Study Island Wisconsin

Student Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:27:00 +0000

Apparently the blog just celebrated its 10th birthday...hmmmm. Thinking back to when I was teaching in 2000-2003, blogging was not a popular activity. In fact, I can't remember if I really even understood what blogs were, so I certainly did not have my 7th grade students blog. If I was a classroom teacher now, however, I would not hesitate to use blogs with my students. In fact, I think it is quickly becoming a best practice.

supportstudentblogging.com is a very comprehensive site (it is actually a wiki) that explains all aspects of using blogs with students. Beyond the emphasis on reading and writing which naturally occurs when blogging, there are many other powerful reasons to have students blog. I think that there are some commonalities of why students and adults alike enjoy blogging. When students know that others will be reading their work, not only do they take pride in their work as well as take more time in creating it (Richardson, 2006). I think adults like this aspect of blogging too, knowing that others are reading their ideas. Additionally, blogging is an engaging activity for students because they are able to write in the first person, which many times is discouraged in the traditional essay format. Blogging is a forum for the student to develop their own writing style and give their opinion in their own voice. I also like this about blogging-it is a nice change from the 3rd person voice that is commonly used in academia.

The real-time format of blogging is also a powerful aspect of why it can be an effective tool to use with students. Our "Digital Natives" are used to immediate feedback and the blog is one way to for students to view their own work as well as their peers in real-time. Teachers can post responses as well as provide feedback to students beyond the school day, expanding the walls of the traditional classroom.

Beyond that, if you are just looking at logistics, in a blogging format, a teacher can quickly see every students' responses as well as their reactions to others' responses in an organized way. Much different than correcting piles of homework and being the only one to read student work.

Overall, I think the blog is quickly becoming a respected classroom tool...I also think it is viewed as a best-practice in many circles. I will admit that there are nay-sayers, as with anything. I have a few colleagues who ask me how I have time to blog. I chuckle inside, knowing that it takes no longer than composing an email, but I think to those who are not familiar with blogging, it may seem like a cumbersome activity. It would not surprise me if teachers have run into this same question at school, basically questioning the value of student blogging. I think teachers just need to be prepared to share student work, and also invite people into the classroom to see students creating their blog posts.

So, with those thoughts about student blogging, I end by wishing the blog a belated happy birthday!

Letting go

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:43:00 +0000

This is another post for my summer class at Marquette...I do find it to be an appropriate reflection on technology and education though, so enjoy!

"We also try to encourage teachers to recognize that technology can represent a unique opportunity to model problem solving, persistence when things go wrong, and the joy of developing a new skill" (Grabe & Grabe, p. 30, 2006).

Giving up control of what and how students gain information may be extremely difficult for some teachers. Historically, the role of a teacher has been the gatekeeper of knowledge, not in a negative way...but students would attend a class to learn from the expert on a certain subject. In the K-12 system, the higher the grade level, the more specific the teacher's knowledge would be in that area. Middle school teachers sometimes focus on teaching a number of math classes for example, but as students move to high school and college, their teacher really was probably an expert in one or two subject areas. So the set up looked like this: students went to class, and their teachers taught them about the specific subject they were learning.

In the last couple of years, however, the Internet has changed the face of how and when students can learn. By typing in a few words into Google, students will have access to all sorts of information that has not been provided by their teacher. Is this information legitimate? Who is the source? What are their credentials? Good questions...and very few answers!

The very interesting thing about technology and how it is used, is that it is unchartered territory. There may not be any new best practices for teachers that want to experiment with a new tool. There are some standards for technology use that help teachers structure how and when they will or will not use technology within their classroom. For a teacher that likes to know how something will look before they start a project, however, this might not be so easy.

As a former teacher, I can recognize that in order to create a structured environment that is conducive to learning, you need some control. Control is important in a number of ways, but it can also be limiting if you don't let yourself experiment and learn. I think that using technology in the classroom can be scary, because there are a certain number of variables that you come to expect when launching a new lesson or trying something new...when you bring in a new technology tool, or give students free reign to search for information on the Internet, a number of new variables come into the equation, limiting the amount of control we have on the situation.

As the digital natives transition into teaching roles, administrator roles and faculty positions, more and more technology will be seeping into classrooms. For those teachers who do not like the idea of students having unlimited access to information through the Internet, I really think they will just have to adjust. Teaching students how to filter through good websites and identifying valid sources can be wonderful teachable moments...while they may have not been in the lesson plan to start with, I think it is time to let it go.

Science and Social Studies is here!

