Standards Based Grading
"A grade should reflect what you know, not what you did to learn it." - Rick Wormeli
I use a grading system called Standards-Based Grading (SBG). The central philosophies behind this research-based system are providing an accurate reflection of what a student knows and doesn't know as well as putting the student in control of her grade. It rewards a growth mindset, where challenges are viewed as opportunities and effort on the path to mastery is rewarded.
"A grade should reflect what you know, not what you did to learn it." - Rick Wormeli
I use a grading system called Standards-Based Grading (SBG). The central philosophies behind this research-based system are providing an accurate reflection of what a student knows and doesn't know as well as putting the student in control of her grade. It rewards a growth mindset, where challenges are viewed as opportunities and effort on the path to mastery is rewarded.
Traditional Grading Systems
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Standards-Based Grading System
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How does this work in the classroom?
Topics are presented and explored in the mathematics classroom through a mixture of direct instruction, logical inquiry, discovery and observation, and classroom discussion. Homework problems aligned with the state learning targets ("standards") are assigned to help practice this skill and prepare a student for performance on an assessment. This homework is not graded, but is always discussed in detail at the start of every class. It is occasionally collected for additional feedback.
Weekly Assessments
A weekly assessment is given over recent and review topics. These assessments are broken down into sections aligned with the standards and each standard receives its own grade. There is no overall percentage score for an assessment. Performance is graded on the following metric:
4 - Advanced: The student has complete understanding on the concept. S/he can apply this concept to situations beyond what is expected (96 in PS)
3 - Proficient: The student has understanding of the concept, perhaps with some minor errors (86 in Powerschool)
2 - Basic: The student has basic understanding of the concept with major errors. The student needs to remediate this concept. (66 in Powerschool)
1 - Below Basic: The student does not have an understanding of this concept. Intense remediation is necessary. (50 in Powerschool)
0 - No attempt made (0 in Powerschool)
A weekly assessment covers around three or four standards, each graded and reported separately. Each standard is assessed multiple times throughout the year, and the most recent score is what is reported in Powerschool. This means a student can score well on a topic the week after it is covered, but if that learning is not durable and they forget it when it pops up on a much later assessment, their original score will decrease.
Weekly Assessments
A weekly assessment is given over recent and review topics. These assessments are broken down into sections aligned with the standards and each standard receives its own grade. There is no overall percentage score for an assessment. Performance is graded on the following metric:
4 - Advanced: The student has complete understanding on the concept. S/he can apply this concept to situations beyond what is expected (96 in PS)
3 - Proficient: The student has understanding of the concept, perhaps with some minor errors (86 in Powerschool)
2 - Basic: The student has basic understanding of the concept with major errors. The student needs to remediate this concept. (66 in Powerschool)
1 - Below Basic: The student does not have an understanding of this concept. Intense remediation is necessary. (50 in Powerschool)
0 - No attempt made (0 in Powerschool)
A weekly assessment covers around three or four standards, each graded and reported separately. Each standard is assessed multiple times throughout the year, and the most recent score is what is reported in Powerschool. This means a student can score well on a topic the week after it is covered, but if that learning is not durable and they forget it when it pops up on a much later assessment, their original score will decrease.
Reassessing Students who score a 2 or below (66 or below in Powerschool) on a particular standard must re-assess (that is, complete similar problems to the original to demonstrate proficiency). The prerequisite for re-assessing is proof that they completed the homework aligned with that standard. Reassessments are typically done during Directed Studies. There is no deadline for reassessments (within a quarter), nor a cap on attempts.. A student who scores poorly on a standard after many attempts may be offered some remediation practice problems, and that is handled on a per-student basis. The bottom line is, a student who takes longer to learn a topic can earn as high a score as those who learn quickly, so long as s/he expends the effort needed to practice and assess to show that proficiency. In order to show mastery, two consecutive scores of 3 or above are required per skill before it is considered mastered. |
Students should have multiple opportunities to demonstrate proficiency, and they should be expected to consistently show proficiency.
Consider the chart shown here. All 3 students have an average score of 70. Student A started strong but showed little consistency over time. Student B struggled at first but got the hang of things over time. Student C did well at the start but was never able to replicate that success and progressively got worse. Standards Based Grading rewards growth and development in a way traditional grading systems don't. |
What if a student understands a concept from the start? How do I get a 100?
That too is rewarded in this system. A student who scores 4 (Advanced) on the first two times a skill is assessed will have that score upgraded to a 5, or a 100 in Powerschool.
Checking Homework
Homework is discussed at the start of each class, so that students have a chance to see if their practice was successful and they can work out proper techniques. If a student does not do her homework, she probably will not do well on her assessment, so she will have to do it in order to re-assess. Over time, she should see that it saves time to simply do the homework when assigned. Realistically, some students will skip their homework...but if they do well on the assessment, they probably did not need the additional practice.
You can't "play the system"
Some students get by on "playing" school and earning good grades without learning the mathematics but simply jumping through hoops. Others might cram for a topic but forget it after a unit test. Sooner or later, that approach will atrophy and math becomes much harder. A standards-based approach emphasizes mastery of the material while allowing students to learn at their own pace. A student's grade might be low at first when a skill is first assessed, but with enough effort, a high grade is absolutely within reach.
That too is rewarded in this system. A student who scores 4 (Advanced) on the first two times a skill is assessed will have that score upgraded to a 5, or a 100 in Powerschool.
Checking Homework
Homework is discussed at the start of each class, so that students have a chance to see if their practice was successful and they can work out proper techniques. If a student does not do her homework, she probably will not do well on her assessment, so she will have to do it in order to re-assess. Over time, she should see that it saves time to simply do the homework when assigned. Realistically, some students will skip their homework...but if they do well on the assessment, they probably did not need the additional practice.
You can't "play the system"
Some students get by on "playing" school and earning good grades without learning the mathematics but simply jumping through hoops. Others might cram for a topic but forget it after a unit test. Sooner or later, that approach will atrophy and math becomes much harder. A standards-based approach emphasizes mastery of the material while allowing students to learn at their own pace. A student's grade might be low at first when a skill is first assessed, but with enough effort, a high grade is absolutely within reach.
How to Use Powerschool To See Grade History/Standards/Aligned Homework
Your access to Powerschool shows a lot more than just the student grade. Since I take the most recent score on a skills assessment, grades are dynamic and are subject to change (both up and down, potentially).
See what the standard really says
See what the standard really says
See what homework is aligned to that standard, required to be done for reassessing
See what previous scores were earned on prior skills' assessments