Our ELA instruction
You may have heard your child's classroom teacher or reading teacher mention the terms "Reading Workshop" or "Guided Reading". We follow the educational practice of using the Reading Workshop model in order to best improve your child's reading ability. We begin by assessing your child using a series of reading tests at the beginning, middle and end of the school year. Next, we group the students based on their reading levels and/or needs. We focus our instruction using the Next Gen Standards, our ELA curriculum and your child's needs. As part of Reading Workshop, your child's Reading Teacher will conference with students, set reading goals, teach guided reading groups or strategy groups or may use a reading intervention program with your child called LLI (Leveled Literacy Intervention). LLI is an intervention reading program and one item that we are using at Rensselaer Park to help your child improve their reading ability. It consists of leveled books that we use for guided reading groups with targeted instruction. As you may already know, RPES now has incorporated intervention blocks into your child's school day. During this time, Reading Teachers are providing supplemental reading instruction for students who struggle.
What is AIS?
Great question! The below information explains what AIS (Academic Intervention Services) is here at Rensselaer Park Elementary School.
RPES PARENT'S GUIDE TO AIS
AIS stands for Academic Intervention Service, which is additional instruction that supports the instruction in the classroom. Academic Intervention Services are intended to assist students who are at risk of not achieving the Next Gen/NYS Common Core Learning Standards in English Language Arts (ELA) and/or math. (Part 100.2 NYS regulations).
AT WHAT GRADE LEVEL DOES MY CHILD BEGIN TO RECEIVE AIS?
Students begin to receive AIS beginning in kindergarten for ELA and in grade 3 for math.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD REQUIRES AIS SUPPORT?
An assessment of your child's reading ability is usually administered 3 times a year. Based on the results, classroom teachers and AIS teachers will make recommendations of which students will receive AIS. Also 4th and 5th grade students who achieved a performance level 2 or 1 on the New York State ELA and/or math NYS assessments in grades 4 and 5 are required to receive AIS according to Part 100.2 NYS regulations.
WHAT AREAS ARE MEASURED TO DETERMINE IF MY CHILD REQUIRES SUPPORT?
The assessment for ELA includes letter/sound correspondence (phonics), decoding, vocabulary development, comprehension and fluency. The assessment for math in grade 3 is based on the grade 2 end of the year assessment and the grade 3 math placement test, which focuses on the base 10 number system, operations, algebra, measurement and geometry.
HOW AM I NOTIFIED IF MY CHILD REQUIRES AIS?
Once it has been determined that your child requires AIS support, a letter is sent home indicating the support service he/she will be receiving, the name of the AIS provider and how many times per week your child will be receiving support.
HOW IS MY CHILD'S PROGRESS DOCUMENTED?
The AIS provider is required to keep daily lesson plans that document what is being instructed and anecdotal notes of how your child has responded to the instruction. Anecdotal notes enable the provider to determine the needs of your child and how these deficits are being addressed. Progress is monitored regularly.
HOW AM I KEPT INFORMED OF MY CHILD'S PROGRESS?
Progress reports are sent home 4 times a year (each marking period) with your child's report card. The AIS staff is available at parent/teacher conferences during the school year as well. A conference may also be requested at any time during the school year. All AIS teachers are available via email as well.
WHO SHOULD I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MY CHILD'S PROGRAM?
The first contact person should be your child's homeroom teacher. He/she would be able to answer most of your questions. You may also contact your child's AIS provider. For general questions regarding AIS, you may contact Mrs. Mary Haydock, Curriculum Specialist at (518) 233-6823.
*Updated September 2020
RPES PARENT'S GUIDE TO AIS
AIS stands for Academic Intervention Service, which is additional instruction that supports the instruction in the classroom. Academic Intervention Services are intended to assist students who are at risk of not achieving the Next Gen/NYS Common Core Learning Standards in English Language Arts (ELA) and/or math. (Part 100.2 NYS regulations).
AT WHAT GRADE LEVEL DOES MY CHILD BEGIN TO RECEIVE AIS?
Students begin to receive AIS beginning in kindergarten for ELA and in grade 3 for math.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD REQUIRES AIS SUPPORT?
An assessment of your child's reading ability is usually administered 3 times a year. Based on the results, classroom teachers and AIS teachers will make recommendations of which students will receive AIS. Also 4th and 5th grade students who achieved a performance level 2 or 1 on the New York State ELA and/or math NYS assessments in grades 4 and 5 are required to receive AIS according to Part 100.2 NYS regulations.
WHAT AREAS ARE MEASURED TO DETERMINE IF MY CHILD REQUIRES SUPPORT?
The assessment for ELA includes letter/sound correspondence (phonics), decoding, vocabulary development, comprehension and fluency. The assessment for math in grade 3 is based on the grade 2 end of the year assessment and the grade 3 math placement test, which focuses on the base 10 number system, operations, algebra, measurement and geometry.
HOW AM I NOTIFIED IF MY CHILD REQUIRES AIS?
Once it has been determined that your child requires AIS support, a letter is sent home indicating the support service he/she will be receiving, the name of the AIS provider and how many times per week your child will be receiving support.
HOW IS MY CHILD'S PROGRESS DOCUMENTED?
The AIS provider is required to keep daily lesson plans that document what is being instructed and anecdotal notes of how your child has responded to the instruction. Anecdotal notes enable the provider to determine the needs of your child and how these deficits are being addressed. Progress is monitored regularly.
HOW AM I KEPT INFORMED OF MY CHILD'S PROGRESS?
Progress reports are sent home 4 times a year (each marking period) with your child's report card. The AIS staff is available at parent/teacher conferences during the school year as well. A conference may also be requested at any time during the school year. All AIS teachers are available via email as well.
WHO SHOULD I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MY CHILD'S PROGRAM?
The first contact person should be your child's homeroom teacher. He/she would be able to answer most of your questions. You may also contact your child's AIS provider. For general questions regarding AIS, you may contact Mrs. Mary Haydock, Curriculum Specialist at (518) 233-6823.
*Updated September 2020