Parent Support

Each grade level maintains a Google Classroom that includes instructional videos. Parents with students in grades 1 – 5 can also find Into Math homework answer keys with examples of strategies taught in class in their student's Google Classroom.

We ask that parents ensure the answer keys are not viewed by students for the purpose of copying answers. All written responses should reflect the student’s thinking. Students should also use available space to write equations and/or show strategies that helped them solve problems. As our teachers have asked, students should continue to circle any math homework problems that they find to be difficult. Reteaching and additional practice will occur in class.

To access the instructional resources posted in the Google Classroom, you or your child will need to sign in to Google Classroom using your child’s Oaks Academy email address and password. Please note that the email address is a non-working email address and is only used to sign in to Google Classroom and other TOA-approved Google apps.

You will receive your child's email address and password at the beginning of the year. Please do not change your child’s password.

Should you have any difficulty accessing Google Classroom, please contact your child’s teacher.

Login Tutorial | Log in to Google Classroom

The Oaks Academy does not change its teaching or content as a result of fluctuations in state standards or assessments. Faculty and staff at The Oaks review the skills represented by these standards, and our curriculum largely exceeds the requirements of the state. Nonetheless, the state standards are useful as a gauge for what an average student should know and be able to perform at each grade level. We can certainly glean information from the exam to individually assist our students in areas of strength, in areas needing further support, and in evaluating our own curriculum.

The Oaks Academy does not spend excessive time preparing for the test. Students will have had an opportunity to practice the testing format, and the faculty are confident that this will not be a difficult or stressful situation for the students. You may expect to receive the results, along with an explanation of the scores, in couple of months after the test.

Universal Dyslexia Screener

All students in Kindergarten through 5th grade participate in a reading assessment called mCLASS with DIBELS. This tool helps teachers understand which reading skills students have already mastered and where they may need additional support. As part of this assessment, students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade are also screened for early signs of dyslexia, a learning difference that can impact reading, writing, and spelling. While this screener does not diagnose dyslexia, it helps identify students who may be at risk so we can provide timely and targeted support. If results show that a child could benefit from targeted support or additional testing, families are notified. mCLASS results for all students are shared no later than quarter one parent-teacher conferences.

Multiple Opportunities to Demonstrate Reading Proficiency

In Indiana, all second-grade students take the IREAD-3 assessment, which measures foundational reading skills. Students who demonstrate proficiency in second grade do not need to take the assessment again. Students who need more time to build reading skills receive additional support and have multiple opportunities to take the IREAD, including a summer retest and final opportunities through the end of third grade. IREAD results are shared with families once they are released by the Indiana Department of Education.

A Literacy-Rich Learning Atmosphere

At The Oaks, every part of the school day is designed to build strong literacy skills. From morning Lauds to recitations, from read-alouds to art class, students engage with rich language and meaningful ideas. This environment nurtures the development of a wide vocabulary and a strong relationship with written and spoken language.

Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS/RTI)

When multiple data points show that a student is not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks, they are referred to our Response to Intervention (RTI) program, part of our Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). Through careful data analysis and collaboration, the school creates an individualized support plan that outlines specific reading interventions. Families are notified when a child meets the criteria for additional support.

Free Summer Learning Opportunities

Students who need additional reading support after participating in the spring administration of IREAD in both second and third grade have an opportunity to participate in a summer reading course provided by The Oaks at no cost to families. This course is taught using instructional practices aligned to the science of reading, which research shows is the most effective way to help a child learn to read.

Retention and Good Cause Exemptions

Although The Oaks Academy does not agree that a single assessment alone should dictate a retention decision, we are required by Indiana law to retain students who do not pass IREAD by the end of third grade with some exceptions. The following students are eligible to receive a Good Cause Exemption (GCE) and are thus exempt from the retention requirement. Students eligible for a GCE include:

• A student who has previously been retained in third grade;
• A student who has an intellectual disability or a student who has an Individualized Education Program (IEP/ISP) that specifies retention is not appropriate, and the student's case conference committee (CCC) has determined that promotion to another grade is appropriate;
• A student who is an identified English learner (EL) who has received services for fewer than two years and has an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) committee that determines promotion to the next grade level is appropriate;
• A student who achieved a performance level of “Proficient” or “Above Proficient” on the third grade ILEARN Mathematics assessment; or
• A student who has received two or more years of intensive intervention in reading aligned to the science of reading and was retained more than once during kindergarten, first grade, or second grade.

All students who have not passed IREAD, whether they are retained in third grade for an additional year or are promoted to fourth grade via a GCE, will continue to receive targeted reading support and will retake IREAD until they pass or upon completion of sixth grade.

Universal Screener for Number Sense

All students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade complete the Forefront Universal Screener for Number Sense. This tool shows teachers which number-sense skills a student has mastered and where they need additional support.

Multiple Measures of Grade-Level Skills

We administer the NWEA MAP Growth Math assessment at the beginning and end of the year, and students complete an assessment at the end of each Into Math module. Students in 3rd through 8th grade also take the ILEARN Math Checkpoints throughout the year and the ILEARN summative assessment in the spring. Together, these measures show whether a student is progressing through grade-level concepts.

Identifying and Supporting Students

Using these measures, our Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) team identifies students at risk of not reaching benchmarks and refers them to our Response to Intervention (RTI) program. Through data analysis and collaboration, we build an individualized plan outlining each student's specific mathematics interventions. Following the Indiana Department of Education's requirements, identified students receive 100 minutes of math intervention each week. Families are notified when a child meets the criteria for additional support.