Free Fall Study Island Training Webinar Series

Gain a better understanding of the basic features of Study Island through our free online general training webinars.

During these mini sessions, our trainers will navigate through Study Island giving tips and best practices all in less than an hour of your day! Check out our calendar each month to see what new sessions we are offering!

October topics include:
*Going Coconuts for Stats
*Managing your Islanders (A guide to Class Manager)
*Back to School for Teachers
*Charting Your Course for Teachers
*Welcome to the Island for Study Island Administrators
*Wizards of the Island for District Level Administrators
*Benchmarking 101
**Two additional PARENT sessions designed to assist parents to help students of Study Island

For more information and to register, please visit: www.studyisland.com/webinars/training

As always, I can be reached at kathleen.bendernagel@studyisland.com or 800-419-3191 ext. 7627, with any questions or for further information.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you,
Kathleen Bendernagel
Study Island MI Rep

Study Island is perfect for summer!

Great for summer learning! Students can access Study Island all summer long to review and practice at any computer. Offering some incentive for them to do so, will help you help them review the GLCEs and help prevent summer learning loss.

Study Island’s Online GLCE Mastery Program:
• A simple tool that can make a huge impact on student achievement
• Aligned and specifically written to the Michigan Assessment Frameworks (GLCE)
• Offers terrific student data for teachers and administrators for identifying gaps and weaknesses BEFORE the test window
• Fully web-based, students can use the program not just at school, but at home or library as well - reinforcing the home-school connection

I can be reached at kathleen.bendernagel@studyisland.com or 800-419-3191 ext. 7627, with any questions or for further information.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you,
Kathleen Bendernagel

Study Island Summer Contest

What keeps students motivated over the summer? Competition!

Create a challenge for students to keep them using Study Island over the summer.

Just follow these easy steps for a successful Study Island summer:

1. Decide how you will measure Study Island success, ideas include:
 Total number of questions answered
 Number of Blue Ribbons
 Amount of time spent on the Island

2. Announce the contest before school is out for the summer

3. Send a letter home informing parents of the contest (also attached)

4. Message students in Study Island throughout the summer for added motivation

5. Announce the winners at the beginning of the school year and celebrate!
 Pizza Party
 Names on Study Island bulletin board
 Note in school newsletter
 Free homework pass


I hope this information is helpful. As always, please feel free to contact me if I can be of further assistance.

Thank you,

Kathleen Bendernagel
Study Island - MI Representative
800-419-3191 ext. 7627
248-255-3356
kathleen.bendernagel@studyisland.com

Study Island new program

Study Island's goal is – and always will be – to provide our customers with the best possible GLCE/HSCE standards-based online skills practice in Michigan.

We have added several new Study Island programs over the past year and I wanted to let you know about these:

• Technology – elementary and middle
• Health – elementary and middle
• Kindergarten
• 1st grade
• Algebra I and Algebra II
• MI HSCE programs – High School Math, E/LA, Science, Social Studies


Please let me know if you would like more information or pricing on any of these programs.

I am always available to visit your school to show you what is new or to refresh your teachers on using Study Island. Feel free to contact me at 800-419-3191, ext. 7627 or email kathleen.bendernagel@studyisland.com

I look forward to working with you and your staff!

Thank you,
Kathleen Bendernagel

Study Island's GED Prep Program - now available!

Click here to check out Study Island's new GED Prep Program!

Study Island GED is designed with you in mind. Study Island offers products for all five GED modules: Reading, Writing, Math, Social Studies, and Science. Every GED practice question features a custom explanation that provides immediate feedback and instruction. Also, just like the actual GED Test, each practice question is tied to a specific cognitive level, which is labeled in the question’s explanation. This ensures that test-takers will be fully prepared for the test.

Study Island GED is fun and engaging because questions can be taken in a traditional test mode or an exciting game mode. Our Writing portion also offers the classic multiple choice format as well as additional writing prompts and a 4-point holistic scale for students and teachers to score writing.

