⚔️ Classroom Quests: The SM3 Unit 1 Final Gauntlet

After an epic quest through robotic factories, spectral planes, and ancient ruins, how do we measure our adventurers' success? In this post, I'm sharing the "final boss battle" for our first unit: my philosophy and strategy for testing that focuses on mastery, student ownership, and continued growth. Welcome to the epilogue of our first SM3 Classroom Quest!

📜 Mission Briefing: The Certification Trials

🎯 Mission Objective: To assess student mastery of the unit's core skills in a way that encourages reflection and re-assessment, rather than a one-and-done grade.
📚 Unit: Unit 1 - Radical and Quadratic Functions
👻 The Adventure: The testing phase is framed as the "Final Gauntlet," where students complete a series of "Certification Trials." Their goal isn't just to get a good score, but to prove they are "certified" in the essential skills of an adventurer.

Our Testing Philosophy: Proving Your Skills

In our classroom, a test isn't a finish line; it's a final training simulation. The goal is for every student to prove they have mastered the core skills of the unit, and our grading is structured to reflect this focus on growth.

Essential Skills (60% of Grade): These are the non-negotiable, core concepts of the unit. Students must score above a 70% on these exams to be considered "certified."
Related Skills (30% of Grade): These are important supporting concepts that deepen understanding and add to their toolkit.

The Process: The Adventurer's Log

Student ownership is key. They track their own progress on their Unit Schedule. After taking the practice tests, they record their scores. Any score below 70% on an Essential Skill is a signal that they must go back, review their work, and "level up" their understanding before the final, summative unit test.

The Certification Trials (Practice Tests)

All our practice tests are hosted on idocourses.com, which provides the immediate feedback crucial for a mastery-based approach. The tests feature randomized variables and shuffled questions, so each attempt is a unique challenge.

(Note for teachers: To get access to this amazing resource, please contact darcistone@alpinedistrict.org! Also, please hit "submit" to start the quiz fresh, as it generates a new version on each attempt.)

Mission Target	Thematic Trial Name	Standard Type	Practice Test Link
U1E1	The Robot Factory Final Blueprint	Essential	Test Your Skills
U1E2	The Cube Root Bot Certification	Essential	Test Your Skills
U1E3	The Archaeologist's Final Map	Essential	Test Your Skills
U1R1	The Food Truck Race Finals	Related	Test Your Skills
U1R2/3	The Bomb Squad's Final Device	Related	Test Your Skills
U1R4	The Art Restorer's Masterpiece	Related	Test Your Skills

🏆 Level Clear Screen: End of Unit Self-Assessment

The Story: "The gauntlet is complete. Report back to the Guild Master. How legendary were your feats in this unit? A true hero always reflects on their journey."

The Activity: On their Unit Check-off Schedule, students complete their Self-Reported Grade.

10 (Legendary Hero!): I have mastered all the skills in this realm and am ready for any challenge the Final Boss throws at me.
8 (Veteran Adventurer!): I am confident with most of the skills but may need to review my notes on one or two of the tougher missions.
6 (Brave Explorer!): I can navigate these challenges with some help from my party but need more practice before I'm ready to go solo.
4 (Novice...): I'm still learning the map. I'll need more training and guidance before facing the Final Boss.