Standards-Based Systems
The knowledge and application of learning!
This website is generated as a common communication tool, to be used by administration, teachers, staff and families to gain an understanding of learning the Iowa Core Standards and assessing student's individual growth based on the Iowa Core.
Teachers must find multiple ways to assess each child's skills and knowledge! Why? Because not everyone learns and demonstrates their understanding the same way!
Nationally - Why do we need to make a change?
- Iowa ranks #1 in the country, producing the highest percentage of high school graduates in the nation.
- However, did you know that Iowa ranks #48 in the nation, in producing 2-year Community College & 4-year College/University graduates
- Morale of the story, our current educational practices push kids through our schools and to graduation, but do not create learners who can successfully maneuver a post-secondary schooling environment
West Marshall - Why do we need to make a change?
- Did you know that based on GPA, 87% of our middle school students were on the 3.00 honor-roll? Of those students, 22% were not proficient on the statewide tests in one or more testing areas (math, literacy and science).
In order for our students to find success beyond our own walls we must understand and assess those students on standards that will better prepare them for expectations they will face. In short, we must align our work with the state mandated Iowa Core, and align our assessments as well. We are mandated to teach the Iowa Core and this year, for the first time, all Iowa schools will be measured based on the skills, knowledge and application based on Iowa Core Standards. How we are measured through ISASP.
Our Mission Through Standards-Learning
Put each child front and center of their own learning, because we know every student learns differently. If you hold the belief that all students learn differently than a one size fits all approach to education does a disservice to our students. In order to tackle this new learning, our staff have worked hard to prioritize Iowa Core standards that are most essential for student success. in future grades, courses, or even post-secondary school. Most importantly, we want student to assess learning based on those standards giving students the best chance for learning and success in future grades, courses, or even post secondary schooling.
Why does personalized learning matter so much?
Since the beginning of time, public schools started with one instructional model...The Factory-Model (Traditional). This model has worked very much as intended...like a factory. Every learner is taught the same thing in the same way, at the same time, with the same pace, using the same resources without any form of differentiation, when clearly our children are DIFFERENT. This is traditional form of classroom teaching that has been around for hundreds of years.
So WHY are we working to individualize students needs? Because all students LEARN-DIFFERENTLY
We are diligently working to report out and communicate with parents EXACTLY what their child knows and can demonstrate. In order to do this, teachers are working hard to instruct students through multiple tasks that differentiate learning, assess learning with NOT just one rote memorization test, but through project development, oral presentations, choice boards, and application of skills that are measured by rubrics. The standards we want students to learn are NO-SECRET, they are given specifically to the child and parents so that each and every student knows exactly what is expected of them.