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Fri, 30 May 2008 13:46:00 +0000

The long awaited science and social studies programs will be available June 1 for 4th and 8th grade! We are so excited to add these subject areas as many schools have been eagerly anticipating their arrival! If you would like to add science and social studies onto your current order, just send me an email and we will give you access at a pro-rated price.

If you would like to whet your appetite, and try a little sample--I can send you a temporary username and password so you can explore both of the programs in their entirety.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Erin Montagne
1.800.419.3191 x 7631

Blogs and the use of comments

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Sun, 25 May 2008 15:56:00 +0000

While I traditionally use this blog to update principals, teachers and parents about what is new on the Island...today I am dedicating this post to an online graduate class that I am taking.

One aspect of blogging that I still have not been able to completely grasp is the use of comments.
When I first started the Study Island Blog, I did it more as an experiment to see if this would be a more effective way for me to communicate with my customers. As more and more teachers and principals are using blogs to communicate with students and parents, I also found it to be a up and coming best-practice in education. When visiting school websites, I even see that PTOs even have their own blogs --updating the school community on meeting times, meeting minutes, fundraisers, school field trips etc.

As I started to use my blog more regularly, some of my colleagues pointed out that I have no comments on my blog--I think they were hinting that no one was reading it! They also wondered what my return on investment was for the time I spent blogging. ROI is a big deal in the world of sales.

So here are my thoughts on the use of comments, or lack there of when blogging...

I think one of the most advantageous aspects of a blog is that it does not have to be a large time commitment. Beyond the time commitment, unless you have people subscribing to your blog, or you have a counter on your blog, it is difficult to count how many people are actively reading your posts. I think it is not a fair assessment to say that just because people do not comment on blog posts does not mean that readers are not getting something out of it. Also, a blog is not meant to be a message board per say. I think my peers wanted to see people posting comments, because it would be a concrete way to show that people are reading each post. Think about all of the online articles and blogs you may visit on a daily basis--I certainly read quite a few and I do not think that I have ever left a comment. This does not mean that I did not get value out of it.

If choosing to use blogs with students, however, the ability to give immediate feedback to student posts is one of the biggest advantages of using this tool. While this may not happen in the real world of blogging, by being able to comment on a student's blog in a timely manner, the power of immediate feedback can really be harnessed. Also, encouraging students to respond to each other's ideas in real-time is really an amazing way to promote reflection.

I will admit that I look forward getting comments on my posts. While I do get feedback from teachers and principals who say, "Hey, I read your blog!" it really does not give the same effect as someone pressing that "Leave comment" button. As a teacher however, I think that the capability to leave comments and give immediate feedback to students would be one of the top reasons for using blogs in the first place.

Comments?

Study Island and Student Accountability

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Tue, 13 May 2008 01:29:00 +0000

I thought that I would pass along a strategy that I have heard about in the past, but only recently seen it implemented in a classroom setting. This best practice is an easy way for teachers to monitor student growth and encourages student accountability...so I know that all you teachers out there will love this idea!
The strategy that I am talking about is journaling. A middle school math coach uses math journals with her students on a regular basis. She is including this practice when her students are using Study Island as well. Students keep a journal of each topic that they are working on, and they are responsible for journaling the question that they got incorrect, summarizing the explanation for the correct answer in their own words, and then working out the problem in a constructed response format. Voila! Your students are still engaged with the topic at hand, but they are taking time to reflect on their missed answers.
One easy benefit for teachers is that students know that you can run a missed question report for them, so it does not behoove them to skip over any missed answers. Much to their chagrin, Study Island really does provide teachers with in depth data about every question that they answer.
This journaling idea can transfer over to any subject area, so I hope that you try this out and feel free to leave a comment or pass along your best practice!

Spring has sprung and summer is fast approaching!

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:49:00 +0000

I have a lot of schools looking at how they can use Study Island this summer. There are three popular models that schools and districts have utilized in the past, so I thought this might be of use as you think about how to implement Study Island this summer.

1. Integrating Study Island into the traditional summer school curriculum.
If your school or district runs a summer school program, Study Island is a great fit. Oftentimes, teachers are teaching a subject that may be different from what they normally teach. The web-based format of Study Island means that students can login all summer to practice the topics that they need help in.

2. Open lab model.
Maybe your school is not offering summer school, but there will be adults in the building for part of the summer. Keeping a lab open for drop in sessions is a nice way for parents and students to utilize the program if they do not have the Internet available at home.

3. Home use.
Students who have access to the Internet at home can practice Study Island all summer long! Parents can login to see a math and reading report to identify which area their child needs the most assistance. The engaging game format is sure to keep students motivated throughout the summer.

