Pilot Teacher Advice [Revisited]

During the summer Benchmark Advance trainings, pilot teachers jotted down some notes about their experiences with the program.  As we enter into our second trimester of implementation, it's worth revisiting their advice... 

 

Benchmark Universe: What's been added... and rediscovered!

Every time I log into Benchmark Universe, I seem to stumble across something new -- or something new to me. Here's a list of resources, along with some non Benchmark Universe links at the bottom.

(Most of these resources require you to log into Benchmark Universe, so they can’t be directly linked in the blog. Anything that’s a direct link will be underlined in blue.)

Instructional Support

(Note: for each of these tools, you must first clear your filters, then choose your grade level. You can choose to select a unit if you’d like.)

• Filter to Designated ELD under the Instructional Settings. Here you'll find D-ELD Weekly Presentations for all of your designated ELD lessons!
• Filter to Practice. You’ll find Text Evidence Questions (and answers!) for the passages in the Texts for Close Reading.
• Filter to Whole Group. Click on the Read Aloud Professional Guide. This link has great bookmarks with sentence starters for metacognitive strategies.
• For primary grades: Filter to HeidiSongs Videos or Interactive Learning Games. Check these out for some engaging resources to support your phonics instruction.

Program Support

Select your grade level, and then click the Program Support filter on the lefthand side. There are many, many great resources here. Check out:

• ELA Correlations to Common Core State Standards: lists all of the ELA standards and the lessons in which they’re taught in Benchmark Advance.
• Decodable Reader Skills: lists the phonics skills that are included in each decodable reader in K-2. This would be a great resource if you’re looking for a student book to supplement your SIPPS instruction.

Technical Support: Quick Start Guide

Click the Program Support filter on the lefthand side. Open the Quick Start Guide.

• The Teacher and Student Experience opens a PDF with helpful directions for making groups, creating assignments, and viewing assignment notes.
• The Benchmark Universe Training Video Series provides visual step-by-step directions.

Technical Support: Release Notes

• At the top of the page, you can click on the Help button, and halfway down the page is a link to the Release Notes. This is a great way to see what’s new on Benchmark Universe.

Non Benchmark Universe Resources

• There have been many questions about assessment reports. For a step-by-step YouTube video, check out How to Access Assessment Reports.

• Are you on Facebook? There is a "Benchmark Advance Planning, Organization, and Tips" Facebook Group that has been set up by Toluca Rivers, a teacher in Southern California who is in her second year of implementation. She has amazing ideas about making the program work in your classroom. And, every Sunday afternoon, she does a Facebook Live video called “Plan with Me”, where people get together, plan, and ask questions. (You’ll need to answer three quick questions in order to join the group. Toluca approves requests only on Sundays.)

• Don’t have Facebook but want to see some lessons and planning tips from Toluca Rivers? Click the link.

• One of the ELD specialists from Toluca's school created visual vocabulary cards for K-5 mini-lesson academic vocabulary. They are in the Benchmark Advance Team Drive grade level folders.

• I can’t help myself... here’s one last treasure from Toluca Rivers of Markers and Minions: a Google Slides template that allows you to plan from a unit perspective, as well as plan for each of the three weeks. Click either the editable or printable link.

Know of any other resources? Please share!