Frequently Asked Questions about I-station
What is I-station?
A computer based reading intervention program
Who is I-station for?
Istation is for any student grades K-5th. For this year, it is to be used as an intervention for those students needed targeted assistance in the 5-components of reading instruction.
What does Istation look like instructional wise?
Who was trained in Istation?
Academic Coordinators, Instructional Coaches, and 1 additional representative from each campus were trained as well as made managers for each campus. This team was responsible for training teachers on the campus
Who has the ability to add or move students?
The managerial team from each campus (AC, IC, teacher representative)
What about testing?
How do I adjust the volume on my student's computers when they are taking the test?
What about PK?
What reports are useful?
A computer based reading intervention program
Who is I-station for?
Istation is for any student grades K-5th. For this year, it is to be used as an intervention for those students needed targeted assistance in the 5-components of reading instruction.
What does Istation look like instructional wise?
- I-station can be used as a workstation (center) rotation during the 90-minute language arts block
- I-station can also be used as your targeted tutoring before or after school
Who was trained in Istation?
Academic Coordinators, Instructional Coaches, and 1 additional representative from each campus were trained as well as made managers for each campus. This team was responsible for training teachers on the campus
Who has the ability to add or move students?
The managerial team from each campus (AC, IC, teacher representative)
What about testing?
- Every student should be tested at the BOY, MOY, and EOY time points as directed by the state.
- Your tier 2 and 3 students are tested monthly so the program can adapt to their needs(this is considered the progress monitoring piece)
- The test is computer adaptive: if a student struggles, the work gets easier; if they excel, the work gets more difficult.
How do I adjust the volume on my student's computers when they are taking the test?
- While students are in the assesment, just hit alt+enter to bring up the computer's volume controls.
What about PK?
- Pre-K and Kinder will use Tango for TPRI testing.
What reports are useful?
- Summary Report-graphically shows the number of students in each tier, with overall scores in each critical subject domain, with the ability to change what is shown on the report by demographics and reporting period
- Priority Report- identifies students that demonstrate weaknesses or lack of progress by risk level and skill need
- Skill Growth Report- shows progress made in all skills tested, across all assessment periods, with variable views by student, classroom, tier group, grade level, and campus
Where Can I get additional help on all the facets of I-station?:
On I-station's home page on the bottom right there is a link entilted: https://secure.istation.com/en/iadmin/tf/Default.asp?sm=tf. You must be logged in to access the guide. This guide has links to I-station's intervention lessons, I-station's books list, a scope and sequence, a pacing guide and much more.
On I-station's home page on the bottom right there is a link entilted: https://secure.istation.com/en/iadmin/tf/Default.asp?sm=tf. You must be logged in to access the guide. This guide has links to I-station's intervention lessons, I-station's books list, a scope and sequence, a pacing guide and much more.
What grade-levels can utilize the Spanish component of I-station?:
At the moment, I-station is available in Spanish for grades k-3 only. Also, the Spanish component is not available on the home component of I-station.
How do students access I-station from home?:
In order for students to access the home component, teachers need to log into I-station. Once on the home screen, look for the window that reads I-station Home is now available. Click on your class to be brought to the parent portal and then click update. You will then be prompted to select all students by clicking the check box above their names. Click update. *FOR KINDERGARTEN YOU MUST CHANGE THE STUDENT PASSWORDS OF EACH STUDENT TO ACCESS THE PARENT PORTAL. The document below entails step-by-step directions on activation of the Parent Portal.
At the moment, I-station is available in Spanish for grades k-3 only. Also, the Spanish component is not available on the home component of I-station.
How do students access I-station from home?:
In order for students to access the home component, teachers need to log into I-station. Once on the home screen, look for the window that reads I-station Home is now available. Click on your class to be brought to the parent portal and then click update. You will then be prompted to select all students by clicking the check box above their names. Click update. *FOR KINDERGARTEN YOU MUST CHANGE THE STUDENT PASSWORDS OF EACH STUDENT TO ACCESS THE PARENT PORTAL. The document below entails step-by-step directions on activation of the Parent Portal.
parent_portal_activation.docx | |
File Size: | 312 kb |
File Type: | docx |
What is the recommended use of I-station based on the Tiers?
- Tier 3 students should be on I-station for 90 minutes a week.
- Tier 2 students should be on I-station for 60 minutes a week.
- Tier 1 students should be on I-station for 30 minutes a week.
My students do not have access to the internet at home. Where can they go to get their recommended time on I-station?
Currently, the BiblioTech located on 3505 Pleasanton Road San Antonio, TX 78221, and the Boy's and Girl's club have the program loaded on their computers for students to access.
Currently, the BiblioTech located on 3505 Pleasanton Road San Antonio, TX 78221, and the Boy's and Girl's club have the program loaded on their computers for students to access.
Where can I go to find recommendations on creating and utilizing small groups/ work stations in my classroom?
