Opportunity Statement: Coolidge Elementary will continue to provide all students with academic, social, and emotional growth opportunities through great teaching and the utilization of our community resources. We will maintain high expectations for all students, as well as expand our efforts to cultivate a positive school culture that encourages intellectual and social growth.”
Coolidge Vision and Mission
Our Mission: “Educate students for lifelong learning and responsible living.”
Our Vision: “Provide a learning environment that promotes and develops academic and social growth.”
Monday - April 22 - 5th Grade State Testing. Make-up testing. Brett & Huggins out P.M. for Principal Meeting. Board Meeting Work Session.
Tuesday - April 23 - Grades must be posted for Progress Reports.
Wednesday - April 24 - Print Progress Reports
Thursday - April 25 - Progress Reports Go Home.
Friday - April 26 - Progress Reports.
RSA Updates:
The window for end-of-year Fountas & Pinnell testing starts next Monday, April 22nd and continues through Friday, May 10th. Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare for the testing window to open:
- We will be using Fiction texts for EOY assessment
- 3rd-grade students should be tested first...their scores need to be entered into IC no later than Friday, May 3rd.
- All other scores (including additional phonics & PA scores) need to be entered into IC no later than Friday, May 10th.
- Please remind teachers to use the Key for Determining Independent/Instructional/Hard Levels .
- K-3rd grade students reading below OKCPS Instructional Level Expectations for Reading will need additional phonics/phonemic awareness assessments and an APP.
- Teachers will need to keep a hard copy of the student's highest instructional reading record form to be kept in the student's green folder.
- Please take a look at the Literacy Assessment Page if you want more information.
Thanks for all you do! Please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions. :)
Kelsey R. - ELA
Aden J. - ELA
Nakayla M. - ELA
Catherine S. - ELA
Adrian M. - ELA
Harland N. - ELA
Laurel N. - ELA
Ismael L. - ELA/Math
Dustin S. - ELA/Science
Timothy P. - Science/Math
Angel R. - ELA/Geography/Science/Math
Perfect Attendance Since Testing Started
Shout Out To
Ms Barnes, Ms. Clements, Ms. Coyle, Mr. Dye, Ms. Gill, Ms. Travis, Ms. Harris, Ms. Hensley, Ms. Hobson, Ms. Hunt, Ms. D. Jackson, Ms. Jones, Mr. Layman, Ms. Leeson, Ms. Marcin, Ms. Martinez, Ms. McNeil, Mr. Natarajan, Ms. Niblett, Ms. Peake, Ms. Pearson, Ms. Reinhardt, Ms. Rey, Ms. Riley, Ms. Rolland, Mr. Scott, Ms. Smith, Ms. Wendling, Ms. Werito. Unfortunately, that is only 15% of our staff has been here every day for testing - on time and all day. We have 2 more weeks of testing. This needs to improve.
POP-IN! See your new school and meet your principal and colleagues!
OKCPS is hosting a POP-IN Open House event on Saturday, May 4th.
Attending this event will count towards a snow day make-up. There will be further information regarding how to document your participation.
*Please note: you must attend from 9 am - 2 pm in order for your participation to count as a snow day make-up.
Lunch will be provided to staff that RSVP, so make sure you let us know you are coming using the link below!
The POP-IN Open House is come and go so families can become familiar with their new school. We would love for the schools to be filled with staff members to help welcome families and get them excited about the 2019-2020 school year!
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, May 4th!
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The end of the cycle is Friday - the window will be open on Thursday, the day before and teachers are given 2 days after the end of the cycle which is midnight on Tuesday April 23rd. Run reports, fix and print by Thursday April 25th.
K - 2nd Grade Progress Reports -
Tests: Ability or Stamina?
ARTICLE
It's that time of year when many schools throughout the nation are implementing tests in grades K-12 designed to determine whether or not students are meeting state academic performance expectations. In many states, promotion of the students will be linked to their performance on the exam.
