Can you please explain why if a student has a certain number of red or yellow grades the teachers do not contact parents? Does student centered learning mean that the parents are not included?

Answer:
The first part of this question implies that because of the new grading system, teachers have stopped contacting parents when students are struggling.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  As they have in the past, teachers regularly contact parents of students who are struggling.  Teachers, parents, and students work together to create a plan for improvement. Parents have never had more accurate or up-to-date information about student performance than they do right now.  Parents and students have real time access to the masteryconnect portal which clearly shows any standards and assignments that have "red" or "yellows".

Students also check the portal on a regular basis and do academic goal setting each week with their advisor.  They use masteryconnect to identify any standards they have not met, and they set weekly goals for what they need to accomplish.  Students who are meeting standards set goals related to standards they can exceed.  Parents are encouraged to talk with their children about their work and share in the goal setting process.

Student-Centered Learning
Student-centered learning is a broad term that is used in a variety of contexts in the world of education.  Generally, it refers to a shift in focus from the teacher to the student.  A student-centered approach is one of the central pillars of the middle school model and is widely recognized as best practice at all levels.

At YMS, student-centered learning means that students are actively engaged in their learning.  It's about instilling a sense of responsibility, work-ethic, and perseverance in our students.  It means that students are given opportunities to collaborate in meaningful ways to solve challenging problems.  It means they are often given voice and choice in how they demonstrate their learning.  In a student-centered classroom, the students are the ones who are doing most of the "heavy-lifting".  They are working through complex tasks, grappling with difficult concepts, and constructing meaning through dialog and carefully designed lessons.  Student-centered learning also means that teachers differentiate their approach to meet the needs of a wide range of learning styles and abilities.

As a school, our student-centered philosophy means that the unique needs of the early adolescent are the foundation upon which all of our decisions are made. This is in contrast to what we might consider an adult-centered school, in which the needs of adults drive the decision making.  In adult-centered classrooms, teachers often stand in front of the class and do most of the talking while students sit passively and listen.  In adult-centered classrooms, teachers often deliver lessons in ways that are easy, familiar, or personally preferred rather than working to incorporate instructional techniques known to be most effective for improving learning.

At YMS we pride ourselves on our student-centered philosophy and we will continue to base our decision making and instructional approach on what we know to be in the best interest of our students.