January 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wow... 2007 already. 2006 zoomed by and 2007 doesn't look like it's going to be any slower. I've already broken three of my New Year's resolutions ... and that was just New Year's Day!

Speaking of New Year’s resolutions, in this month’s bulletin we’ll be sharing some of the SnapShot team’s resolutions. We’ll also be giving you some helpful hints in finding the students in your school who will have the biggest impact on your school grade.  

Debbie Mollard’s New Year’s Resolution

"I promise that this year I will be more focused at work and will drink less coffee...I'm substituting it with Red Bull®."

SnapShot at FETC 2007 

With FETC just around the corner (January 24-26, to be exact) we extend an invitation to come by booth 417. We’ll be giving our SnapShot users free Professional Development for your teachers as a gift, as well as some great prizes. 

Our Head Trainer, Michelle Gainer, will be presenting Friday, January 26th from 9:15am to 10:10am on Data Driven Instructional Technology.  If you know someone that wants to learn more about this topic, please let them know about this session.   

Kevin Wilson's New Year’s Resolution

"My New Year's resolution is to exercise more and lose 40lbs. Well, if I'm being realistic I'll only be able to lose 25lbs maximum ... it's not healthy to lose too much weight to fast. But I'll definitely exercise more! I'll lose 15lbs and start jogging. But I've got that bad knee from playing baseball so jogging won't work. Oh, and they opened that Krispy Kreme in the neighborhood and the smell drives me insane. Okay, this is it! My New Year's resolution is to not gain anymore weight and to walk to the Krispy Kreme ... unless it's raining."

It’s the New Year and time for a little housekeeping! 

Now is a great time to check out the new look of the SnapShot User Manager and contact us to update your list of SP SnapShot users that have School Administrator access.   We know that with many staff changes throughout the year, setting up access for new users is always a priority.  Also, when staff members leave the school it’s important to disable access, for security reasons, if it is no longer required.  Just fax a list of users that no longer require School Administrator access to Fax: 1-250-658-5936, attn. Karen.

We’ll look after it so you can check it off your To-Do list!

Michelle Gainer 's New Year’s Resolution

“This year I resolve to spend less time on the phone and…just a second, I’ve got to take this call. Sorry about that. I resolve to not work so…oh, that’s my cell, I really should take this call.

What were we talking about?” 

Low hanging fruit 

This is the time of year that you need to be looking for the students who could have the greatest impact on your school grade. If a student that is a Level 2 becomes a Level 3 they have made a learning gain and they have also met high standards. These students have positively impacted your grade in two areas.  Conversely, if a Level 3 student becomes a Level 2 they have negatively impacted your school grade in the same areas.  By targeting the students that are low Level 3’s and high Level 2’s now, you’ll be able to help those who could affect your school grade the most.  The following instructions will allow teachers to create a list of students that are within 10 points of the Level 2 and Level 3 scale score cut point.  This teacher activity should be done by individual teachers.

Low 3’s and High 2’s

1. Click "Queries"
2. Select the current roster year
3. Click "Tests"
4. Click "FCAT SSS Reading"
5. Under FCAT SSS Reading, click "Scale Score"
6. Select the school year "2005-2006"
7. Change the Minimum Score and Maximum Score using the table below
8. Click "Add Criterion"
9. Click "Demographics"
10. Click "Grade of Enrollment"
11. Select the school year "2006-2007"
12. Select the grade level of your students
13. Click "Get Results"
14. Print or record the list of your selected students
15. Click "Reset Query"
16. Repeat these steps for "FCAT SSS Math"

Level 2 and 3 Cut Points

This table will help you decide the minimum and maximum score to be queried for each individual grade level.

*You may find retained students in these queries. Remember, their grade level of test is different and they have already been identified as extra care kids.

Reflect on the following questions once your list is produced:

• What can I do immediately to evaluate these students individually?
• What are the areas of weakness for these students in regards to the standards?
• What can I do to make sure that these students have learned the standards before testing?

Karen Basarsky's New Year’s Resolution

“This year I will stop smoking.

Of course, I’ll need to actually start smoking before I can technically stop smoking.” 

It’s the New Year and time for a little housekeeping! 

SP SnapShot has arranged a discount price for your school to a new FCAT Science assessment tool.  StudyBUZZ will give your students personalized help preparing for their Science 5, 8, and 11 exam.  This is one of the only tools that we’ve seen that gives every student direct feedback, and addresses the student’s individual needs in the form of a study guide.  FCAT is almost here, act now!

To learn more about StudyBUZZ, contact Robert Bailey by email at robert@studybuzz.com or by phone at (866) 658-8238 ext 33.