We were recently chatting with Diane, a friend and literacy coach in Sarasota, Florida about her experience with their state exam. She mentioned that she and her colleagues have noticed that children's scores often seem less about ability and more about the stamina they bring to the table. Students who have not developed the stamina to read longer and stronger will certainly struggle when asked to read and respond to their reading for 50 minutes at a time.
1. List what you’ve learned from A to Z.
What a great way to look back over what kids have learned! For each letter of the alphabet, have them write and illustrate something they learned or did throughout the year. Hit the link below to get a free printable template for this project. (This isn’t just for little kids—any grade will be challenged by this activity on their own or as a group.)
Learn more: Teaching with Jennifer Findley
2. Send thank you notes.
This is a skill every kid should learn—writing and sending thank you notes. Have kids write a note to someone who made their school year special, then seal them in envelopes, address them, and deliver by hand or mail. And while you’re at it, why not write a thank you note to your own class?
Source: Cult of Pedagogy
3. Post best-of-the-year snapshots.
Ask your students to sum up their favorite school-year memory (Science Fair? Field Day? Creative class presentations?) in one snapshot. Younger kids can draw pictures of the event, while older kids are likely to have a photo on their phone they’d be willing to share. Assemble them on a bulletin board with a few words from each student about what made that moment so special.
Source: Little Soaring Eagles
Related Content
4. Count the days.
Instead of counting down the days until the end, count up the days from the year behind you! Get students counting by having them use a calendar to figure out how many Mondays you’ve had this year, how many Fridays, how many P.E. days and how many Jello-in-the-cafeteria days. Then work together to make a bar graph and hang it on the wall.
5. Let the students become the teachers.
Take a break and let the students lead the class for a change. If you’re reviewing material for finals or an end-of-year test, have each kid (or a group) lead the review session on a particular topic. You can also have your kids create their own lesson on a topic they’re passionate about. And we love this idea of having kids in one grade make and present lessons on what students in the grade below them can expect to learn the following year. There are a lot of options here, and all of them give you time to take a breather!
6. Talk behind each other’s backs (really!).
Have your students help tape a piece of lined paper to one another’s backs. Have each student get out a felt-tipped marker (not a Sharpie—it may bleed through). Set a timer and put on some favorite music. Let the students mix around the room and write a positive message on each student’s paper. For example, The best thing about you is …, What I appreciate most about you is …, I remember …, etc. After a set amount of time, have students stop, remove their papers from their backs and enjoy reading the words of love from their classmates (and you too!).
7. Coast into summer.
These DIY memory coasters are easy to make and give kids an end-of-year souvenir to take home. Get the free printable templates and complete instructions here.
8. Read a book to get some closure.
Little ones especially have a hard time with the end of a school year. Next year lots of things will be different, and that can be a sad and even scary thought for some. Try this list of young reader books like The Egg by M. P. Robertson to spark conversations about what kids have learned and what lies ahead.
9. Plan a summer trip.
Here’s an end-of-year assignment that includes both art and writing. Have kids draw a portrait of themselves, then use the template at the link below to cut out and decorate an enormous pair of sunglasses. On the glasses, write about a summer trip they’re going to take, or just one they’d really like to take.
Learn more: Third Grade Love
10. Raise a glass and toast your class.
Students get a chance to practice public speaking in a very meaningful way in this end-of-year activity. Get a few liters of ginger ale and plastic champagne flutes from a party store, arrange your students in a circle, and have everyone say something—maybe a goal for the next school year, well-wishes for their peers, a favorite memory. After everyone has spoken, lift your glasses with a cheer and celebrate to end the school year.
11. Author a six-word memoir.
This project has taken the world by storm. In six words, can you capture the essence of your school year? Kids can spend a little or a lot of time on this one, refining their words and even illustrating them. Collect them all into a slide show (anonymous, if kids prefer) to share on the last day.
