How to SDA — Complete Student Guide¶
South High School · Self-Directed Academy · Grades 9–10
This guide explains how SDA actually works — the ideas behind every studio, why the program is built the way it is, and what to expect. Read it at the start of the year. Come back when something isn't clicking.
If you want the week-by-week steps for what to do and when, go to Student Workflow.
What Is a Studio?¶
A Studio is a six-week learning cycle. Every Studio has four components:
1. A Shared Essential Question The whole class starts with the same question — for example: "How did early religions justify political authority?" The question is genuinely arguable. There's no single right answer. Everyone investigates the same question from different angles.
2. Your Individual Inquiry Angle You choose your specific focus within the essential question. Three students might all be in the same Studio but studying completely different civilizations, time periods, or examples. Your inquiry angle is the specific question you will investigate. It's in your Studio Contract.
3. Active Standards Each Studio has 4–5 standards you're working toward — a mix of English and Social Studies. They're posted at the start. Your Studio Contract is built around them.
4. A Public Exhibition At Week 6, your work goes in front of a real audience. Not just your teacher. The audience might be other students, parents, community members, or an expert panel. Your advisor tells you the format.
Two Things Every Studio Requires¶
These are completely different. Both are required. Neither replaces the other.
Demonstration of Learning¶
Proof that you know the standard. Must be completed by Week 5. Your proficiency score (1.0–4.0) is based on this — not on the deliverable.
You choose one of six modes in Week 1 and commit to it in your Studio Contract:
| Mode | What It Is |
|---|---|
| 1 — Written Assessment | A focused written response to a specific prompt targeting the standard |
| 2 — Extended Writing | A standalone essay, analysis, or argument piece as direct evidence |
| 3 — Verbal Conversation | An advisor conference where you talk through your understanding; advisor documents the evidence |
| 4 — Visual/Creative | A sketchnote, annotated diagram, or infographic showing conceptual understanding |
| 5 — Multimedia/Performance | A podcast, video, debate, or presentation demonstrating the standard |
| 6 — Portfolio Annotation | You curate existing work and write metacognitive commentary connecting it to the standard using 2.0/3.0/4.0 language |
You can request to change your mode, but you'll need to explain why.
The Deliverable (Your Studio Product)¶
The PBL artifact. It's what gets exhibited at Week 6 and goes into the Studio Archive. It shows that you took what you know and built something with it.
The relationship: Demonstration of learning = "I know this." Deliverable = "I made something with what I know."
Deliverable types you can propose: essay, podcast episode, documentary, website, visual essay, photo essay, museum exhibit, debate, research presentation, original artwork with artist statement, or something you propose.
What Is a Skinny?¶
A skinny is a mini-lesson. Short, focused, built around one specific skill or concept.
Skinnies aren't required for every studio — they're tools you pull when you hit a gap. When there's something you don't know how to do that's blocking your progress, you pull the skinny for that skill instead of waiting for Reese to explain it.
How to use a skinny: 1. You realize you're stuck: "I don't know how to write a counterclaim" or "I don't understand what a primary source is" 2. Go to the Skinny Library and find the skinny for that skill 3. Work through it — read the 2.0 foundation, understand the 3.0 target, do the scale tasks 4. Apply what you need to your studio work
Your advisor may also recommend specific skinnies. If Reese says "pull the R.9 skinny before your next draft," pull it.
What Is a Standard?¶
A standard is an official skill or knowledge statement from the state of North Dakota. It describes what you should know or be able to do.
Every studio has 4–5 active standards. They're not a surprise — they tell you exactly what you're being assessed on before you start.
Standard codes you'll see:
- 9-10.R.9 — Reading standard 9 for grades 9–10
- 9-10.W.4 — Writing standard 4 for grades 9–10
- WH.6_12.2 + Era 1 — World History standard 2, applied to Era 1 content
- US.6_12.5 + Unit 3 — US History standard 5, applied to Unit 3 content
For the full breakdown of every standard, see ELA 9-10 Scales.
The Proficiency Scale¶
Every standard is scored 1.0–4.0 on the official North Dakota proficiency scales. Your goal every studio is 3.0 (Proficiency).
| Score | Level | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | Advanced | Meets all success criteria and demonstrates deeper, more complex understanding — an extension at a higher cognitive level (not perfection) |
| 3.0 | Proficiency | Meets all success criteria — no major errors or omissions. This is the target. |
| 2.0 | Approaching | Meets some/most success criteria — foundation vocabulary and basic processes, missing the complex ideas |
| 1.0 | Novice | Meets few success criteria — partial understanding, even with help |
| 0 | — | No evidence submitted / no success criteria met |
Scores in between (3.5, 2.5, 1.5) reflect partial success toward the next level.
How scores become your letter grade. Your individual standards stay on the 1–4 scale. Your semester letter grade comes from averaging your body of summative evidence (a minimum of 12 pieces) and applying the Fargo Public Schools cut scores:
| Averaged evidence | Letter |
|---|---|
| 2.81 – 4.0 | A |
| 2.51 – 2.80 | B |
| 1.71 – 2.50 | C |
| 1.51 – 1.70 | D |
| 1.50 or below | F |
So consistent Proficiency (3.0) earns an A — the district scale rewards meeting the standard. (Source: FPS district grading system, 2026-27. What each 1–4 score means comes from the NDSBL proficiency scales; the cut scores above come from the district.)