• Practice 24/7, Web-based GED instruction

• Log on via the Internet anytime, anywhere

• Covers all topics tested on the 5-part GED test

• Increase understanding through assessment questions, immediate feedback, and automated instruction

• Choose from multiple learning modes, including interactive games,to master GED test topics

• Earn blue ribbons as each topic is mastered to ensure success onthe actual GED test

• Keep track of progress via detailed, real-time reports

Please contact me for more information and to set up a time to learn more about Study Island.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you,
Kathleen Bendernagel

Kathleen Bendernagel
Study Island - MI Representative
800-419-3191 ext. 7627
248-255-3356
kathleen.bendernagel@studyisland.com
www.studyisland.com
http://studyislandmi.blogspot.com

Implementation Solutions - Enrichment

> Adjust Student Difficulty- Increase the passing parameters for students who need an extra challenge. Teachers can now set student passing parameters if the school admin allows it from the admin page. Once the admin allows it, teachers will be able to click on the Adjust Student Difficult” button at the top of the School Stats page and adjust levels for individual students.

> Work Above Grade Level- If a student masters their own grade level’s program, try having them work at the next grade level up. All students should have access to the programs that have been purchased by the school unless they have been restricted or blocked by an admin or teacher. Simply have the student click on the higher grade level to begin studying at a level above. (Make sure it is ok with the grade level teachers above you first!)

> Peer Tutoring- Create Study Island “peer tutors”. Have students who finish early or master concepts quickly help teach the students who are struggling.

> Student Authors- Challenge students to write their own word problems and then add them into Study Island as Custom Material. Students will love taking ownership of their learning and creating questions takes them to a higher level of Bloom’s thinking. Challenge another class to solve your questions or project the Custom Material for all to see and have the “writer” teach his or her problem to the class!

> Extra Computer Time- Provide extra computer time on Study Island as a privilege for students who have finished their work early or consistently return homework on time.

Enrichment

> Study Buddies- Have students work with a younger “buddy class” to learn how to use Study Island. As the year goes on, have your class meet with the buddy class to play games or study together in the computer lab.

> Guest Teachers- Put students in teams. Create an assignment for each team to work on solving. Create a printable worksheet for the team to use. Also create overheads of that worksheet. The team will become the “experts” on that particular topic, thinking of ways they can teach and explain it to the other part of the class. Each week, have a “Guest Teacher Spotlight”. Reserve 20-30 minutes for teams to present their topic to the class using the overheads. They could create skits, songs, contests, etc to help teach the topic to the other students.

Study Island implementation Ideas

Below are several ways schools use Study Island:

"Our teachers use the Study Island outline of the state standards to map out the year’s curriculum. They use the weekly reports to determine which students are mastering the concepts and which are not. From these reports the teachers either give review worksheets from Study Island or they send the student to tutoring on the specific concept they are struggling with."

"We have a computer room dedicated just for Study Island. We have used the site to create standardized tests to give to our students every six weeks as a paper and pencil test."

"My students are to complete Study Island as part of their daily homework assignment. If students score advanced on a topic they earn extra credit. This is then an incentive to work on the program and do well."

"We use it in several ways. We have a resource teacher that gives daily instruction. We also use Study Island for remediation in an after-school program, and we have a Study Island parent student night from 6-9 pm where the lab is open for students that do not have an Internet connection at home."

"We have implemented Study Island as a vital part of our Reading, Math and Writing programs. Teachers will come as a group into the computer lab for whole group instruction in core areas. Some teachers implement the program as centers in their classrooms. Children are always allowed to complete activities at home as well."

I hope this helps! As always, feel free to contact me for further usage ideas and suggestions.

Thank you,
Kathleen

Study Island and Parental Involvement

According to our Foundational Research Study, “Study Island encourages parental involvement through its Web-based platform. Parents can access student achievement reports from any computer connected to the Internet, making it easier for parents to monitor student progress on an ongoing basis. Parents can view the expectations and standards for tested content areas and quickly determine if a student is meeting those standards or not..."

