Standards-Based / Personalized Learning

Math classes this year will have standards based assessments utilizing a more personalized learning experience. Students are held to high expectations and are responsible for their continued learning. Math is taught through a variety of models, some direct instruction, some student led and some interactive real time technology programs.

What is Standards-Based Learning / Grading?

Standards-based brings a new depth of understanding to grades and places importance on what students learn over how much work students do. Standards-based describes student progress in relation to standards, allowing students to recognize both strength and growth areas. A student can demonstrate mastery of a set of standards and move on to a more challenging set of standards.

How are grades earned?

Standards-based grading brings a new depth of understanding to grades and places importance on what students learn over how much work students do. Standards-based grading describes student progress in relation to standards, allowing students to recognize both strength and growth areas. A student can demonstrate mastery of a set of standards and move on to a more challenging set of standards.

Unlike traditional grading systems that average grades, a standards-based grading system measures a student’s mastery of standards by prioritizing the most recent, consistent level of performance. Thus a student who may have struggled at the beginning of the unit may still be able to demonstrate mastery of the content / concepts by the end of the unit.

Unlike traditional grading systems that average grades, a standards-based grading system measures a student’s mastery of standards by prioritizing the most recent, consistent level of performance. Thus, a student who may have struggled at the beginning of the unit may still be able to demonstrate mastery of the standard by the end of the unit. Students are offered multiple opportunities and ways through which to demonstrate proficiency/mastery and earn a higher grade.

Since the goal of standards-based is to determine a student’s mastery of standards, students have the opportunity to improve a low quiz grade. If students can demonstrate they’ve reached a higher level of mastery, the new, higher TEST grade replaces the low QUIZ grade they earned initially. It is imperative that students practice the standard prior to taking the test.

Students will be given an assignment sheet divided by standards for each unit of study. These are kept in the classroom in student folders. Using these sheets, students monitor their own progress toward the mastery of the specific standard and determine goals for how to improve their scores.

Each standard will be assessed using a quiz and a test. The initial quiz grade will be entered into Infinite Campus for parents/guardians to view. However, the highest level of mastery (quiz, test or the remediation grade - green dot) will be the final grade entered in Infinite Campus at the end of the unit.

Each grade in Infinite Campus will be referenced by the standard number (ex. MGSE6.NS.1 – which stands for Math, Georgia Standards of Excellence, Grade 6, Number System Fluency, standard #1). The highest grade for each standard will be averaged for a Unit Summative Grade (test grade).

If the quiz AND test grade are both low, how can my student earn a higher grade on a standard?

If students score below what is acceptable, they still have the opportunity to improve the grade for that standard by earning a green dot on USATest Prep. There will be deadlines for standards to be completed; however, students can still work on previous standards to improve their grades until the end of the semester.

There are many ways a student can practice a standard:

· IXL – skills are assigned by standard /students are given an assignment sheet to keep in their student folder (this assignment sheet will also be in their Google Classroom)

· USATest Prep

· Google Classrooms – tutorial videos, games, etc.

· Practice worksheets/handouts

· Tutoring – ask the teacher about additional help

· Vocabulary (Quizlet) – assigned by unit (also in Google Classroom)

What is a “Green Dot”?

Once students have practiced the standard, a green dot may be earned using USATest Prep. A green dot is an indicator on the USATest Prep program that a level of mastery for that standard has been achieved. If a student earns a green dot, the grade earned for that standard will be replaced with a score of 85 regardless of the initial quiz and test grade earned.

*When earning the green dot on USATest Prep, students MUST select the teacher and class to receive credit. Otherwise, the practice is not reported to the teacher. The teacher will verify the green dot on the teacher portal prior to the end of the semester.

We want all students to be successful and have a true understanding of the material taught in math. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the standards-based classroom or how your student earns grades, please feel free to contact your student’s math teacher.

Thank you,

JMS 6^th Grade Math