October 2, 2009

 

Dear Parents/Guardians:

 

During the 2009-2010 school year we will be expanding the use of our computerized math supplement, Odyssey, (Compass Learning), to include a home component.  We are very pleased to offer the opportunity for your child and you to use/view the program at home as this was a request from many parents last year.

 

In order for us to continue to realize the maximum potential of the program during the school day, we are asking that you honor the following home use guidelines:

 

• Pre- and post- assessments cannot be administered at home.  The data that we gather from these assessments is used for planning purposes for the students and as such, these tests need to be the result of unassisted thinking on the part of the students.
• Learning paths differ from student to student depending on individual needs.  If you see that your child’s learning path is almost complete, we ask that he/she not work on it at home.  If, however, the learning path is lengthy, it would be worthwhile for your child to complete some of it at home.  Quizzes and tests that are part of the learning plan should be completed at school.

 

• Teachers will continue to be able to assign folders to students on an “as needed” basis.  Some teachers may opt to assign folders for home completion.  (If your child does not have access to a computer at home, please make sure that his/her math teacher is aware of this.)

 

• Your child can always show you what he/she has done in Odyssey by looking in the back pack.  Ask  your child to show you how to access this feature. From there, you are welcome to keep track of his/her progress, see the activities that have been completed, and the scores attained.

 

 

We look forward to our continued work with the Odyssey program this year.  Please realize that we, as a district, are still investigating the total potential of the program as we move into our second year of its use. If you have   any questions about the program as the year progresses, please feel free to contact Mr. Piasecki or Mrs. Iocco with general questions or your child’s math teacher with questions of a specific nature.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Susan R. Iocco                                                                          Steven M. Piasecki       

Supervisor of Standards and Assessment                                  Principal, BSES

610-579-7304                                                                                                                                                  610-579- 3000

 

Odyssey Parent Tips:

 

When accessing the Odyssey math software program from home, please use this process:

1.      Go to www.compasslearningodyssey.com

 

2.      Before you even try to log into the program there is a selection on the odyssey home page that says "System Requirements".  Families should click on this FIRST and make sure that they have all the requirements. Odyssey uses many different add-ons and if the computer doesn't have them it will cause problems.  The Odyssey system requirements page goes out and checks the computer and tells the user what they are missing and what is OK and then provides them with the link to download.

 

 3. Have your child log in with the same user name that he/she uses in school.  In most cases this would be his/her First name with the first letter capitalized, no space, Last name, with first letter capitalized.  An example for a student named Mary Odyssey would be: MaryOdyssey.

 

 4. Use your child's school ID as the password.  (numbers with no spaces.)

 

 5.  Use the following for School:

       Concord Elementary School:  Concord

       Garnet Valley Elementary School:  Garnet

       Bethel Springs Elementary School:  BSES