Why Standards-Based
Grading?
The practice of
standards-based assessment and reporting brings meaning to grades. It is
essentially a tool for diagnosis instead of just point-collecting. It
allows the teacher, the student, and parents to see exactly where a student is
in their understanding of the content. If a student is struggling on a
particular Learning Target (i.e. standard or LT), it will be very evident
because that particular grade will be low, and show that there are
misconceptions in that specific area. Learning is a process that will
span the entire grading period (ideally the entire school year, but could also
be a 9, 12, or 18 week marking period). Therefore, we will monitor growth
(by individual LT) for each student from one summative assessment to the next. A
grade must represent what a student “knows”, so only the most recent and
accurate data is used to determine a grade for a student because this
represents the best picture of what that student currently “knows”.
This also means that multiple opportunities to demonstrate understanding
are given for each LT. There are no “re-takes” of tests because each LT
that has been covered at some point, could be available on each test (depending
on individual needs). Students will continue to make additional attempts
on each LT until they have mastered that content.
The grade book is set up
by standard, rather than specific assignment. In addition, there are only
two categories in the grade book, formative and summative.
•
Formative Assessment:
These are assessments for learning, where feedback is
provided to help a student realize where they are in their learning process,
and to then help it move forward. These are NOT part of the student
grade.
•
Summative Assessment:
These are assessments of learning, where students
demonstrate their level of understanding.
ONLY THESE ARE GRADED!
Standards-based grading cannot be done without
clear standards. These are the specific things that the state has decided
we need to teach for our particular subject. These standards are provided
by the State of Michigan Department of Education.
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