Woodland Intermediate School
Woodland School Board - Monthly Update
January 2011
Throughout the month of January Monday morning professional development opportunities for staff focused on common grade level math assessments. This included grading assessments, recording data, analyzing data and developing plans for getting students to standard in areas that they are struggling. On January 24th (non-student day) we spent the day focused on differentiated instruction. The day proved to be tremendously beneficial for staff. The WPS staff also joined us for a day of learning.
One of the goals associated with our Title 1 School Wide Plan is to research the benefits of a standard based grading system and determine if this is something that would be positive at WIS. Tara Eilts and Veronica Heller have facilitated this committee and the work/research behind it. They have gathered and studied information from several schools in our area who have converted to a standard based grading system. We have found this to be an increasingly popular shift, especially among elementary schools. There is a high likelihood that WIS will convert to a standards based grading system in the future. Our timeline for a switch like this is still unclear. Many factors influence a major change like this. The development of report cards, common trimester assessments, the development of scope and sequence in each instructional area, staff training, the revision of technology, parent communication, time and financial resources are just a few of the factors that impact implementation.