Beginning the Year with ESGI

Just a quick post to let you know how I'm using ESGI to start my year!

ESGI is so amazing throughout the entire year because it addresses our different assessment needs that arise throughout the year. Today I'm going to share how I use EGSI to start my year- and a couple of the most helpful parts of it for me so far!

Here's a little story about the beginning of my year.

I thought my subscription was renewed and went to enter my students, but  it hadn't been renewed yet. I wanted to get started checking my students' Letter ID and Sounds, so I thought, "That's ok... I'll renew it later and just start checking the kids on paper."

Well...  Here were the first few students I tried to assess on paper.  When I was done with them, I just looked at the letters on top of letters, and it basically just confused me. What on earth does this even mean?!

I soon remembered why I love ESGI so very much.  I'm not kidding.  I am not a techy person.  I actually think I tend to avoid much technology because I think it's simpler not to use it sometimes.  So for ME to say that I don't ever want to assess without using ESGI on my iPad ever again, says a lot.  It says that ESGI makes it SO EASY and SO QUICK.  And then gives SO MUCH assistance to teachers to help with students' areas of weakness.


Actually, I just stopped with the paper.  Since I've used ESGI for the last few years, I knew how quick and easy it would be to assess online, so I waited until the next day.

I finished assessing my students' Letter ID and sounds during their free choice time!  I had two students left- and I did one as the other students waited in line to go outside to play, and the other while she waited for her bus. DONE!  (She said her horse was good luck there on the side...)

Not only done, but "meaningfully done."  By that I mean that after I assessed my students, I could quickly see the letters that were mastered and not mastered.

I could print out flash cards for the letters each individual student missed, to use for RTI or to send home with each student. Later on in the year, we move to sight words.  I use the sight word flash cards a LOT with my kids, too.

 I could print out a parent letter so parents knew exactly what letters needed to be practiced at home.

I don't send any parent notes home this time because it's the beginning of the year, and the kids pick up letters quickly when we get going. I just wanted to show you what they would look like.   I do send home parent notes after we work on letters for a while,  if a student is stuck on certain letters.

You can also edit the letter to parents.

AND- I did not have one  stack of papers to flip through- not even one sheet of paper.  It was all right on my iPad.


Another favorite part of ESGI to start the year is the Class Management tools.  I can print pages for name tracing, cubby names, table name plates, class lists... you name it! What a time saver this time of year!  I have several students who just plain need name writing practice.  I can print out name pages for those students to practice with one click!  So easy.

 

As the year goes on, there are more and more benefits of ESGI.  If you want to learn more about ESGI and to get a free 60 day trial of the software, click here and try it out for yourself! Our district bought the subscription for our grade level.  It's so easy to show your administrator the benefits of ESGI.  We are encouraged to use more and more technology, so this fits perfectly into that, too.

I posted ALL about the benefits, bells and whistles,  and some examples of what ESGI offers HERE.  If you like using it and want to purchase the program, you can use my special PROMO CODE B1119 and receive $40 off your purchase for the first year. The price is usually $199 a year, but with the promo code, it will be $159 for the first year. Check with your administration because they may be able to purchase it for you. They can use the code and get it for $159 for the first year, too.  It's a great time of the year to try it out. 

It has made me actually enjoy assessments now, because I know I'm not going to be wasting time. It's quick and neat! The results are easy to see and the materials for RTI are already made for me!

I always like to get a celebrity opinion when I do an ESGI post.  Last time, I "interviewed" Kate Middleton.  Today,  I happened to run into Pamela Anderson.   I KNOW- what are the chances?  Anyway, here was her take on ESGI...

Can you just see how TIRED and ANNOYED she is without using ESGI?  What a shame. She even looks older from assessing with paper, paper, paper- doesn't she?!

Look at that fresh, happy face once she discovered the ESGI secret for assessment. I KNOW! It took YEARS off!  

I feel like the Direct TV "Don't be like this me" ads - but seriously, don't be like tired, angry, disgusted, "without ESGI" Pamela...  

Have fun trying it out.  I think you'll just love it!

Thanks for stopping by!