- We assess students ahead of time to gain insight about their needs and how much they already know about the material being studied.
- Prepare a variety of methods with which to teach each standard.
- Assess students more frequently, using both formative (practice) and summative (Mastery) assessments.
- Keep a record of student work that verifies progress through practice as they head towards Mastery.
- The goal is mastery of the concept, not simply moving through the assignments and getting a grade based on those assignments.
- Allow greater independence for students as they move closer to mastery of the standards.
- Practice work uses higher level thinking skills.
MASTERY: student can apply standard-based concepts and skills to new and unique situations.
- Teaching for Mastery reveals itself through the standards-based tests that are given to every student in the school district each spring.
- In our model of standards-referenced instruction, assessing student’s learning occurs throughout instruction via practice and Mastery lessons. The Mastery levels are designed to highlight what the student has learned. These levels are recorded using a six point scale which is then converted to a letter grade. Online grades may fluctuate because Mastery Assignments are worth 80% of their overall grade.
MASTERY AND GRADING
Nearly all Mastery assessments can be redone! After all, it is not how long it takes you to learn it, it is that you learn it. Students must meet with teachers to agree upon a timeline and reteaching before they can redo the assessment. Students can still earn full credit on a redo, but it takes student initiative, parent consent, and teacher agreement.
If an assignment or test needs to be redone, it is not as simple as coming in early and redoing the work. A Mastery assignment must be signed by a parent or guardian prior to being allowed to redo said Mastery assignment.
Nearly all Mastery assessments can be redone! After all, it is not how long it takes you to learn it, it is that you learn it. Students must meet with teachers to agree upon a timeline and reteaching before they can redo the assessment. Students can still earn full credit on a redo, but it takes student initiative, parent consent, and teacher agreement.
If an assignment or test needs to be redone, it is not as simple as coming in early and redoing the work. A Mastery assignment must be signed by a parent or guardian prior to being allowed to redo said Mastery assignment.