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College and Career Readiness through Blended Learning

English Language Arts, ELA

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BPS English learners office is only the latest turnstile

The below letter to the editor responds to the latest of many criticisms leveled at the Boston Public Schools. Most of the criticism focuses on leadership, especially on the superintendent. But the superintendent is not the only factor in the functioning of the 46,000-student district. The central office directory lists 518 employees besides the superintendent who oversee the 4000-plus teachers and another 4000-plus support staff. It’s a vast bureaucracy, the largest department in the City. Yet there has never been a formal organizational analysis of the structure of the central office. What departments are needed? What staff does each department need? What are the lines of decision-making, communication, accountability?

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ELA Hybrid Learning Model with JFYNet [VIDEO] UPDATED

Support for Teachers and Students

by Greg Cunningham, Learning Specialist

In the traditional classroom, ELA teachers know that students will be in front of them every day. But this fall, many teachers will be using either a remote or a hybrid learning model. Students may fluctuate between learning remotely and learning in the classroom. No matter how skillful, teachers cannot be in two places at the same time.

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Data and Measurement Reporting with JFYNet

by Cathie Maglio, Learning Specialist and Statistician

A voice for the silent partner

The JFYNet Learning Specialist wears many hats. One hat is Statistician. Wearing that hat, we collect and analyze data from the math end ELA programs our students use. We also analyze MCAS data for each of our schools. Our analyses help teachers and administrators understand exactly how students are doing and how each year’s performance compares to past years’. We collect and analyze data on a monthly basis throughout the school year and then provide a full year report at the end.

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Tools and strategies using JFYNet’s ELA software

Tools and strategies using JFYNet’s ELA software

Hosted by Greg Cunningham, Blended Learning Specialist

JFYNet is often called a test prep program. It’s true that one intended result of our online curriculum is to help students succeed on MCAS, Accuplacer and SAT, the standardized tests that weigh so heavily in the balance of their future options. But tests measure skills, and what we are really doing is helping students develop the skills that are measured on those tests.

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Next Generation ELA: MCAS 2.0, Testing Strategies and Review [WEBINAR]

Preparation for English Language Arts in the Next Gen ELA MCAS

This recorded webinar will provide specific strategies for students to use during online testing, including a review of the technology enhanced format used by the English/Language Arts MCAS test and an explanation on how to make the best use of tools available when answering questions. Strategies are provided to prepare students for the specific types of questions featured on the upcoming English/Language Arts MCAS test.

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How to Prepare for the 10th Grade ELA MCAS

Spring MCAS tests just around the corner.

by Joan Reissman, MCAS Maven

Mid-Winter Spring ELA MCAS
We’ve hardly had a winter, but Spring MCAS tests will be here before you know it. It’s time to start preparing.

There will be two ELA test administrations in March, first the retest and then the regular Spring test. The ELA retests (Composition and Reading Comprehension) start March 2 and go to March 5. They will be the traditional paper version based on the structure of the old Legacy test. That means separate Composition and Reading Comprehension sessions. The Reading Comp sections include multiple choice and constructed response items. Three weeks later, March 24 and 25, students will be taking the new ELA test. This test will be computer based and follow the guidelines for Next-Generation MCAS 2.0.

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Understand the Changes in the ELA Next-Gen MCAS 2.0 [WEBINAR]

Preparation for the 2020 ELA Test

This prerecorded webinar will help teachers, parents and students understand the changes in the ELA Next-Gen MCAS 2.0 and prepare for the 2020 ELA test, addressing 2019 content changes, format and question distribution changes, and technology-enhanced Items. Information about JFYNet Online Solutions and Program Support is also included.

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Strategies for MCAS Next Gen ELA
MCAS Next Gen 2.0 ELA – Expect greater emphasis on text comparison.

by Joan Reissman, MCAS Maven

The biggest change in the MCAS Next Gen 2.0 ELA test, coming to 10th grade next month, is a greater emphasis on text comparison. Although people read every day, much of the reading students do on the phone or computer is recreational. Nobody is going to quiz you on detailed comprehension after you read something on social media. There is ongoing debate over whether students comprehend better on paper or screen. But it’s academic to us, because Next Gen MCAS is coming on a screen.

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Last- minute quick tips for the MCAS ELA open response

Simple techniques to improve performance

by Joan Reissman, Blended Learning Specialist
Many students lose points on the ELA open response questions. We know that some students don’t like to write. But even so, we can improve their performance with some simple techniques.

The 2017 average on ELA multiple choice questions was 80%. Yet the average on open response questions was only 68%. The discrepancy is not due to test position: students did best on the first and last questions of the four open response questions (Reading Comprehension section). So how can we help students score at least a 2 or 3 on open responses?

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