1. Year 9 Parents’ Information Evening
Wednesday 16th October 2013

2. Contents Accelerated Reader The National Picture
Year 9 Curriculum Overview
English & Maths
Key Dates
How to Support your Child
Next Steps - Year 9 Options

3. Some background………
86% of students achieved 5 or more A* to C last year, 64% including English and Maths.
The national picture is changing and examinations are becoming more challenging.
We want every child to achieve in school in every subject they take.
We want to prepare them for life beyond Boswells.

4. Learning Goals for This Session
Teachers will understand that …
Accelerated Reader, STAR Reading, and STAR Early Literacy are software programs; best practices make best use of the software and accelerate reading growth.
Teachers will know …
What happens in an Accelerated Reader classroom in a very general sense.
Purposes for administering STAR Reading and STAR Early Literacy.
How STAR assessments work.
Teachers will be able to …
Log in as a student and take a STAR Reading test.
Log in as a teacher/administrator and view test details and preferences.
Print the STAR Diagnostic Report and locate a student’s ZPD or print the SEL Diagnostic Report.
Print and interpret the STAR Reading Range Report and Growth Report, or the SEL Distribution Report and Growth Report.
Customize STAR reports.
 Notes to the Presenter
Introduce yourself. Share information about your experiences with AR.
Find out attendees’ level of knowledge and experience with AR, along with role (teacher, librarian, administer) and grade taught.
Tell attendees when the breaks will be and where the bathrooms are.
Explain that the first three hours (or half-day) deal with the beginning steps of an AR implementation: Getting Started.

5. Accelerated Reader will help
'I can't find a book that
is just right for me'
'My book is not exciting enough'
'I am struggling
to read and
understand
this book'
'I want more choice
in the books I read'
Correlation study over next few months will give approximate reading age
'I want to read about
my own interests'
'The books I'm reading
are too easy for me'

6. What is Accelerated Reader?
As we talk about reading, the ZPD is the range of book levels from which students can read in order to experience the most success. Books within the ZPD for students build on what a student has already learned in order to help them advance into more difficult material. With Accelerated Reader, the ZPD represents the level of difficulty at which students can read and maintain an average of at least 85% on AR quizzes.

7. Logging on to take STAR Tests and AR Quizzes

8. What is STAR Reading? Quick test to find out the appropriate
level of books for your own reading
25 multiple choice questions
Answer questions with the keyboard
Concentrate and try your best
Correlation study over next few months will give approximate reading age

9. ZPD = Books that are just right for you! Make a note of your own ZPD
What is my ZPD?
Too Easy
Too Hard
2.8
5.4
ZPD: Just Right
Renowned psychologist Lev Vygotsky developed the concept of the zone of proximal development, or ZPD. The ZPD refers to the area between the things that a learner can do on her own and the things that she cannot yet do, even with assistance. This is the level at which the most learning can take place.
As we talk about reading, the ZPD is the range of book levels from which pupils can read in order to experience the most success. Books within the ZPD for pupils build on what a pupil has already learned in order to help them advance into more difficult material. With Accelerated Reader, the ZPD represents the level of difficulty at which pupils can read and maintain an average of at least 85% on AR quizzes.
ZPD = Books that are just right for you!
Make a note of your own ZPD

10. Choose and read your book carefully
To get the best start choose books:
- at the beginning of your ZPD
- not too lengthy
- something you find interesting – look at the blurb!
200005
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Dahl, Roald
ATOS BL: 4.8
Points: MY

11. Hints for Quizzing
Take your quiz as soon as you have finished the book
Check that you have the right quiz – look at the quiz number!
200005
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Dahl, Roald
ATOS BL: 4.8
Points: MY

12. Hints for Quizzing
Read each question and all possible answers carefully.
If you get stuck - ask a teacher to help you read the question
Don’t get distracted by your friends, concentrate!

