Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the mastery program? What are its benefits?
In a nutshell, the mastery program has two purposes:
What are the students trying to accomplish through these tests?
What happens when students reach or exceed their goal?
Does this mean that when a student masters a skill it is not revisited?
What happens if the students do not reach their goal?
How do students keep track of their progress?
Why are parents asked to sign mastery tests and other mastery-related forms?
What can students do if they need additional help with their mastery items? What can students do to study for these tests?
In a nutshell, the mastery program has two purposes:
- to help students identify which skills they have mastered and which skills they need to continue cultivating.
- to hold them accountable for areas in which they have already demonstrated proficiency. In other words,
students can’t simply memorize facts for a test and then forget the information two weeks later. - Since students know they will be tested on all material again, they’re encouraged to learn skills permanently.
What are the students trying to accomplish through these tests?
- The primary goal for each student is to improve within his or her weak areas. Students can demonstrate improvement in one of two ways: first, they can simply master the weak area by receiving an 8/10 on that particular section of the mastery assessment. Second, they can improve their score by at least 20% from the previous week.
What happens when students reach or exceed their goal?
- Students who have mastered particular skills are no longer assessed weekly on those skills. Instead, they “move forward” to a new area of study—the next, more challenging level of that particular skill. For example, when a student learns how to identify subjects and predicates in a sentence, she will then move on to clauses, phrases, run-ons, and fragments. In essence, this means that students will eventually take tests that are individualized to their specific needs.
Does this mean that when a student masters a skill it is not revisited?
- Absolutely not. Even if a child has mastered a particular skill, I frequently include past items on the assessments to make sure information is being retained. In addition, each quarter the students take part in an end-of-term “final exam” for which they are tested on everything we have studied. The idea behind this is for students to truly learn the material as opposed to memorizing information for a test and then forgetting it later.
What happens if the students do not reach their goal?
- When students have difficulty reaching their goal, it often means one of two things has occurred: first, students may have misunderstood (or not completely learned) a new topic of study. Second, students may simply need to spend more time practicing the skills in question. To aid with these issues, I generally offer students extra help outside of class and then give them additional practice items each night until the next assessment. Of course, each child is different, so the course of action may vary.
How do students keep track of their progress?
- Student progress is tracked in a variety of ways. First, they keep a mastery chart at school that lists all their current scores for each mastery skill. Second, they keep an identical, personal chart in their English binder so they will have the information at home if needed. Third, I keep an electronic copy of their scores.
Why are parents asked to sign mastery tests and other mastery-related forms?
- In general, I ask parents to sign mastery-related items to keep them informed of what’s going on in the classroom as well as how their child is progressing. Because of the unique nature of mastery learning, signing tests, for example, provides parents with a current progress report each week.
What can students do if they need additional help with their mastery items? What can students do to study for these tests?
- Students are always welcome to come in for help before or after school. They can also access online practice games, websites, and other useful sources on the Grammar Page of this website. If these methods are to no avail, students can also use their notes, grammar books, and literature books for further assistance.