Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: How Poynette Middle School is Personalizing Learning

By Jacob Hunter, Principal; Julie Rogness, Reading Interventionist and Instructional Coach; Stephanie Weckerly, Math Interventionist and Instructional Coach

During the 23-24 school year, Poynette Middle School fully embraced IXL as a school-wide personalized learning tool. Teachers worked closely with students to set goals and track progress, focusing on recommended skills for ELA and math. This data-driven approach led to significant improvements in student performance.

Measurable Growth on State Assessments

The school’s commitment to targeted skill development paid off. From 22-23 to 23-24, Poynette Middle School saw a 13% increase above the state average on the Wisconsin Forward ELA exam and a 6% increase above the state average on the math exam. These gains reflect the power of individualized skill practice and data-informed instruction.

Identifying Student Needs with Triggers and Targets

To ensure every student receives the right level of support, the school implemented a triggers and targets system. Students scoring below the 25th percentile or above the 80th percentile on their IXL Diagnostic are flagged for further screening. Teachers then help determine the best next steps, which may include additional intervention or extension opportunities.

WIN Time and Targeted Interventions

For students needing extra support or enrichment, targeted interventions take place during WIN (What I Need) Time. That looks like a variety of things depending on student need and can include:

Reteaching groups with their teacher during intervention periods.
Program-based Tier 3 intervention with a math or Reading Interventionist.
Math or reading extension with an Advanced Learning Specialist.

This flexible approach ensures that every student gets the instruction they need, whether it’s extra help to close skill gaps or enrichment to push their learning further.

Student Ownership and Goal-Setting

In combination with other data points, IXL provides Poynette with real-time, actionable data to support student academic growth. Using students' Diagnostic Action Plans to set goals with students and families has allowed students to take ownership of their progress, creating a sense of pride regardless of where they are on the proficiency scale.

Results: Academic Gains on the IXL Diagnostic

The school’s data-driven approach has led to impressive growth:

Fall 2023 IXL Diagnostic Results: 38% of students were at or above grade level in math and 34% in ELA.
Winter 2023 IXL Diagnostic Results: 63% of students were at or above grade level in math (+25% growth) and 66% in ELA (+32% growth).

These results translated to state assessments, where Poynette exceeded statewide gains by 6% in math and 13% in ELA on the Wisconsin Forward Exam.

6th Grade Success Story

Daily IXL practice, combined with personalized skill plans and goal-setting, proved highly effective for 6th graders. 73.6% of students scored advanced or proficient in math and 72.9% in ELA on the Wisconsin Forward Exam—an outstanding achievement, with a notably high percentage reaching advanced levels.

"IXL has become an invaluable tool for us. The Diagnostic provides us with precise information about where each student is on their learning journey. The triggers and targets system helps us prioritize our support and ensure that no student is left behind or unchallenged. The success of our 6th graders was a testament to the power of combining IXL's capabilities with dedicated teaching and personalized attention."

Julie Rogness, Reading Interventionist and Instructional Coach at Poynette Middle.

Looking Ahead

With these strong results, Poynette Middle School continues to refine its use of IXL, WIN Time, and data-driven interventions. As the school eagerly awaits the 24-25 Wisconsin Forward Exam results, educators remain committed to helping every student reach their full potential.

For information about IXL Learning please contact Lynne Lavota, IXL Educational Sales.