational Assistant at Fellows Elementary School, was recognized at the recipient of the 2017 Ames Humanitarian Award during the…
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Fifth graders will display inventiveness at annual Invention Convention
This photo of a boy showing his science project is from the 2015 Invention Convention. Fifth grade inventors in the Ames Community School…
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