Volume 9 | Issue 5 | January 2024 | |
NWEA Testing Best Practices & Helpful Tips | | |
Best Practice for Teachers | |
Benchmark testing is an important tool for evaluating a student's academic progress throughout the school year. As a teacher, it is your responsibility to prepare your students for these assessments to ensure that they have the best chance of success. Here are some best practices that you can follow when preparing your students for benchmark testing:
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Review the material covered: Ensure that your students are familiar with the material covered since the last test. Spend time reviewing the key concepts and skills that will be assessed.
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Practice, practice, practice: Provide your students with practice tests and questions that are similar to the ones that will be on the benchmark test. This will help them become familiar with the format and structure of the test.
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Encourage good study habits: Encourage your students to develop good study habits by setting aside time each day for studying and reviewing material. Teach them effective study strategies, such as creating flashcards or using mnemonic devices.
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Provide feedback: Provide your students with feedback on their performance on tests and assignments. This will help them identify areas where they need to improve and focus their study efforts.
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Maintain a positive attitude: Encourage your students to maintain a positive attitude towards benchmark testing. Remind them that it is just one measure of their academic progress and that they have the skills and knowledge to do well.
By following these best practices, you can help your students feel prepared and confident when taking benchmark tests.
| Best Practice for Students | |
Benchmark tests are an important part of the K-12 educational system. They help students, teachers, and parents assess the students' understanding of the subjects they have studied. Here are some best practices for K-12 students about to take a benchmark test:
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Get a good night's sleep: Ensure that you get enough sleep the night before the test. Being well-rested can help improve your concentration and focus.
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Eat a healthy breakfast: Eating a healthy breakfast is essential to fuel your brain and help you think clearly during the test.
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Attend review sessions: Make sure to attend all the review sessions conducted by your teacher. These sessions will help you recall important topics and concepts that will be covered in the test.
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Practice time management: Benchmark tests are usually timed, so it is important to practice time management. Make sure you allocate enough time for each question and section.
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Read instructions carefully: It is important to read and understand the instructions carefully before starting the test. This will help you avoid making mistakes and wasting time.
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Stay calm: Finally, it is important to stay calm during the test. Take deep breaths and stay focused on the task at hand. Don't get stressed out or panic if you don't know the answer to a question. Move on to the next question and come back to it later if you have time.
By following these best practices, you can improve your chances of performing well on your benchmark test. Good luck!
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NWEA assessments are an important tool used by many schools to measure student progress. Here are some tips to help you prepare for NWEA testing:
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Get familiar with the format: NWEA tests are computer-based, so it's a good idea to practice using a computer to answer questions. You can find practice tests on the NWEA website.
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Review the content: The tests cover a range of subjects, so make sure you review the material beforehand. You can ask your teacher for study materials or look online for resources.
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Practice time management: NWEA tests are timed, so it's important to practice managing your time. Try taking practice tests with a timer to get a feel for how long you have to answer each question.
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Stay focused: During the test, ensure you're in a quiet environment where you won't be distracted. Take deep breaths and stay calm if you encounter a difficult question.
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Review your results: After the test, review your results with your teacher. They can help you understand your strengths and weaknesses and provide guidance on how to improve.
Remember, NWEA tests are just one way to measure your progress. Keep studying and working hard, and you'll achieve success in your academic career.
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Step into the New Year Using Real-Life Data in the Classroom
Happy New Year! Start off 2024 with a bang by enhancing your students’ statistical and civic literacy skills with Statistics in Schools (SIS) resources! From discovering the total number of kids ages 8 to 14 in Michigan to exploring census-related terms, SIS activities help boost students’ understanding and use of data well before they reach college. What better way to ring in the new year?
