Design and Modeling 12/17

Currently, in Design and Modeling the students have been learning a lot about how subsystems work within larger systems, and how simple machines can be combined to create complex, compound machines. This learning is building a base of knowledge for when we return from winter break, and begin to work on one of the most exciting projects of the year—the Rube Goldberg Project! Every year, student groups are challenged to create a complex machine to perform a simple task. The introduction to this project, as well as the simple task the students will need to perform, is going to be announced when we return on January 4^th!

Automation and Robotics 12/1

Currently in Automation and Robotics, the students have finished their impact on society projects. Students had chosen a technology like Instagram, drones, or self-driving cars. The students began to research these technologies, and infer how cutting edge technologies such as these are, and will, impact society.

Coming up next, we are just beginning to transition from online research to hands-on work. The students are currently learning about gears, engineering, and mechanisms! Through this learning, we will eventually take out our mechanism pieces, and the students will begin creating. Stay tuned to twitter, as we move towards winter break, for some amazing student creations!

First Quarter Grades

If you have any questions about standards-based grading or what your child’s report card means, please continue reading below! This post will be at the top of the classroom website for about 2 weeks.

 

What is Standards Based Grading

Standards based grading is a way of grading that focuses specifically on the learning a student has achieved that is tied to a state or national standard. If a student has achieved a large amount of learning, the student’s score is higher. If the student needs to improve or work harder to gain more learning, the student’s score is lower. The main difference between standards based grading and traditional, letter grades, is that only learning is assessed based on the standard, and that a student’s score is not averaged. Rather, their score reflects the level of learning they have achieved up to this point of the school year.

What do these scores mean?

I split my assessments into two categories. These categories are skills (which I will talk about later), and Learning Outcomes. I use the table below to generalize scores for each learning outcome, and show the level of learning skills the student is using (based on Bloom’s Taxonomy).

7-8: Student exceeds expectations. Supporting, Defending, Evaluating

5-6: Student meets expectations. Comparing, Contrasting

3-4: Student partially meets expectations. Describing, Explaining

1-2: Student does not meet expectations yet. Stating, Listing

0: This learning outcome was not assessed (student did not finish or turn it in).

Each assessment has more in-depth explanation as to what score a student earned, and how they can improve. If you would like more information about why a student earned a certain score on an assessment, you may ask the student for their rubric, or ask me for more information!

So…What is my child’s grade?

Students in my class don’t get traditional letter grades. Please ignore them completely! The only reason they are included is because right now, the way our report card system is set up, they must have some sort of letter grade. Instead of focusing on the letter, focus on the learning outcomes the student has, and how they can improve!

My child has a low score. Are they failing?

The only way a student can fail in my class is if they have not turned in any assessments so far. At this point, in the first quarter, if a student has a score of a 1 or 2, that is a great starting point! Right now, we are identifying where a student needs to be challenged, and where a student needs to be supported. If a student has a low score, that is okay. Both myself and the student will work hard to increase their learning in that area. Once that happens, the score will increase as well. Please try to refrain from thinking of these scores as a percentage. It is a different system of grading, which means it requires a different perspective from which to view.

You mentioned skills before. What are those?

Skills are tasks that each student needs to know how to do. These might include using a microscope in science, using different Google applications for turning in assignments online, or understanding how to identify a reliable source for researching online. Skills are tracked in the grade book, but do not affect a student’s learning outcome grade. The table below shows what each student’s skill score means.

5: Student can consistently accomplish the skill independently.

4: Student can accomplish the skill independently.

3: Student can accomplish the skill with support.

2: Student can accomplish the skill with mistakes.

1: Student cannot accomplish the skill.

0: Student has not attempted to accomplish the skill.

At the end of the year, all students should have a 5 for each skill. For many of the skills, students will have a 5 by the end of the first or second quarter. Note that skills are included in progress reports and online grade reports, but are only mentioned in the report card if a student currently has a 3 or lower in that skill.

What about homework or daily work? Where is that graded?

Homework and daily work is a type of assessment called formative assessment. This type of assessment is similar to the practice a sports team does before a game. It is important, but it is just practice. It’s okay to make mistakes in practice, and to learn from them. Because of this, I do not grade daily work or homework in the gradebook. Instead, I return those assignments to the students with feedback, so the students can continue to improve their learning.

I don’t get it, I am still confused.

You are not alone! It is possible that you, like me, have gone through your years of school with traditional letter grades. Understanding standards based grading will take time. However, the benefits of this grading structure outweigh any confusion that it may cause. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me here.

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to be engaged with your child’s education!

Flight and Space 10/29

Currently in flight and space, the students are getting close to finishing their kites! The students have been making structurally strong kites that will fly and (hopefully) stay intact after any crashes that might occur. The students have been learning a lot about communication and group work through this project, both of which are skills they will work on throughout their lives. The students have also been learning to become self-sufficient learners, and to solve problems on their own! 

Fly Day will take place next week, based on the weather (we need wind, not wet). As these kites finish up, be sure to check in to our classroom website and twitter to see updates on the student work.

So It Begins...

Game Club is beginning! We had our first club meeting on Thursday. The students were able to play a few card games, with KEMPS being the main card game they played. Game Club will be running on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school here at Fridley Middle School.


The goal of Game Club is to create a safe place for students to play games, make friends, improve social skills, and challenge their minds. Games are a great way to accomplish these goals, as they allow students to, explore different themes, and break the ice with friendly peers who may eventually become friends.

There are many different types of games we play in game club. We mostly play strategy board games-titles like Catan, Ticket to Ride, Galaxy Trucker, and Sushi-Go! We also play traditional card games, trading card games, family games, role-playing games, dice games, and story-telling games. Currently, the games we play are from my personal collection, though we have had a few games donated by families, and a few donated by the school.

The most exciting part of Game Club this year, is our ability to expand the program. Already over 20 students have joined. This means that a small number of student leaders, who have experienced Game Club for more than 1 year, are going to become Game Ambassadors. These students will be able to help teach games, resolve conflicts, and help pick future games coming to Game Club.

We're also going to be running a monthly family night! Once per month, we will pick a night where family and friends are welcome to come in and join the fun at Game Club! Stay tuned for more information about Game Club, and when family night is going to happen!

Design and Modeling 10/22

Currently, in Design and Modeling the students have just finished up their first research project! We have researched past technologies, and how those technologies have affected society. 

Using the skills we learned, we will begin to take a look at technologies that have just been invented and try to predict the future. How will drones affect our ability to go shopping? How will self-driving cars affect how we get to school? How will new web services affect how we use the internet? We will be asking important questions like this to try and predict the future of our lives, and the lives of those around us.

Automation and Robotics 10/21

Hello Families!

Currently in Automation and Robotics, the students have finished their websites! The students had been working on researching engineering careers, and informing the world what they found by building a website. 

Well, the websites are done! 

You can check them out, for at least the next week in the side-bar on the right underneath "Automation and Robotics". Over the next few class periods, we will be reviewing and evaluating our websites. The students will get the opportunity to discuss what works well in website design and what doesn’t, all while learning more about what engineering opportunities are available for them and their future. Many of the websites turned out really great-be sure to check them out if you get a chance!