mCLASS Screener & Diagnostic (Amplify)
Every K-2 student completes the mCLASS literacy screener 3x annually. Based on over 30 years of research, mCLASS® is considered the gold-standard K–6 assessment and intervention suite for early literacy that helps every child learn to read confidently. It includes efficient, one-minute measures of critical literacy skills, and a built-in dyslexia screener that provides robust information for educators to inform core instruction - and intervention as needed.
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Watch Video: How does mCLASS assess the basic early literacy skills >>
mCLASS Caregiver Resources (K-2) (Amplify)
The
mCLASS Home Connect® website houses literacy resources for parents and caregivers, including at-home lessons organized by skill to support students. Our mCLASS caregiver letters in English and Spanish ensure that families know how to best support their child.
Visit Amplify Caregiver Hub >>
Boost Reading (Amplify)
Boost Reading is an adaptive, online learning platform available to K-2 students as needed. Similar to i-Ready Personalized Instruction (available to students in grades 3-8), Boost Reading is based in the Science of Reading and provides supplemental, targeted lessons to address students' individual needs, based on their mCLASS data profile.
You can visit this
help library to find answers to your Boost Reading questions! Students can login and access the program through
Classlink. If your family needs to borrow a Chromebook for the year or needs help with the internet, please let me know as soon as possible and we can work to support you!
Watch Video: K–5 Early Reading Assessment & Curriculum—Early literacy program | Amplify Boost Reading >>
mCLASS Intervention (Amplify)
Students experiencing reading difficulties may receive small-group or 1-1 support from a licensed interventionist. Elementary interventionists utilize a targeted literacy intervention program called
mCLASS Intervention. This program uses engaging, research-based lessons and games to ensure students develop grade-level proficiency in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
How and When Does mCLASS Intervention Work?
Students in mCLASS Intervention receive individualized instruction with a small group of peers based on their instructional needs. Students meet during the school day at times that do not conflict with lunch, recess or core instruction. Every 2-3 weeks, students’ progress is assessed, and instruction is adjusted to make sure they continue to make academic gains.
What Type of Content Does mCLASS Intervention have?
mCLASS Intervention is filled with a variety of immersive content: informative and interesting reading selections, imaginative plays that students produce with their groups, and countless interactive activities and games. More importantly, the content is research-based and proven to have a positive impact on student learning.
You can support your child’s progress at home?
If your child receives literacy intervention, we recommend that you provide regular time for your child to use the online Boost Reading program. This program uses your child’s assessment data to create a unique learning experience to meet their literacy needs. Find more information in the Boost Reading section above.
Watch Video: mCLASS Intervention: Tier-3 >>
i-Ready Screener & Diagnostic Assessment (3-8)
All 3rd-8th grade students typically complete the
i-Ready Screener 3x annually. i-Ready is an adaptive assessment, or a type of computer adaptive test, that matches the difficulty of test questions to the ability of each student. As students answer questions correctly, the test gets more difficult. As students answer questions incorrectly, the test gets easier. This allows educators to gain a deep understanding of students' strengths and challenges across literacy domains and standards.
Watch this video to better understand your child's diagnostic results >>
i-Ready Personalized Instruction (3-8)
iReady Personalized Instruction is an online math & reading program that 3-8th grade students can access during and beyond school hours (at home, during after school programs, over vacations, when absent). The program accelerates students' learning by creating a unique sequence of personalized lessons based on each student's diagnostic data.
Learn more about i-Ready >>
i-Ready Family Center (3-8)
The i-Ready Family Center is the place to learn how you can support and encourage your student’s success with i-Ready.
Visit the i-Ready Family Center >>
Department of Elementary & Secondary Education: Grade-Level Family Guides (JK-12)
These guides to the Massachusetts learning standards help families understand what students are expected to know and be able to do by the end of each grade. Designed to help families and teachers work together to support learning, the guides are available in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese. Promotional materials advertising these resources are also available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
View family guides >>
Access Online Books & Read Aloud Stories
SORA
SORA is the student reading app for Overdrive. SORA provides access to ebook and audiobooks. The Massachusetts Library System provides the Cambridge Public School with the SORA library (a digital reading app) because we have fully licensed librarians in all of our schools. We frequently purchase high demand titles to add to the library and make them available exclusively to CPS students. Students login through Classlink. Contact your school's librarian for more information!
Storyline Online
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Daytime Emmy®-nominated and award-winning children’s literacy website, Storyline Online®, streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Readers include Oprah Winfrey, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson, Viola Davis, Terry Crews, Connie Britton, John Lithgow, Jennifer Garner, Betty White and dozens more.
Epic
Epic is a CPS approved digital reading platform—built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world’s best publishers—that safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under.
Lit for Black Kids
Lit For Black Kids shines light on Black students by showcasing literature that represents them. Use this site to identify texts to check out from your school or local library, or purchase them using the provided links.
Principal Bryan's Read Alouds
Uplifting and inspiring read aloud stories enhanced with music, sound effects, real world connections and supplemental media. Stories highlight themes of diversity, inclusion, self-acceptance, community and perseverance. Most are followed by analysis and/or and discussion prompts for all ages, though geared towards K-6 students. Videos are intended for educational purposes only. Please support the authors by purchasing their texts - and consider local bookstores!
Indianapolis Public Library
When you are on vacation, running errands or just away from home, free video read alouds are a great way to fill what can be hours of waiting into a lot of fun! These are convenient stories for families on the go. View them on a computer, tablet, or phone. If you have a few minutes you have time for a story! The playlist below includes more than 100 video read alouds from old classics like Where the Wild Things Are to newer favorites like Little Jumbo. Featured readers include actors, performers, celebrities, and oftentimes the author themselves. This listening library is available all day every day (and all night!) for returning to old favorites. “Read it again!” has never been easier!