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January 6 – National Technology Day
It was National Technology Day! Check out the Teachers' Guide to Data Access Tools for Students to discover a variety of tools you and your students can use to access data. Elementary and middle school students can explore the State Facts for Students data tool that looks at cool things like the total number of zoos and botanical gardens, fitness and recreational sports centers and more in Michigan. High school students can explore data using the Census Business Builder tool for demographic and economic data at the county, city, ZIP code and census tract level. A great way to recognize this day!
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January 15 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Did you know that the percentage of Black or African American adults with a four-year college degree increased by about 24 percent from 1964 to 2020? Celebrate this day with students by sharing with them the elementary school history activity, I Have a Dream – Learning About Martin Luther King Jr., which includes key statistics like this and others such as changes in the U.S. population, voting rates and education levels of Americans since the early 1960s when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.
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January 29 – National Puzzle Day
Happy National Puzzle Day! In honor of this day, share the Census Word Find and Crossword Warm-Up Activities with your students to teach them about census data and expand their vocabulary of census-related terms like population, education, survey, statistics, and more!
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We are entering our eighth Teacher Hall of Fame Induction for the 2023-2024 school year, which allows The Leona Group to recognize all of the exceptional things teachers are doing in our schools. Without teachers who continue to strive for excellence, we would not be able to carry out our company's mission to provide a quality education for students and families.
School leaders, assistant leaders and instructional coaches are asked to submit nominations for monthly teacher hall of fame candidates for the 2023-2024 school year. We will have a Primary Teacher Category for grades K-5 and a Secondary Teacher Category for grades 6-12. These nominations are based on school leaders' observations in their locations. It is up to them to honor a teacher that they feel embodies the spirit of their school's mission. Once the nomination is sent electronically to The Leona Group Department of Academic Achievement, the team reviews the nominees and bases their decision on who best embodies the spirit of The Leona Group and academic success.
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Angela Smith
Saginaw Preparatory Academy
Science Grades 6-8
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Ms. Angela Smith is committed to the success of the students at Saginaw Preparatory Academy (SPA). She is dedicated to making sure her students’ learning experience is vibrant and meaningful, both in and out of the classroom. Her lessons are rigorous and engaging which has sparked a greater interest in science at SPA.
Ms. Smith is passionate about building relationships with all students, not just the ones she has in class. Students love, respect and look up to her as a trusted mentor. She goes above and beyond by voluntarily attending their extracurricular activities, providing snacks and prizes and encouraging them to be their best selves. Her belief in them never wavers. “We are so lucky to have Ms. Smith as a part of our SPA family,” said Larilyn Burdess, instructional coach at SPA.
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Lyndsey Sebok
César Chávez Academy Upper Elementary
Special Education Grade 4
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Mrs. Lyndsey Sebok is a natural leader in the special education department at César Chávez Academy Upper Elementary (CCAUE). Mrs. Sebok goes above and beyond to support and connect with every student she sees daily. She takes special care to ensure the emotional well-being of her students and that all of their needs are being met.
Mrs. Sebok fights for the rights of her students and helps them learn to advocate for themselves both in and outside of the classroom. She builds strong relationships with families and often has students come back to visit and let her know how they are doing. She is active on committees and always gives back to both the students and the school. “Mrs. Sebok is an exceptional educator and we are proud to have her at CCAUE,” said Andrew Wright, school leader at CCAUE.
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Department Updates & Reminders | | |
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Virtual Support Meetings:
Human Resources wants to remind you of upcoming virtual support meetings throughout January. We will be reviewing updated processes and answering any questions you may have. Please check your calendar or refer to this document to be reminded of your selected date and time. Keep an eye out for an email prior to your meeting containing an agenda.
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Just a Friendly Reminder:
Use the phishing hook on the right side of your email for any suspicious emails.
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Midwest Department of Academic Achievement Website: | |
Please explore our website and find pertinent items at your fingertips to help ensure academic success! Save the link in your bookmarks to access it on the fly! | |
Do you have news to share? We'd love to hear from you! | |
The Leona Group, 2125 University Park Drive, Okemos, MI 48864 | | | | |
