Week of 10/02/23 Update

Here’s a brief overview of the retake process: 

To be eligible for a retake, students were required to:

• Complete a test correction form, focusing on up to four questions they answered incorrectly. I also asked for a parent’s signature on this form to encourage collaboration and transparency. The reason for this step is to ensure that students not only understand their mistakes but also know the correct way to solve the problem(s).

• Work on practice questions provided via Prodigy. We allocated at least 30 minutes per class period over four days (depending on the class) for this purpose.
  • Fifth-grade students must complete 30 practice questions, which take approximately 33 minutes.
  • Sixth-grade must complete 48 questions, which takes approximately 67 minutes. This step in the process serves a crucial purpose. Once students understand the correct problem-solving approach, sufficient practice reinforces their comprehension, which “locks in” the understanding and typically leads to improved performance on the retest.

Of the students who wanted and/or needed to retake, only ten met the above requirements. Those ten students made significant progress, and their grades will be changed in Aspen. However, most students who needed a retake did not fulfill the requirements. Consequently, their original test grades will remain unchanged.

It is my sincere hope that students won’t need to retake tests, and I am fully committed to providing them with the support and resources they require for academic success. However, achieving good results in mathematics, or any subject, requires not only the ability to learn new skills but consistent effort, active participation, and ownership over their learning path. I firmly believe that, with the right support and determination, our students will master these skills and thrive beyond them. Your understanding and partnership in your child’s education are greatly appreciated. The grades of students who took the retake tests will be updated by the end of the week.