Important features of Study Island for summer use:

Online reporting makes it easy for teachers and administrators to login over the summer to see how students are doing. In September, teachers can run a report to access the results of their classes summer use. The "Suggest Topics Report" allows teachers to see what areas their class needs the most help in!

Automatic remediation is a terrific feature that encourages student self-direction. Students can work on the building block topics provided by the program in order to get their skills to grade level.

If you would like to discuss the best way for your school to use Study Island this summer, please do not hesitate to call or email and we can schedule an in-school consultation.

Erin Montagne
414.322.7849

Study Island and Pre-College Programs

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 17:32:00 +0000

I had the honor of presenting at the state GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Conference on Friday, February 29th. The conference was made up of GEAR UP grantees from all over the state of WI, as well as some of our friends in Minnesota. One common theme throughout all GEAR UP programs is that they provide academic support to students outside of school. This occurs in the form of after school tutoring, weekend camps and summer camps.
In the Study Island session that I hosted, a number of GEAR UP advisors as well as teachers and guidance counselors were present. There were some great questions that arose in the session which I would like to share, because I do not think that these were exclusively concerns of just pre-college programs.
1. How does the data sharing between different stakeholders (advisors, parents, teachers and administrators) take place? The web-based format of Study Island allows students to login from any Internet connection. This flexibility also means that advisors and teachers can use the program during the school day, after school, over the summer, or include parents to use it at home. Study Island's real-time reports allow teachers, GU Advisors and parents to login at any time to see how students are doing in their math and reading programs within Study Island.
2. We just got students' individual WKCE-CRT results back...how can Study Island help me with this information? The WKCE-CRT may provide teachers and parents with specific information on where students' strengths and weaknesses lie...but then what? Study Island's content was written specifically to target our state standards and assessment frameworks. The individual reports from the WKCE-CRT will identify areas of weakness which then can be practiced within Study Island. Differentiated instruction is a key component within our program.
3. Administratively, how do we control what students are using Study Island, what teachers are involved, and how to move students up or down in grade level? As your Study Island representative, I am happy to visit your school to help you plan out all the logistical aspects of implementing Study Island.

I just want to say in closing, that I was so impressed with the number of high caliber of school staff working in Wisconsin's neediest schools. Speaking with the GEAR UP family was a great reminder of how it really does take a village to raise a child, and I am so proud to still be part of that!

Summer Passport to Learning on Study Island!

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 01:54:00 +0000

Looking for a way to academically engage students in your after-school or summer programs? Look no further! Motivating and completely created for the WI state standards, Study Island is a wonderful addition to any summer school program.

Study Island’s web-based math and reading programs allow students to login from ANY Internet connection. Students can work independently at their own pace, engaged in skills practice which is self-adjusting to fill in gaps. Study Island offers both test mode and game formats to break up the monotony and reward student success. There is no set-up required and Study Island can start being implemented immediately!

Why Study Island?

Specific to Wisconsin: Study Island is written specifically for the Wisconsin State Standards, so students are ALWAYS practicing topics that are connected to what they are learning in school.

Real-Time Reporting: Tutors and teachers working with students will get immediate feedback on how students are performing on each topic. Individual reports are great to use in student files and for data collection.

Web-Based Format: Students can login to Study Island from any Internet connection, including an after school computer lab, in their classroom, or at home. This is a terrific parent-involvement tool.

You can access our NEW online demonstration by going to http://www.studyisland.com/wisales (Click on Quick Tour)

If you would like to schedule an in-person demonstration, I would be happy to visit your site at your convenience. Feel free to call or email and I can show you the benefits of getting your students on Study Island!

Erin Montagne

1.800.419.3191 x 7631

1.414.322.7849

erin@studyisland.com

"Dad...I'm Learning!"

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:47:00 +0000

Tonight, I had the pleasure of participating in a parent night at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in the Port Washington School District. The school wanted to introduce parents to three technology initiatives that are taking place at the school, including Study Island.
On a bitter cold night like tonight, you may assume that attendance would be spotty at best. Not so! Over 90 parents attended tonight's session and there was standing room only!
Many parents had already seen Study Island in action because their elementary or middle schooler had logged into the program from their home computer. The entire district is using the program in grades 3-8. Parents who were new to the program were thrilled to learn about the reports that could be accessed from home, along with the lessons and different study modes. Lots of great dialogue took place between parents in terms of how they can use the program to keep their children engaged as well as support what is happening in the classroom.
At the end of the session I had a long line of parents who wanted to talk to me for a variety of reasons. I heard some great testimonies about how children were taking initiative on the weekends and at night and logging into Study Island, working to earn their blue ribbons.
My favorite story of the night was from a parent whose middle and elementary school children were both using the program. Before he knew about Study Island, he stumbled upon his 3rd grader playing a skate board game on the computer which is one of the study modes within Study Island. Irritated, he asked his daughter why she was playing games instead of doing homework. Without even looking up, his daughter clicked to the next question, started scribbling her work on a piece of paper to solve the problem and confidently told her father, "Dad...I'm learning!"