Learn more: Six Words Memoir Project
12. Take a field trip to the next grade.
Take your class to visit the classrooms they’ll be in next year. Arrange to spend some time with the teachers, talk to the students, and hear more about what they’ll be learning. This is a good way to allay fears many kids have about moving on from a classroom where they’ve been comfortable.
13. Design a school seal.
In this fun end-of-year activity that’s perfect for social studies, have your students design a “Great Seal” for their school. First, break them into groups to talk about what makes your school special and memorable for them. Then, have each kid (or group) create their own “seal” based on the ones used by states and cities. This project is especially meaningful for kids about to move on to another school like junior high.
Learn more: Create Teach Share
14. Determine your “People of the Year.”
Time Magazine can’t have all the fun! Help your students to compile of list of the “People of the Year” for your class. Include people important to your classroom (the custodian, the principal, everyone’s favorite “lunch lady”) along with classroom visitors and speakers from the year. Add in some people from current events and pop culture (the current president, a favorite musician) and even folks they studied throughout the year (Abraham Lincoln, Amelia Earheart). Try to take or draw portraits of each, and assign each student to write a brief bio of one of the people included.
15. Write letters or tips for next year’s class.
Who better to advise next year’s class on what they’ll need to succeed than the kids who’ve just finished doing it? They can write letters on their own, or work together to create a master list of what it takes to make it in the next grade.
Source: Diary of a Public School Teacher
16. Create science-inspired art.
Ask your students to create a wall-worthy piece of art that reflects something they learned in science. Did you study plants? Maybe a watercolor of flowers. Or if you studied space? A cosmic-inspired number. Send their work home to help them remember, or collect them to create a bulletin board that will inspire next year’s class about what they’ll be learning.
17. Host an open-mic night.
Encourage kids to share the writing they’ve done in (and out of) class with an open mic night. Set up a stage complete with microphone and stool—get great tips for this at the link below—then bring kids up to tell a story or recite a poem. Overcome stage fright with a cool casual vibe and plenty of snacks.
Learn more: Scholastic
18. Compose an end-of-year continuing story.
Write several story titles—”The Great Summer Adventure,” “How My Teacher Lost Her Mind” or “My Teacher, My Hero” at the top of blank pages. Then, have each student start a story and after five minutes, pass the story to a neighbor who will continue writing. Continue writing round-robin style until you have several stories to read aloud to the class.
19. Publish a year-end newspaper.
You can do this one as a group or individually. Create a basic newspaper template and have the class fill in the “front page news.” Recap the year, offer advice, illustrate favorite memories, and more. Then, pass these on to the grade below to give them idea of what lies ahead.
Source: Teaching With a Mountain View
20. Perform a High (or Middle or Elementary) School Musical number.
Break your students into groups and have them create (and perform) musical numbers commemorating the year. They can write new words to existing tunes, choreograph a lip-sync performance to an inspiring or memorable song, or even come up with something entirely new. Invite parents or other classes to a final-day performance!
21. Assemble a Book Hall-of-Fame.
Have each student write (or draw) a reflection on the best book they read over the year. Then, save their reflections and post them on a bulletin board so that next year’s students can glean reading ideas.
Source: Kerri Pierce/Pinterest
22. Play end-of-year charades.
Have each student write out one memorable moment from the school year on a slip of paper. Collect all the slips in a bag, hat, etc. Divide kids into teams and have them come up one team at a time, choose a slip and act out the memory for the group. No need to keep score—the goal is just to relive all the happy memories from the year.
23. Start a school graffiti wall.
Choose a wall in your school or classroom and encourage kids to sign their name and date with a quote or other memory. Use permanent markers or small paint brushes. Each year, photograph the wall and then paint over it to start anew. If you have enough space, these walls can last longer and only be painted over every so many years, creating much more enduring memories. No wall room? Try a bulletin board or large sheet of paper instead.