You set your own success criteria (your 2.0/3.0/4.0 targets) in Week 1 as part of your Studio Contract. This isn't a formality — your target shapes how you plan your work.
Ownership Levels¶
You're always at one of three levels. Your level determines how much structure you get and how much independence you have. Levels are reviewed every two weeks.
Trailblazer (Level 1)¶
New to SDA, or working toward the skills needed for more independence.
- More structured support from your advisor
- Pre-assigned or limited inquiry angle options
- Required advisor approval before you begin a new studio
- More check-ins throughout the cycle
To move up: Show consistent evidence of independent research, timely completion of studio phases, and quality work at 2.5 or above across at least two studios.
Maverick (Level 2)¶
Growing independence. You can: - Propose your own inquiry angles within the essential question - Collaborate freely with other students - Work with less check-in frequency - Experiment with more ambitious deliverable types
To move up: Consistently demonstrate 3.0 or above across multiple studios. Show that you can self-manage the full six-week cycle without prompting.
Phoenix (Level 3)¶
Full agency. You can: - Propose entirely self-designed studios — your own essential question, not just an angle - Mentor Trailblazer students - Access flex scheduling - Submit more ambitious deliverables (long-form projects, community-facing exhibitions)
Phoenix track requires: A written proposal, advisor approval, and a track record of 3.0+ across at least three studios.
You can move down if the work isn't there. Levels reflect what your work shows, not what you intend.
How the Research Standards Work (IR Bundle)¶
The five Inquiry and Research standards — IR.1 through IR.5 — are always active, every studio, every cycle. They're assessed together as a bundle.
| Standard | Plain Language | When It Shows Up |
|---|---|---|
| IR.1 | Write a focused research question | Week 1: your Studio Contract guiding question |
| IR.2 | Find and interpret primary and secondary sources | Week 2: source log and annotations |
| IR.3 | Organize your research so you can use it | Weeks 2–4: your notes and source structure |
| IR.4 | Evaluate whether a source is credible | Week 2: source evaluation in your log |
| IR.5 | Cite your sources correctly | Weeks 3–5: in-text citations and bibliography |
To earn a 3.0 on the IR bundle, you need all five: - A research question that evolved and sharpened through the Dig - At least one primary and one secondary source, interpreted (not just collected) - An organized source log - Written source evaluations noting bias, perspective, and purpose - Correct in-text citations and a complete bibliography
How Exhibition Works¶
Every Studio ends with a public exhibition in Week 6.
The audience: Varies by studio. Other SDA students, parents, community members, or a panel. Your advisor tells you who's coming before Week 5.
What you're presenting: Your deliverable — the artifact you built. You're showing what you made and explaining what you learned.
What you're being scored on: Not the deliverable. The proficiency score is based on your demonstration of learning evidence, which was completed in Week 5. The exhibition makes your work visible — it doesn't change your standard score.
Communication standards assessed at exhibition: - C.1 — Your presentation: format, multimedia choices, delivery, preparation - C.6 — Your discussion: how you listen, respond, and engage with questions
After the exhibition: You write a Reflection. Your studio is archived. Future SDA students can see what you made.
Portfolio Defense¶
Once a semester, you present a portfolio to a panel — your advisor and at least one other person (administrator, community member, or another teacher). You're not defending a grade — you're showing your growth.
The five artifacts you bring: 1. A historical analysis (primary source annotation or bias analysis) 2. An explanatory essay 3. An argument essay 4. A communication artifact (seminar prep, debate outline, or presentation recording) 5. A reflection (growth analysis)
The kinds of questions you'll get: - How did your argument writing improve this semester? - How does a historical system you studied still shape today's world? - What would you do differently in your studio process?
The portfolio defense is about growth across the whole semester, not any single studio. It's your chance to tell the story of how you got better — in your own words, with your own evidence.
How to Get Help¶
Start with a skinny. The Skinny Library exists exactly for this — when you hit a gap in a specific skill, there's a skinny for it. Pull it before asking Reese. Most of the time you'll find what you need.
Then ask Reese. Be specific about what's blocking you: "I don't know how to write a counterclaim for my argument essay" is much more useful than "I need help." The more specific you are, the faster you get unstuck.
The Reading Library. If your research isn't turning up good sources, check the Reading Library before anything else — it's organized by era, unit, and standard.
Other students. Maverick and Phoenix students can collaborate freely. Trailblazers confirm with Reese first before deep collaboration.
Frequently Asked Questions¶
"Can I change my deliverable type after submitting my Studio Contract?" Yes, with advisor approval and a written reason. Don't change it because the original idea got hard — that's usually a sign to push through, not pivot.
"What if I don't finish by Week 6?" Extensions are available with advisor approval. Request before the exhibition, not after. Plan backwards from Week 6 starting in Week 1.
"What if I got a 2.0 and want a higher score?" You can resubmit evidence for a standard within the same semester. You need substantially new or improved work — not the same thing cleaned up. Talk to Reese.
"Can I do my deliverable in a group?" Yes, for Maverick and Phoenix students. Group deliverables require each person's contributions to be clearly documented. The demonstration of learning is always individual.
"What is the Studio Archive?" Every completed studio is logged permanently. Future SDA students can browse it before proposing. Your work becomes part of the institutional memory of the program.
How to SDA · SDA Commons Wiki · South High School See also: Home · Student Workflow · ELA 9-10 Scales · Reading Library