Social Studies Middle School Guide

​Social Studies (MS)​ ​Benchmarks​ ​(formerly DWSBA)​

​What are the DISTRICT Benchmarks?​ ​Benchmarks are​​part of the CSD Assessment​ ​system. Benchmarks are designed to formatively assess where students are in their​ ​learning progression towards mastery of targeted standards and to provide feedback to​ ​teachers and students at set points in time. All social studies benchmarks are found on​ ​Mastery Connect. After you set up a tracker for each new year (semester) benchmarks are​ ​pushed out automatically to your Mastery Connect tracker and your assignments in Canvas.​ ​Teachers can effectively use Benchmark data for IPLCs at the school and district levels by​ ​using the data to plan for future instruction. Teachers decide as a district-wide PLC which​ ​units will be assessed and set the assessment window.​ ​How should the Benchmark Assessment be administered?​ ​Benchmarks should be administered as any other formal assessment. That is the​ ​benchmark should be administered as other standardized assessments where all students​ ​receive identical benchmark instructions, timing, and accommodations. Educators should​ ​focus on teaching the social studies standards as laid out in instructional guides and avoid​ ​“teaching to the test” to ensure the benchmark accurately measures genuine student​ ​mastery.​ ​What accommodations should I allow for students on an IEP or ELLs?​ ​Several accommodations will be available in the assessment such as line readers and sticky​ ​notes to support students. Other accommodation decisions for ELL or students on an IEP,​ ​are​ ​left up to the school site​ ​with consultation from​​the school’s SST or leadership team.​ ​Use​ ​professional discretion​ ​to evaluate if more or​​less time needs to be given. Students​ ​should be allowed to finish to the best of their ability, and​ ​should not be pressured​ ​to​ ​spend more time on the task which may not change the student’s score.​ ​Where will the data be housed?​ ​All Benchmark data can be found on Mastery Connect and are pushed into Canvas​ ​Assignments. They are named with the grade and content, the year, and specific benchmark​ ​(pre, mid year, final)​

​Tips for Utilizing​ ​Benchmark Data​ ​·​ ​Formatively​ ​guide next steps​ ​with instruction​ ​· Evaluate student​ ​progress​ ​· Gauge student​ ​performance​ ​compared to​ ​their peers​

​· Provide​

​feedback to​ ​students on their​ ​progress towards​

​mastery of​ ​standards​

​· Have students​ ​assess their data​ ​and develop​ ​goals for growth​

​TESTING WINDOWS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES​ ​Pre-Test​ ​Mid Year​ ​Final​

​First 2 weeks of​ ​school​

​Mid Dec to Mid Jan.​ ​(Just before Winter Break​ ​or at the end of the​ ​semester)​

​Last 3 weeks of​ ​School​