Middle School - 9/11
Setting a Strong Academic Foundation
We've begun to settle into the routine of the school year with our teachers and students diving into the curriculum. Learning is happening, students are being academically challenged, and homework is being assigned and completed. I wanted to let you know that next Week (September 15-19) students will be completing their NWEA MAP Testing in middle school.
What is NWEA MAP Growth testing?
NWEA MAP Growth testing is an adaptive assessment that adjusts the difficulty of questions based on each student’s responses, giving teachers a detailed picture of what a child already knows and what they are ready to learn next. Unlike a traditional test, it is not about passing or failing, it’s about measuring growth over time. Maranatha's teachers use MAP Growth results to set learning goals, differentiate instruction, and provide targeted support so that each student is challenged appropriately and able to make progress at their own pace.
How can I, as a parent, best support my child?
Parents can support their children by ensuring they get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and head into the day with encouragement. Remind them that this assessment is simply a tool to show growth, not a grade.
We encourage parents to support their child with encouragement and reassurance rather than pressure, remembering that the purpose of the test is to show progress and highlight areas for growth.
Most importantly, remember that scores are just one piece of the puzzle. Your child’s God-given worth and potential extend far beyond any test result. This score does not define who they are. At Maranatha, we use this data as one way to celebrate growth while continuing to help students flourish academically, spiritually, and personally.
Let’s make it a great year, Middle School!
Blessings,
Allen Banks
Middle School Principal
This week in Ms. Stites’ math class we talked about how math is the study of patterns. When we look at the world God made, we see he created it with intentionality and order. When we look at math problems with an eye for noticing patterns, we see that same order and structure. To start off the year, we did a challenge called 100 Numbers. Working in teams, students tried to circle all 100 numbers during the time. It wasn’t until we noticed and named the pattern that we had our greatest success.
As we continue into our first topics, we will continue collaborating with classmates and looking for patterns that will help us become creative problem solvers!