24. Hold a “Stuff You Should Know” event.
Take a day or a week to pass on important things you want your kids to know as they move on in life without you. Share poems, songs, TED talks, quotes, books, and tips that you think will help them along their way. Don’t forget to include simple life lessons (registering and preparing to vote, protecting yourself online, how to behave on an elevator) that school usually doesn’t teach you. Learn more about this end-of-year activity here.
25. Print up a growing tree.
Capture each student’s fingerprint as a tree leaf! Label them with their names, then hang them in your room from year to year so kids can see who’s come before them.
Source: Martin Koprowski/Pinterest
26. Build a portfolio showcase.
Throughout the year, have students save their best work in a folder or box. Then, at the end of the year, each student chooses their favorite items to display in a portfolio like a binder or display board. Invite parents and friends to come view everyone’s achievements.
27. Put together time capsules.
Students will have so much fun assembling time capsules to be opened some day in the future. These can be as simple as a plastic water bottle filled with information (try these free printable prompts) or a shoebox stuffed with items to represent what they did and learned over the school year.
Source: Mrs. Richardson’s Class
28. Draw a school year timeline.
Classroom walls can start to look empty at the end of the year as you take things down to prepare for summer. Temporarily fill in the space with a long strip of butcher paper, then have kids create a timeline of the year. Break it down by month, then ask kids what they remember. Prompt their memories by having them look over their work (what a fun way to review!) and don’t forget to include events, speakers, and holiday celebrations.
Source: Minds in Bloom
29. Plan a dream vacation.
Kids are already dreaming of how they’ll fill the summer hours, so this last-minute math activity will be pure fun! Give kids a budget (say, $2500) and then send them off to research whether their dream trip can be accomplished. Make sure they include airfare or gas money, lodgings, food, spending money, and all the incidentals that add up when you travel.
Learn more: Love Teaching Kids
30. Fill out an end-of-year roundup.
Sometimes you just need a quick activity that doesn’t take a lot of prep, and that’s where this free printable comes in. Personalize it by taking and printing a photo of each student, or have them draw their own portrait in the space provided.
Learn more: Squarehead Teachers
What are your favorite end-of-year a
Where do I find?.........
Kindergarten | 1st Grade | 2nd Grade | 3rd Grade | 4th Grade | 5th Grade | 6th Grade |
| Bundled Standards Year at a Glance First 20 Days | Bundled Standards Year at a Glance First 20 Days | Bundled Standards Year at a Glance First 20 Days | Bundled Standards Year at a Glance First 20 Days | Bundled Standards Year at a Glance First 20 Days | Bundled Standards Year at a Glance First 20 Days | Bundled Standards Year at a Glance First 20 Days |
OKCPS ELA Standards by Grade Level
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OKCPS and OAS Crosswalk
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OKCPS ELA Bundles
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6th Grade Bundles
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OKCPS Math by Grade Level
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OKCPS-OAS Crosswalks
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OKCPS Standards by Bundles
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Pre-Kindergarten Bundles
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Kindergarten Bundles
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Elementary ELA Year- at- a- Glance
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OAS for Social Studies Bundles
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OKCPS Social Studies Unit Plans
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1st Grade American Heroes
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OAS Science Standards by Bundle
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OKCPS Science Unit Plans
(Please note: You will need your OKCPS log-in to access)
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I really like the time capsule idea. Historic in nature. I think most the kids will love the idea
ReplyDeleteI love the open mic have actually done this before with bongo drums and hot chocolate we had our cool jives going, hum love tips for next year 3rd grade needs to do this for 2nd and I’m doing the talk behind someone’s back
ReplyDeleteI like several of the ideas I read about. I want to try to do the snapshot of the year as a bulletin board. I have also made booklets of nice comments about themselves by others in the class.
ReplyDeleteLike the Tips for Next Year's Classes -- They will enjoy that
ReplyDeleteI have done the fingerprint tree last year. The kids loved doing it. I like several of the ideas listed and want to copy them down.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of doing a time capsule. I think this would be cool to do the first couple of days of class (have students list goals, etc for the end of the year) and have them open them the last day of school. =)
ReplyDelete