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Getting Organized in Middle School

Learn about grades, Skyward, and how to stay organized!

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Your Grades

Your grades in Middle School are important because they tell you, your teachers, and your family what you know and are able to do right now.

They will help you determine your strengths or areas you need to grow.

They can impact your eligibility for athletics. (5 or more missing assignments/assessments can lead to suspension from athletics.)

Developing your academic skills now helps you prepare for high school.

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The Grading Scale Shows Your Current Skill Level

Proficient (3)

Developing (2)

Needs Support (1)

Demonstrates and applies an understanding of the skills in relation to the learning target at this point in the school year.

Indicates consistent understanding and application.

Demonstrates and applies a partial understanding of the skills in relation to the learning target at this point in the school year.

Indicates specific and identifiable gaps in understanding or application.

Demonstrates limited understanding and application of the skills in relation to the learning target at this point in the school year.

Indicates large gaps in understanding or application.

No Evidence: Indicates that a student did not complete the assessments measuring a particular standard.

* Not Assessed: Indicates that the standard was not assessed in the class during the trimester.

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The goal is that every student is proficient on every standard assessed every trimester.

If you’re not Proficient yet, what should you do?

  • Check if you have any missing work. Complete this and turn it in.
  • Schedule to go to that class during WIN time.
  • Ask your teacher about reassessing–focus on your assignments that are Developing or Needs Support.
  • Be sure to do well on the next test/project/assessment.

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How To Use Skyward

Open a new tab.

Click on the folder on your bookmarks bar.

Select Skyward Student Access.

Login with Google!

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How To Use Skyward

Go to Gradebook

Any missing Events will be here

Your Current Classes are Highlighted in Yellow

It is Tri 1

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How To Use Skyward

Click this arrow

Subjects you are learning in class

Character Traits are important skills

Your Overall Class Grade will be here

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How To Use Skyward

Standards for class. Assignments & Assessments �will be listed here.

Click this arrow

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How To Use Skyward

Click Here to View GPA

Right now, your GPA will be 0.00

You may want to check your GPA as you think about high school.

Here are a few things to know…

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Understanding GPA

Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated on a 4.0 Scale.

It’s an overall average of all of your grades in middle school.

In order to get a 4.0, you must get a Proficient in each class all year.

High Schools and Colleges also use GPA.

GPA is Used For…

  • Getting Honor Roll Awards, Academic Honors, Presidential Awards in middle school are all based on your GPA
  • Earning Laude Honors in high school requires at least a 3.2 GPA for 9-12 grades
  • Colleges use your high school GPA when deciding if they will accept you. UW-Madison has an average acceptance GPA of 3.86

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Using YOur Planner �in Middle School

  • Bring your planner to every class
  • Teachers may check your planner
  • Write down assignments every day
  • Record tests, projects, and due dates
  • Add reminders for activities, clubs, sports, etc.
  • Write down where you’re scheduled for WIN on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday

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Setting Up Your Planner!

#1 Label your planner! Put your name on the first page. Show your WIN teacher when done.

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Setting Up Your Planner!

#2 Go to the week of September 8th! Using the calendar from your WIN teacher, label Day 1/ Day 2. Mark important school dates on your calendar too!

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Setting Up Your Planner!

#3 Decide how you’re going to mark your page so you can find it easily. Post it? Paper clip? Binder clip? Fold down the corner? Fold pages once the week is done?

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Remember to bring your planner to every class…you never know when you’ll be asked for it.

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