Study Island January Give Away

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:11:00 +0000

Need a resource to break up the humdrum of winter? Contact me for a free standards based worksheet in math/ and or reading. You can just email me the grade level(s) that you teach, and I will generate a 10-20 question worksheet for you to use, complete with an answer and explanation key. If there is a specific topic that you are working on, just let me know and I will customize it for you!

Teachers use the Printable Worksheet mode within Study Island to create tests, review sheets, homework packets or substitute lesson plans. You can also make games by printing the worksheet and cutting the questions into strips or displaying questions on the Smart Board.

Not a Study Island user yet? Call me to set up a free in-person or web demonstration at your convenience. I am also happy to give you pricing information and answer any questions that you have about the program. See for yourself why over 10,000 students across Wisconsin are using the Study Island program right now!

Erin Montagne
1.800.419.3191 x 7631
erin@studyisland.com

Got Clickers?

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:54:00 +0000

We are thrilled that schools will now be able to use Study Island with CPS (Classroom Performance Systems) through eInstruction. Many of us know them as the clicker people!

Students will be able to use their clickers as a study mode within Study Island. Students' results will be saved into the Study Island system for reporting in the same way that data is saved when students are logged into the program. Students are each assigned a clicker and teachers can either pull up the question through a projector in front of the room, or students can use the clickers to answer questions on a printable worksheet. Even when using the printable worksheet, if students are using the clickers to answer the Study Island questions, the program scores them and their data is saved. So, if your school has a set of CPS clickers, but limited lab availability, this is a great way to gauge student proficiency on a topic without even leaving your classroom!

If you have any technical questions about using Study Island with CPS through eInstruction our customer relations team is happy to assist you in any way. They can be reached at 1.800.419.3191 option 3.

Addressing your Frequently Asked Questions

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:08:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

I have created a number of short screencasts that address your Frequently Asked Questions. They can be accessed by clicking on the specific topic name-for example: Remove Student Sessions. These screencasts are at the top right hand corner of the blog under: Frequently Asked Questions-screencasts.

Check them out!

1.800.419.3191 x 7631
erin@studyisland.com

January Web Demonstrations

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:01:00 +0000

YOU’RE INVITED

Who: Administrators, technology coordinators, curriculum directors, guidance counselors and teachers.

What: Web Demonstration of the Study Island Wisconsin Standards Mastery Program.

When: Three sessions will be offered in January:

Friday, January 11, 2008 | 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Monday, January 14, 2008 | 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 17, 2008 | 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Where: From the comfort of your office, classroom or computer lab

See why we have over 5 million users in 12,000 schools in the U.S.!

Facilitated by: Erin Montagne, Wisconsin program consultant and teacher trainer

Interested in participating? RSVP to erin@studyisland.com 1.800.419.3191 x 7631

Take an inside look at how Study Island can be used in a lab setting, as a classroom center, and even in after-school programs to boost confidence and improve student performance...See what the buzz is all about!

The Study Island Wisconsin Standards Mastery program is designed specifically to help students master the skills and knowledge outlined in the Wisconsin State Standards and Assessment Frameworks. The web-based math and reading programs for grades 3-8 provide ongoing practice and assessment in an interactive and motivating format. Teachers and administrators can access real-time diagnostic reports on individual and group usage to inform and individualize instruction.

To access an online demonstration go to:

http://www.studyisland.com/WIsales and view our Quick Tour

** If you are interested in participating in this session, please RSVP and

directions will be provided.**

Custom Material Feature

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:36:00 +0000

While we are working on getting a science, social studies and writing program to our schools in Wisconsin...we do have a tool that any content area can utilize within Study Island.

The create new content feature allows any teacher to generate an assessment on whatever topic you would like. I have heard of all sorts of teachers using this feature to create a pre and post assessment on units that they are teaching because it is easy to use, engaging for students and best of all--Study Island does all the correcting!

There are three types of question/answer choices that you can utilize within the custom material section: multiple choice, short answer and true/false.

Our in-house implementation specialists have created very detailed step by step directions which will help you create your own assessment. To access the directions:
1. Login to Study Island
2. On the upper right hand corner, click on HELP
3. Within the help section, you will see a series of folders, one of them is called Features--click on that
4. Another series of folders will appear, one of them is called Custom Material

Follow the directions within Custom Material, and remember that you can always click on Live Support to assist you with this process.