Click here to continue reading our Foundational Research Study. Scroll to page 15 for the Parental Involvement section.

I would love to visit your elementary, middle or high school for a brief Study Island demonstration. Please contact me and let me know what day and time would work best.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thank you,

Kathleen Bendernagel

Kathleen Bendernagel
Study Island - MI Representative
800-419-3191 ext. 7627
248-255-3356
kathleen.bendernagel@studyisland.com
www.studyisland.com

"Kids who didn't do well on the MEAP and then use Study Island show great improvement"

Below is an excerpt of a recent article printed in the Grand Haven Tribune that featured Study Island. Click here to read the entire article.

"Kids who didn't do well on the MEAP and then use Study Island show great improvement," he said.

After the test, Ely's teachers use the test data to identify gap areas in which students need more improvement. As a result of last year's data, Spring Lake Middle School is focusing more on reading and writing this year, Ely said.

If you would like to learn more about Study Island, please visit our website: www.studyisland.com or contact me at kathleen@studyisland.com or 800-418-3191 ext. 7627.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you,

Kathleen Bendernagel
Study Island - MI Representative
800-419-3191 ext. 7627
248-255-3356
kathleen.bendernagel@studyisland.com
www.studyisland.com

New Study Island K-1 and Fine Arts programs

As we start a new school year, there are plenty of things to be excited about...I am thrilled to announce that Study Island also has some exciting updates as we transition into fall!

The K-1 program is now available! For all of our kindergarten and first grade teachers who have been waiting patiently for Study Island, you will not be disappointed! You can access the online demo at: http://www.studyisland.com/mi

The new National Fine Arts program for elementary and middle school students. Many states have standards focused on the arts (visual arts, music, dance, and theater) and Study Island has been paying attention.

Teacher Web! Study Island is so excited to now be working with Teacher Web. Teacher Web is an amazing product that allows teachers, schools and districts to create their own web pages that can also host blogs, podcasts, photos and more! What a great way to increase the home-school connection!

Please call or email if you would like additional information on any of our newest additions! We can also schedule a time to meet at your school to review using Study Island. I can be reached at kathleen@studyisland.com or 800-419-3191 ext. 7627.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you,

Kathleen Bendernagel

New Study Released - Study Island Helps Increase Standardized Test Score Performance

Study Island Helps Increase Standardized Test Score Performance --

Review of Study Island Published on Aug 16, 2008
http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/reviews/4636.aspx

Below is an excerpt of the article:

Study Island is a web-based computer program that allows students to practice state standards and indicators. The best part is that students, teachers and parents can keep track of student progress.

NCLB requires that all educational programs need to be based on research. Study Island has provided documentation that they are using research based procedures. A new independent study, Study Island Scientific Research Base by Magnolia Consulting in July 2008, shows that it “provides documentation that connects the key features of the Study Island program to scientific and academic research literature.”

In addition, the research showed that when “teachers used web-based instruction to supplement classroom instruction it was 13% more effective than classroom instruction alone at teaching declarative knowledge, suggesting a combination of the two formats may lead to better achievement than classroom instruction alone.”

The content on Study Island is written from state standards. The program gives diagnostic, formative and summative results to teachers and administrators. In addition, it allows for an assessment feedback loop, reinforces learning through practice, motivates students, supports mastery, and uses a web-based platform. Anther great feature is that it encourages parental involvement.

How It Works

Study Island allows students to practice and to build skills over time toward mastery. Students can practice math, reading, writing, science or social studies. Once students are connected to the online program, they choose how many questions they want to answer. If they are not familiar with an indicator or standard, basic lessons are available. When they begin their session, they receive immediate feedback for their answers. Students and teachers can see the progress in any subject and/or indicator on the computer screen.

This supports the research from the report that says that the best feedback encourages students to keep working until they succeed and tells students what they know about the target knowledge instead of telling how they did in comparison to others.

Learning made fun!

