Introducing Work Study Habits in Middle School

Dear Parents/Guardians/Students,

We are writing to inform you about a new initiative designed to provide comprehensive feedback on your child's learning journey: Work Study Habits. This program focuses on assessing essential behaviors and work habits that contribute to academic success, distinct from their academic performance and content knowledge. The goal is to offer valuable feedback to both students and parents about these crucial skills.

What are Work Study Habits?

Work study habits encompass the behaviors and approaches students use in their learning, rather than their mastery of specific academic content. These habits are categorized into several key areas:

• Organization & Preparedness: This includes keeping a daily or weekly planner updated, maintaining an organized binder or Chromebook with properly named files, and consistently bringing required materials to class, such as a charged Chromebook, homework, and notes.

• Time Management: This involves meeting project checkpoints or mini-deadlines, promptly completing bellwork, exit tickets, or other class "do now" tasks, and effectively managing independent work time, as evidenced by self-monitoring logs.

• Task Completion & Follow-Through: This category assesses a student's consistency in turning in homework, submitting makeup work after absences, and finishing long-term projects on time without last-minute cramming.

• Learning Strategies: This includes taking effective notes (such as Cornell notes, graphic organizers, or annotated texts), maintaining regular study logs or reflection sheets that show preparation for quizzes and tests, and using goal-setting sheets with progress monitoring.

• Engagement & Self-Direction: This measures participation in group projects (showing evidence of contributing and dividing tasks fairly), maintaining independent reading logs or study journals, and completing self-assessment or reflection forms about their effort and learning habits.

How are Work Study Habits Assessed?

Work Study Habits are assessed using a 5-level rubric, with scores ranging from 0 to 5. This assessment sits alongside academic grades but is not blurred with them. Teachers evaluate a student's behaviors and work habits during various class activities, projects, and assignments. For each assessment, teachers can provide specific feedback to explain the score, which will be visible to both the student and parent.

The rubric levels are described as follows:

• Exemplary (4-5): Students consistently model outstanding study habits. They are highly independent, organized, and self-directed, often setting an example for their peers. This includes always bringing charged devices/materials, submitting all assignments on or before deadlines, maintaining a planner/journal, taking detailed notes, and being proactive in seeking help.

• Strong (3-4): Students regularly go beyond expectations. They are organized, motivated, and efficient with minimal oversight. Typically, they are prepared with materials, complete work consistently and on time, organize files/notes clearly, and use class time productively.

• Proficient (2-3): Students consistently demonstrate effective study habits with only minor lapses. They turn in most assignments on time, keep track of tasks in a planner, bring materials regularly, and show developing independence.

• Developing (1-2): Students exhibit inconsistent study habits and often need reminders to stay organized, complete work, or manage time. Examples include sometimes forgetting materials, missing some deadlines, having an incomplete planner, or being easily distracted during independent work.

• Beginning (0-1): Students rarely demonstrate effective study habits and require frequent support to stay on task. This might involve frequently being unprepared, having multiple late/missing assignments, not keeping track of tasks, or being off-task during independent time.

For guided study and enrichment classes, work study habits will also be assessed using a similar rubric system.

Impact on Academic Standing

It is crucial to understand that Work Study Habits assessments do not impact a student's academic grades, passing or failing status, or eligibility for honor roll. This is purely an assessment designed to give feedback on how students work, rather than what content they know. It serves as a tool to help students develop essential skills for lifelong learning and success.

Report Card Display

Work Study Habits assessments will appear on progress reports and final report cards as a separate section alongside academic grades. They will display a numerical score (e.g., 4.5 out of 5), and a key will be provided to explain what each numerical score means. This format is designed to be clear and informative, providing a clean overview of your child's work study habits.

We believe this initiative will provide valuable insights into your child's development as a learner and will foster important conversations at home and in school about effective learning strategies.

Sincerely,

Gorham Middle School