Mastery-Based Learning

What is Mastery-Based Learning and Feedback?

Q: How do I understand my child's progress report or grade card?

A: Standards that were covered during that grading period will have a number/letter(s). (Not-covered standards will be grayed out).  Let's run through an example:

Suzie Q

Making inferences in nonfiction text = 17%/D*

*Suzie Q is just beginning to understand inferences. She is "Developing" in this area. Suzie needs substantial practice before mastering this standard.

Finding main idea/key details and summarizing nonfiction text = 45%/D**

** Suzie Q has a decent handle on finding the main idea of informative text. With a bit more practice, she is expected to move into "Near Mastery" soon.

Using context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words = 82%/M***

***Wahoo! Suzie has mastered this standard! She will continue to practice it occasionally to be sure she retains the skill.

Q: My child is still "Developing" on most standards. Should I be concerned? How can I help at home?

A: Our 5th grade priority standards are meant to be mastered by the end of 5th grade. Many students are unfamiliar with these skills prior to 5th grade and will be provided multiple opportunities to practice and wrestle with these new skills. 

As you will see in the tables below, many standards are present in more than one module. In these instances, standards should not be expected to be mastered until the last module in which they appear.

It will absolutely benefit your child to work on these standards with you at home as well! 

Math Parent Resources are listed by module using the drop down menu in the navigation bar and below.  

Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Module 4 Module 5 Module 6

Word Problem Resources Individual Standard Practice for Students

Reading Parent Resources are listed by module using the drop down menu in the navigation bar and below.

Reading Module 1 Reading Module 2 Reading Module 3

Individual Standard Practice for Students

Reading Standards by Module Math Standards by Module

Q: My child scored Near Mastery on a standard in 1st QTR and now is back to Developing! Is he regressing?!

A: No! Standards are practiced and assessed throughout the year on increasingly-complex material. Check out two examples:

Reading: 5.RL.1 (making inferences using literature texts)

Reading texts get more complex as the year goes on. We practice and assess the same standards using multiple texts to be sure students can make inferences in texts of any 5th grade complexity/topic. 5th grade typically covers reading levels from 565-1010 (called the Lexile level)

So far we have taught/assessed 5.RL.1 using A Package For Mrs. Jewls (Lexile level  580), Thunder Rolling in the Mountains (Lexile level 680), and Phantom Tollbooth (Lexile level 1000). Beyond Lexile level, students may understand one book more than another because of their interest in the topic, prior knowledge of the subject, figurative language included, etc). A student could absolutely master making inferences in a less difficult text and struggle in a more challenging one.

Math: 5.OA.1 (evaluating expressions with parentheses)

In Math, instead of a text becoming more difficult, we work with the standards using different types of numbers. In 5th Grade, we cover whole numbers, decimals, and fractions. 6th Grade will add in integers and percents!

In Module 2, students solved expressions using only whole numbers, such as “Twice the sum of nine and three”. We report this score because, if a student is unable to solve these expressions, they will be unlikely to be able to move on with more difficult expressions without intervention.

In the first part of Module 4, we tackle expressions with both whole numbers and fractions, such as “Half the product of one-third and six”.

Towards the end of Module 4, a single expression will have any combination of whole numbers, fractions, and decimals!

It’s not unusual for a student to fully grasp the concept when only using whole numbers and struggle a bit with other kinds of numbers mixed in.