Good Luck!

7 Ribbons in '07!

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:19:00 +0000

Creating a school-wide goal can be a fun way to encourage and motivate students and teachers who are using Study Island. Little incentive programs such as 7 Ribbons in '07 may be a way to give students a realistic goal to shoot for.

An example of an incentive program would be to reward any student who has 7 ribbons in their Study Island program before going on winter break. Here are some suggestions of incentive programs that will not break your budget or be too cumbersome to implement...

For students who have 7 ribbons:

hand out ice cream sandwiches at lunch
send home a Ribbon Certificate or Award signed by the principal
host an island theme party

Are you worried about making sure your students with special needs, or English language learners have a fair shot? Consider changing the passing parameters, or allow them to work at the lower grade level. Remember...you can hide the grade level from students if you are worried about self-esteem issues!

Happy Ribbon Gathering!

Did You Know Video

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 15:06:00 +0000

A colleague of mine forwarded me this video called Did You Know--all I could say was WOW! The video was created by an educator in Colorado by the name of Karl Fisch. The point of Did You Know is to re-examine and question what education looks like and to challenge educators to think about meeting the needs of learners today. I think that this video would be a great intro activity for a professional development day or even to start off a staff meeting. After watching the video, I also felt very confident in how Study Island is on track to assist in the process of educating our 21st Century Learners.

Karl Fisch has a great educational blog that I think you might find interesting. You can access Karl's blog, called the Fischbowl at http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com.

Think-Pair -Share with Study Island

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Using Study Island as a mini-lesson or warm up activity is a great way to get students thinking about a topic before instructional time. A Think-Pair-Share activity would also be an ideal way to wrap up or review a topic that you have just taught.

So, how can this work in your classroom?

**You will need to project the Study Island questions, either by creating a worksheet and then copying it into an overhead or by using an LCD projector hooked up to your computer**

1. Pair up students
2. Project a Study Island question on the topic that you are teaching
3. THINK: Allow students to work in pairs, but make sure they are given ample quiet think time
3. PAIR: Have students turn to their partner to discuss their answer
4. SHARE: Do a whole class discussion on what answers students came up with

This type of activity does not take a long time, and you can get your entire class engaged. You can select questions from a number of Study Island topics, or just stick to one. The Think-Pair-Share is a great way to make all students think about a topic either before or after instruction and everyone is involved in discussing their answer. This activity can work for both math or reading questions. Try it out and let me know how it goes!

Badgers, Packers and Study Island

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 02:34:00 +0000

Coming off of a big football weekend, I am definitely feeling the exhilaration of two wins both Saturday and Sunday! While the Badgers have not lived up to my dreams of being contenders in the Rose Bowl, there is always the huge surprise of Brett Favre and the Packers to cheer us up!

So, what do Study Island and football have in common you ask?

1. Forward Progress: Who doesn’t want to experience the satisfaction of making a touchdown, or in Study Island’s case, earning a blue ribbon? Students feel successful when they pass a topic and earn their blue ribbon. This is not only a way for students to self-monitor their progress, but this is also a great confidence booster.

2. Real-Time Action: Nothing can beat game day! Yes we have Tivo and DVR, but there is no way that you can replicate the feeling of being at Lambeau or Camp Randall. Students and teachers can access Study Island at any time from any Internet connection--24/7!

3. Examining Strengths and Weaknesses: What we see on game day is not just a result of pure talent. Successful teams must do a number of things to prepare for the big game: practice drills, team meetings and hours of watching film. Study Island can help teachers do this exact thing for their students! Individual student as well as entire classroom reports can help teachers drive instruction by identifying both strengths and weaknesses.

Introducing the Study Island Wisconsin Blog

noreply@blogger.com (emontagne) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 19:37:00 +0000

I am so excited to have another avenue to communicate the latest Study Island updates to you! I have a couple of ideas about how this blog may be of use to current and future Study Island users. First of all, I hope to bring Study Island best-practice information and implementation ideas to you. There are some really creative and innovative things that schools are doing with Study Island. I will also tell you where to find me--conferences, presentations etc.

Are you a part of CESA #1? I will be presenting at CESA #1 on Tuesday, November 20th from 9:00-10:30. If you are interested in learning more about Study Island--we would love to see you! I will show you the student, teacher and administrator aspects of the program. There are numerous schools and districts in CESA #1 who are currently using Study Island, and I will share how they are implementing the program in their schools/districts. Don't worry--breakfast will be served! Send me an email if you are interested in attending -(erin@studyisland.com).