SOLs Covered: All Math 8 Standards 8.1-8.18
Math Unit: Math 8 SOL Review
Daily Agenda: May 22-25, 2023
Upcoming Assessments: Math 8 SOL Make-Up Test (Thurs. 6/1); Math 8 SOL Retakes Test (for eligible students, Wed. 6/7)
Good afternoon! I know the biggest thing on folks mind are the scores for today's SOL test. As I've told the kids, the scores for those who tested today are all posted as an "assignment" linked on the Canvas class homepage. Aside from a couple scores that haven't come in yet for students who were testing still later in the day and obviously those who didn't test today, all scores have been posted. A passing SOL score is 400 or higher, with a 500-600 being an advanced passing score. This means that a 399 and below is failing, but students with scores from 375-399 are eligible to retake. Letters for retakes will be sent home with students and will come from Mr. Osborne, our testing coordinator.
I know that some students aren't feeling the greatest about their scores, but I want them all to know how proud of them I am for how hard they've tried. I also want to remind them that they need to consider their vertical scaled score in comparison to their fall and winter SGA tests. Those haven't been posted, but any students who want to know those scores for comparison purposes can either email me or talk to me in class. Finally, I want to remind them that while this is a "normal" school year, we're still playing catchup from March 2020 when schools first closed. I know that the SOL is important to the school, but I've told the kids all year to think of this as preparation for next year's SOL test, especially considering that for many, between the school closing and many opting out of testing the past couple years, they haven't taken an SOL since their 4th grade year, spring of 2019. They've had a year to get back into the swing of things and have set themselves up for an easier time next year when they take their first high school SOL test, which will be required to earn a verified credit, which in turn is needed for graduation requirements.
In regard to what we'll be doing these last 13 school days, we'll be working with those students eligible to retake on finetuning their understanding for those areas of weakness using their SDBQ reports (Student Detail by Question) as well as ensuring that all students have caught up on missing work and have finished the year with as strong a grade as possible. For students who are already caught up and as the others join their ranks, they'll be working on the financial literacy program I mentioned in last week's update. Any grade taken for this will simply be to help boost final grades and will not be used if it would potentially harm a student's overall average, so aside from the final week of Royal Block JLab work, grades are essentially done and can only go up from what you currently see on TylerSIS. Please help me by first looking over grades and then talking with your child about doing what they can to help boost their grades. If students are in good standing for my class but struggling in another subject, I'm more than happy to allow them to work on that class's work so they can end the year on a good note for all classes.
Well, that should more than cover everything and it's been a looooong day, so I'm going to close things out here. As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions. Hope you all have an amazing weekend!