Purpose of Small Group Instruction:
Steps for Small Groups:
Effective Use of Small Group Instruction:
Work Station and Small Group Planning:
Work Station Suggestions:
Purpose of Small Group Instruction:
- Provide intervention or acceleration.
- Focus on specific skills.
- Teach strategy lessons.
- Flexibly accommodate a variety of needs/purposes.
Steps for Small Groups:
- Analyze student data to assess high need areas. (Priority Report)
- Identify instructional focus for each group. (Priority Report)
- Determine instructional activities, strategies, and resources. (Teacher Resources)
- Implement and evaluate instruction. (ISIP™ Assessments)
Effective Use of Small Group Instruction:
- Include skills previously taught.
- Allow for peer collaboration.
- Differentiate activities for varying skill levels.
- After you have created your small groups to help mediate the similar instructional needs of your students, you can create a weekly intervention schedule for work stations or small groups.
Work Station and Small Group Planning:
Work Station Suggestions:
My students are on cycle 13 or higher on the program. Why did this happen and what can I do?
Cycle 14 features Justin Time, a Time Traveling Physical Scientist, and his assistant W.A.D.E. This section of the program also features Mr. Marco, but the program also features new kinds of reading material focusing on reading in the content area of Physical Science, as opposed to Life Science with Amelia Chameleon.
The reading materials are new and fresh, distinctive in that instruction surrounding one reading selection per lesson focuses on the science skills and concepts being taught, while instruction around the other focuses on reading skills. Justin Time leads some of the instruction, while Mr. Marco leads the reading skills instruction.
Vocabulary is interwoven throughout, and the cycle also features new vocabulary activities and games.
In addition, this cycle features Writing Rules! with Calvin Cool, which teaches paragraph writing skills based on the six traits of good writing. Students also have access to another area of self-selected reading which enables them to choose reading selections based on their interests and respond in writing using the skills acquired through the Writing Rules! segments.
Cycle 15 includes reading intervention curricular content that focuses on learning to read and reading to learn. While foundational skills are more prevalent in early cycles, the content in a cycle does not focus on skills for a single grade level.
In cases where the students completed the available curriculum, the students are allowed into IPractice. This allows them choices on activities they have work on.
For students who have had difficulty in previous cycles, we suggest teachers to run a progress report. The report will display the areas in which your students had difficulty in each cycle.
* If the student had a high percentage of word clicks you might want the student to login to the IPractice and reread that book aloud to you to practice those words and fluency.
* If the student missed some of the questions, click on the name of the book on the website and see the questions the student was asked. With this information you could have the student reread the book on IPractice and write the response to you on paper to correct their answer without multiple choice selections.
For students who were good readers and have completed the available curriculum, you can have the students work on the books available in IPractice and respond to a writing prompt that you create for them. This can encourage higher level thinking skills, give them a chance to express themselves, and allow them to work on their writing skills.
Cycle 14 features Justin Time, a Time Traveling Physical Scientist, and his assistant W.A.D.E. This section of the program also features Mr. Marco, but the program also features new kinds of reading material focusing on reading in the content area of Physical Science, as opposed to Life Science with Amelia Chameleon.
The reading materials are new and fresh, distinctive in that instruction surrounding one reading selection per lesson focuses on the science skills and concepts being taught, while instruction around the other focuses on reading skills. Justin Time leads some of the instruction, while Mr. Marco leads the reading skills instruction.
Vocabulary is interwoven throughout, and the cycle also features new vocabulary activities and games.
In addition, this cycle features Writing Rules! with Calvin Cool, which teaches paragraph writing skills based on the six traits of good writing. Students also have access to another area of self-selected reading which enables them to choose reading selections based on their interests and respond in writing using the skills acquired through the Writing Rules! segments.
Cycle 15 includes reading intervention curricular content that focuses on learning to read and reading to learn. While foundational skills are more prevalent in early cycles, the content in a cycle does not focus on skills for a single grade level.
In cases where the students completed the available curriculum, the students are allowed into IPractice. This allows them choices on activities they have work on.
For students who have had difficulty in previous cycles, we suggest teachers to run a progress report. The report will display the areas in which your students had difficulty in each cycle.
* If the student had a high percentage of word clicks you might want the student to login to the IPractice and reread that book aloud to you to practice those words and fluency.
* If the student missed some of the questions, click on the name of the book on the website and see the questions the student was asked. With this information you could have the student reread the book on IPractice and write the response to you on paper to correct their answer without multiple choice selections.
For students who were good readers and have completed the available curriculum, you can have the students work on the books available in IPractice and respond to a writing prompt that you create for them. This can encourage higher level thinking skills, give them a chance to express themselves, and allow them to work on their writing skills.
My students only have access to one or two books when they select "books" in I-station. Why is this?The Books section is a review for books encountered in the program, the teacher does not assign them. As the student progresses in the Reading with ISIP curriculum their Books library will grow.