13. Looking at your results
Check your TOPS report for quiz scores
Record your score on your Reading Log

14. What book to choose next?
Quiz Score at 100%
Well Done! Could move up a book level
or attempt a longer book
Quiz Score at 80%
Good job! Choose book at same level
and length if possible
Quiz Score below 80%
Don’t give up!
Choose shorter book or
lower book level

15. Enjoy reading and quizzing!
Remember to find out about using BookFinder and Home Connect
Good luck and now over to you...

16. The national picture……
GCSEs and BTECs are becoming more rigorous.
GCSE/A-level examinations can only be taken in the summer (apart from E & M GCSE resits in November).
Early entry is discouraged (unless the student is ready).
Students must stay in education until at least their 18th birthday.
All A-levels are likely to be stand alone qualifications by September 2016.

17. The Year 9 Curriculum Overview
English (3 lessons)
Mathematics (3 lessons)
Science (3 lessons)
Modern Foreign Language(s) (3 lessons)
Technology (DT, Food, Business Studies – 2 lessons on rotation)
PE (2 lessons)
Geography (3 lessons per fortnight)

18. The Year 9 Curriculum (continued)
History (3 lessons per fortnight)
RE (1 lesson)
Art (1 lesson)
Dance (1 lesson)
Drama (1 lesson)
Music (1 lesson)
ICT (1 lesson)

19. English and Maths
Key qualifications for when students progress beyond key stage 4.
English Language (60% examination, 40% controlled assessment).
Mathematics (100% examination).
Examination Boards: English (AQA)
Mathematics (EdExcel)

20. English and Maths
Year 9 students will start GCSE studies in English and Maths this year.
Student attainment is may be presented as GCSE grades rather than levels in these subjects later in the year.
Expected progress is approximately two-thirds of a grade per year.
English will partly focus on preparing students for Controlled Assessments.

21. English Controlled Assessment
Majority of English Language CA completed in Year 10
Critical to achieve well (worth 40%)
One piece at the end of each half-term (the first piece is currently in progress)
Under controlled conditions
No scope for improvement, so important to get it right first time.

22. Controlled Assessment
Classroom-based assessment under controlled conditions.
Attendance and preparation are crucial.
Should be aiming to achieve at least in line with overall grade.
Cannot be improved, but a different piece can completed.

23. Science (from Year 10)
Triple Science (needs to be chosen as an option)
Separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Double Science (sets 1 & 2)
Core Science (Year 10); Additional Science (Year 11)
BTEC Science (sets 3 & 4)
Principles of Science (Year 10); Applications of Science (Year 11)

24. Key Dates – Year 9 Date Event Week beginning 11th November
Year 9 Interims (1)
Monday 10th March
Year 9 KS4 Options Evening
Week beginning 10th March
Year 9 Interims (2)
Thursday 20th March
Year 9 Parents’ Evening
Week beginning 28th April
Year 9 Internal Examinations
Week beginning 7th July
Year 9 Reports

25. Key Elements for Success
Attendance
Organisation & planning
Goals
Ability
Hard work
Knowing their current attainment and how to improve

26. Supporting your Child Regular conversations about progress
Encourage communication with teachers
Attendance (please don’t book holidays in term time!)
Controlled assessment
Planners & Home Learning
Accelerated Reader
E-learning
Reading (books, newspapers)

27. Concerns
Please contact: For specific subjects, please contact your child’s teacher or the Head of Subject/Skill Area Cathy Rogers – Pastoral Manager (Years 7 - 9) Fiona Lovibond – Head of Year 9 Steve Mansell – Deputy Headteacher (Curriculum)

28. Next Steps - Options English Maths Science Modern Foreign Language PE
3 Options Choices

29. Year 9 Key Stage 4 Options Evening:
Next Steps – Options
Year 9 Key Stage 4 Options Evening:
Monday 10th March 2014
Boswells’ Theatre 7pm

30. Thank you for attending……
You can find this presentation by following the link: Password: boswells1