KidBiz 3000

This year we are excited to have an online subscription to KidBiz 3000. It is an online service that provides students with access to hundreds of non-fiction news articles that are delivered to them at their own reading level. Last week, students took the "Level Set" test to help KidBiz establish a starting point for their reading level. As students read on a daily basis and complete the activities that accompany the articles, KidBiz will monitor their progress and adjust their level accordingly.

We are in the early stages of learning how to navigate through the site and respond to the questions that accompany the articles. There are many exciting elements to this site. Here are a few...

• Leveled text - Students reading at their level ensures that they are reading "good-fit" articles which will improve fluency and comprehension.
• Response activities - These activities are not simply multiple choice. They require students to think about the article at a higher level and respond in written form. This will take practice, but as students begin to use KidBiz with fidelity, we will see them grow as readers.
• Interactivity - Students receive scores for their work. In addition, they can earn badges and be recognized as a high scorer for the day. Everything they do can and will be monitored by me, which adds an additional level of accountability.
• Anytime, Anywhere - Students can access KidBiz anywhere there is Internet connection.

Using KidBiz is in addition to all of the other reading instruction that has always taken place at General Mitchell. Students asked if they could use KidBiz to count as part of their nightly reading goal. I would be happy for them to read KidBiz at home, and yes, it can count toward their nightly reading minutes. Monitor your child early on to see that they are reading the whole time. Online reading is a new concept for some and may take some practice.

There is a link to KidBiz 3000 on this site. Your child's user name and password was written on the first page of their assignment notebook.

If you have any questions or comments about KidBiz 3000, please feel free to contact me.