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WE VALUE LEARNING THROUGH GROWTH

With the recent release of MOY (middle of year) MAP data to families I thought it only appropriate for the next core value to dig into is “we value learning through growth”. We are seeing some great growth so far this year but also understand that by releasing these reports there may be confusion and uncertainty with how to interpret the data. Some things to keep in mind as you are receiving these MAP reports. 

• Lower growth does not mean your child is behind. Over the course of the year your child can have lower growth but they are still achieving at a level that is in line with meeting benchmarks. Know that we are always striving for growth no matter how small. Helping students see that they are growing, even if it is small at times, helps to build confidence which leads to more growth. Data tells a story but it doesn’t tell the whole story. We want it to mean something to our students but not mean so much that they lose confidence and stand in the way of their own growth and success.

• Summer slide is real. We often see a dip in students' growth after summer for the sole reason that families need a break from academics and want to enjoy the family time they have earned. This can be hard however when students come back and dip below where they were at, at the end of the previous year. Growth on a MAP test specifically is measured over a years time so the growth can read as low if they end at a high level at the end of one school year, then they come back and take a dip that they have to recover from before they can grow again. We always want to avoid those peaks and valleys so students are growing at a steady rate. Even an hour a week of practice over the summer on foundational skills can help students maintain their growth.

• We are evaluating and learning from the data regularly as a staff. We are so lucky to have staff with  various teaching experience. Some teachers have extensive experience looking at and evaluating data. Some teachers are new to it. The good news is we have each other to dig deeper and join in discussions on how to grow our students. Every JA student, regardless of their grade, is OUR student, and their success is important to each and every one of us.

• Don’t hesitate to ask questions. We want parents to understand what the growth data is saying so please ask if you are unsure. If you want suggestions for resources on how to partner at home during the school year, or over the summer we have plenty.

Warm regards,

Carrie Mott

Principal

cmott@jajags.com