Kinesthetic & Visual Learning Using Smartboards

Students can interactively become proficient, master standards and review for the MEAP using Study Island on Smartboards. The teacher projects Study Island on the smartboard for all to view and allows students to take turns coming up to the board and physically touching the answer choices. They can discuss the mini lessons, go over questions, discuss the process of problem solving (metacognition), and enjoy the various writing prompts on the interactive board. How does this look in the lab? I’ve witnessed teachers reviewing standards, whole group direct instruction as multiple choice questions or with games on the smartboard and then having students logon later and assess what they just learned on individual computers.

Here’s a little addition to the Smart Board idea – the smart boards have “pens” in different colors that you can use to “write” with on the smart boards – I have seen teachers let their kids work the math problems out to the side of the answer choices and then click on the choice once they have “worked out the problem” - As most teachers do, I often used the following quote with my 4th graders: “Show me your work!” – plus the kids love getting to write on the board!

Great for kinesthetic and visual learners!

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to school! What a great time to start using Study Island.

Study Island is a completely online standards mastery and test preparation program for grades 2-8 and High School.

All of Study Island's grade-level specific topics, lessons, and questions are built from the MI Standards - GLCEs and HSCEs. Our variety of learning modes and blue ribbons of achievement engage and motivate students. As students move through the self-paced, automatically-remediating program, teachers, parents, and administrators can view diagnostic reports that show exactly how well each student has mastered the learning standards BEFORE the big tests.

Teachers use this valuable information to set the appropriate academic difficulty level and create specific assignments to meet any student's needs, putting them on the fast track to improvement and success!

Questions? Want a FREE onsite demonstration? Contact me today!

Kathleen Bendernagel
Study Island - MI Representative
800-419-3191 ext. 7627
248-255-3356
kathleen.bendernagel@studyisland.com
www.studyisland.com
http://studyislandmi.blogspot.com

I look forward to hearing from you!
Kathleen

Study Island Facts

Study Island is a leading provider of web-based state assessment preparation programs and standards based learning programs.

Study Island is built from the GLCEs/HSCEs. It is:

Instructional & diagnostic
Web-based
Research-based
State standards-based

Study Island is used by over six million students in over 15,000 schools. Here are the highlights from our 2007-2008 teacher survey:

97.4% say Study Island helped increase their test scores.

94.0% say their students enjoy using Study Island.

96.1% plan on renewing Study Island next school year.

Our Michigan programs are completely web-based. Students simply logon to www.studyisland.com to access the program. The program is organized into topics covering all of the Content Expectations that are tested on the state-mandated Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) tests and Michigan Merit Examinations (MME) in grades 3 through 8 and high school.

Study Island - continuously updated

Study Island's web-based GLCE/HSCE Mastery and MEAP/MME prep programs are now used by over 800 Michigan schools. I wanted to share with you some of the new changes we have made and continue to make to our programs.

▪ Content has been realigned for the updated 2008 GLCEs/HSCEs

▪ Expanded question bank

▪ Upload of students can contain demographic information such as race, ethnicity, special ed, etc and also can generate a subgroup performance report

▪ New reports including a performance level breakdown report of the # of students scoring L1, L2, L3, and L4 in each topic

▪ Two new games for students to play with more in the works!

▪ Ability to block content for students so that they can only access what has been assigned

▪ Filtering option on reports by date, time, and day

▪ Ability for teachers to edit the passing levels for students

These are just some of the changes. If you would like to take a look at our demo again, here is a quick link, www.studyisland.com/misales

I would be glad as well to come out and demonstrate the program for you and your colleagues.

Sincerely,
Kathleen Bendernagel


Kathleen Bendernagel
Study Island - MI Representative
800-419-3191 ext. 7627
248-255-3356
kathleen.bendernagel@studyisland.com
www.studyisland.com

Study Island and Student Accountability

In Wisconsin schools a strategy that has been successful in the classroom seems to be student journaling. 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!

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!

Study Island - An Educational Need

We have been working with Steve from the Michigan School for the Deaf since March 2007. They recently bought Study Island and will hopefully start using it soon. I am sure his expectations will be evident in their test results!

