Middle School Update

Volume 7 Number 23

March 19, 2007

CALENDAR:

ASSESSMENT:  Monday March 5th and Thursday March 8th we met with 6th and 7th graders to discuss the changes due to the conversion to MYP criteria.  I gave you an introduction to this in previous updates.  I would like to add a few more comments this week.

Assessment is not just about the grade the student receives. The grade is important, but the learning is more important. For this reason, anytime you are looking at a piece of graded work with your child, look for and talk about what was done well and what the areas in need of improvement are.

An example we used with some of the students was that to achieve a high grade you must do more than the minimal.  A teacher might ask students to give examples of something.  The student who gives two examples is not achieving at the highest level when it is reasonable to expect that students of this age would know more than five, for example.  This does not mean that quantity of work guarantees a high grade.  Answers given or ideas shared need to be thoughtful. To earn a high grade on a writing assignment a student should use a varied vocabulary with evidence or examples to back up thoughts.

Skills develop over time. We expect much more from a grade 10 student than we do from a grade 6 one. We have modified the MYP rubrics to reflect this. Grade 6 students might not be able to attain the top score on a criteria, but that does not mean that they would not receive an “A” within our current report card format.

Students are concerned about their GPAs. This change should not impact the GPA.  As we move away from the old method of grading we will be re-evaluating what it means to pass and what it takes to be on the honor roll.

We believe that this form of grading will give students and parents a better idea of how the student is progressing in the various skills and concepts that we teach. It will separate out the ability to apply knowledge from simply knowing facts or skills.  We will have opportunities for parents to hear more about this and have questions answered as the semester progresses.

EXTENDED VACATIONS:  Please remember that extra days at Easter or other vacations are unexcused absences as per Board policy. If students have assignments due during those days they must be turned in before the student leaves. No credit will be given for work turned in later.

ATL: as part of the MYP Approaches to Learning area of interaction your son/daughter has  been encouraged to look and assess the time and  place used for homework. At the start of this lesson, students were asked to take a  picture of their study place and hand it in on Thursday, March 8th to their ATL teacher. Talk to your son/daughter over the next two weeks about this and ask them about the suggestions received in school (the second lesson will  take place on March 19th).

MONDAY ENVELOPE -  We are sending the IOWA test results for grades 6th, 7th and 8th.

CAS ACTIVITIES:

Grade 6

Group 3:  Amazing Challenges

Group 4:  Origami and other cultural crafts

Group 1:  Literature Circles

Group 2:  Water games

Grade 7

All students – Easter preparation for CAS

Grade 8

CoFo