Check out his report:

http://deafsteve.edublogs.org/2008/04/28/techquest-project-description/

Study Island is:

-A simple tool that can improve student achievement – think AYP

-Aligned and specifically written to the Michigan GLCEs

-Offers terrific real-time data to teachers and administrators for identifying proficiencies as well as gaps and weaknesses in all students

-Fully web-based; students can use the program not just at school, but at home or library; creates a stronger school-to-home connection

-Fun and easy for students and teacher to use

-Study Island is perfect in summer programs!

Please feel free to contact me for further Study Island information or with any questions you may have. I can be reached at kathleen.bendernagel@studyisland.com or 800-419-3191 ext. 7627.

Thank you,

Kathleen Bendernagel

Spring has sprung and summer is fast approaching!

Many Michigan schools are 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, before the MEAP, 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.

Please feel free to contact me for further Study Island information or to schedule a Study Island demonstration at your school.

Thank you,

Kathleen Bendernagel
East MI Study Island Representative

email: kathleen.bendernagel@studyisland.com
phone: 800-419-3191 x7627 or 248-255-3356
web: http://www.studyisland.com/mi

Study Island's HSCE/GLCE Mastery Program this summer!

We are excited to announce that Study Island now offers rigorous HSCE Mastery/MME preparation products!

Students can independently review the HSCE standards that are tested on the MME using Study Island. Study Island's HSCE Mastery/MME preparation program can also be used for intervention purposes to accelerate students to proficiency.

Motivate all students to log-on to Study Island over the summer by offerering them incentives they can receive in September - a few ideas include: Study Island pizza party, field trip, lunch with the principal, Study Island t-shirts, teacher for a day, movie tickets, etc. Have fun!

Please feel free to contact me for further Study Island information or to schedule a FREE Study Island demonstration at your school.
I look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you,

Kathleen Bendernagel
Study Island

email: kathleen.bendernagel@studyisland.com
phone: 800-419-3191 x7627 or 248-255-3356
web: http://www.studyisland.com/mi

Study Island and Descriptive Feedback

Providing descriptive feedback means communicating to students where they are doing well and where they need improvement.

Why Descriptive Feedback? The purpose of descriptive feedback is to provide opportunities for the learner to make adjustments and improvements toward mastery of a specified standard.

Key Implication for Instruction and Assessment:
Students must be given the opportunity to apply the feedback by trying again

Study Island helps students receive descriptive feedback by:
1) Providing detailed explanations for all questions that show not only the answer but also, how to reason and think in order to find the answer; this “provides for opportunities for the learner to make adjustments and improvements toward mastery of a specified standard” and “comes from the activity itself.” Study Island allows students to “receive feedback from the performance itself” then provides “other timely chances to act on the feedback.”

2) Allowing students to go through missed questions at the end of a session and after they have checked out the explanations; this gives students “the opportunity to apply the feedback by trying again.” This unique Study Island feature provides “the attempts and adjustments by the learner to perform that cause accomplishment.”

3) Providing teachers the opportunity to drill down in student assignments to view the questions they missed with the further opportunity to then bring students up individually or in small groups to provide feedback and another chance at answering the questions; this provides the opportunity for teachers “to provide specific and useful information that students need in order to master worthy performances.” Study Island provides reports that yield a prioritized ranking of where each individual student stands in their mastery of the standards for which they will be assessed this year; this precise reporting allows teachers to “provide for individual, targeted, specific feedback to each student” and to provide for differentiated instruction.

4) Keeping students (and teachers) focused on their required standards by posting and linking all question topics directly to GLCEs; this provides students and teachers exact wording to “describe what the learner did and did not do in relation to her goals”; this “is actionable information, and it empowers the student to make intelligent adjustments”.

5) Immediately displaying the student score, both current session and previous sessions on the same topic; and displaying an overall scorecard after each session to provide immediate feedback to let a student determine “what did I do that worked and what did I do that didn’t work and why? Then: how can I improve?” Study Island then provides students the opportunity to do another session on the same topic in order to show improvement.