Standards Based Grading STANDARDS BASED GRADING Agenda What

Standards Based Grading

STANDARDS BASED GRADING Agenda ★ What it is ★ What it looks like ★ How it will help you ★ FAQ’s

Level of Understanding I can explain Standards Based Grading Hold your fingers up to show what level you are starting at today: 1 – I know nothing about standards based grading 2 – I have heard of it, but I don’t know what it is 3 – I can tell my neighbor what it is 4 – I can explain how it works and how it will help me to succeed to my family at home

What is “Standards Based Grading”? Standards-based Grading means your grades will be based on your knowledge and skills in each content area, NOT on an accumulation of “points”.

STOP AND THINK! (PAIR, SHARE) 1. What is a “rubric”? 2. What does it mean to be “approaching”? 3. What does it mean to be “proficient”? 4. What is the difference between being proficient and being advanced?

Sample Rubric

What will it look like? Standards Based Grading shows your level of learning by the end of each term 4 = A, Advanced You understand can do all the simple and complex parts, plus you can make higher level connections on your own. 3 = B, Proficient You understand can do all the simple and complex parts. 2 = C, Close to Proficient You have a basic understanding or can do all the simpler parts. *1 = D, Far to Go You have trouble with the simpler parts. *0 = F, Well Below Completed assignment but it is completely wrong, shows no understanding *[1/0 are considered “NOT YET” - meaning, will be required to receive help and re-do work until you are at least approaching. We do this because we care and want you to learn as much as you can! ] M = Missing Evidence You will be required to complete enough work for a proficiency level to be determined or else earn a 0.

Grades Your final grade for a quarter or semester will be determined by your overall GPA for the units covered 3. 5 – 4. 0 = A 2. 75 – 3. 49 = B 1. 5 - 2. 74 = C 0. 75 – 1. 49 = D 0. 74 and below = F So…what does this calculation mean? ? ?

Scenario Analysis Scenario A: Scenario B: Partner A - write answer questions and share Partner B - write answer questions and share Scientific Method- 3 Ecology - 4 Cells - 2 Transport - 1 1. Using the guidelines on previous page, what would the calculated grade be? 2. Explain how you came to grade. 3. In your opinion, is this grade fair? Why/why not? Scientific Method - 3 Ecology - 4 Cells - 3 Transport- 3 1. Using the guidelines on previous page, what would the calculated grade be? 2. Explain how you came to grade. 3. In your opinion, is this grade fair? Why/why not?

Scenario Analysis Scenario C: Together, come up with a third scenario (make up the grades that a student might receive for each unit) Together- answer questions 1. Using the guidelines on previous page, what would the calculated grade be? 2. Explain how you came to grade. 3. In your opinion, is this grade fair? Why/why not?

Important Components ❏ Essential Skills: At the beginning of each term, each teacher will give you a list of the most important things you will need to learn. ❏ Progress Tracker: During each term, you will keep track of which skills you have mastered, and you’ll get specific help and feedback to get better along the way. ❏ Final Grade: Your grade will be based on how well you learn each standard/ what level you are on.

What do I have to do? Step 1: Try It! ● Why? ? If you don’t show me where you are, how can I help you get better? Step 2: Try It Again! ● Why? ? If you only do something once, will you get any better at it? Use feedback and improve! (Think of it like I am giving you the questions AND answers to your test!) Step 3: Prove Your Proficiency Keep Track! ● Why? ? If you don’t know where you are, how are you going to know what to work on?

Level of Understanding I can explain Standards Based Grading Hold your fingers up to show what level you are at halfway through today: 1 – I know nothing about standards based grading 2 – I have heard of it, but I don’t know what it is 3 – I can tell my neighbor what it is 4 – I can explain how it works and how it will help me to succeed to my family at home

What are the advantages of Standards Based Grading? ? ? How will this help you? !

ADVANTAGE #1 It’s easier to hit a target when you know exactly where to aim. Standards-based Grading means you will know clearly - and ahead of time - exactly what you are supposed to learn and exactly what an “A” level, a “B” level, or a “C” level looks like.

ADVANTAGE #2 Standards-Based Grading helps grades become more accurate and more fair. In the past, grades included factors other than how much you know (like your behavior and participation). Now, your grade will be about learning. You will get feedback on all assignments, but your grade will be about what you know and what you can do.

ADVANTAGE #3 It’s easier to do well when you get practice and feedback along the way. Think about when you learned to ride a bike or first started playing a sport or an instrument. Were you perfect the first time? No, you needed practice and a coach. And it doesn’t matter if it took you 3 practices or 50 - it only matters that you mastered it by the end! In traditional grading, your first try was “averaged in” with your second, third, and fourth tries. With Standards-Based Grading, your grade “grows” as you learn more. In the example above, your fourth try is the one that counts.

ADVANTAGE #4 It’s easier to figure out your strengths and identify your weak areas. You know where to focus your energy. Standards-Based Grading gives you more specific feedback and the ability to analyze any work you do. For example, let’s say you got a six-question assignment back with three right and three wrong. Then you discover that you got all three questions right about one standard. It was the other standard, you didn’t understand yet. Celebrate one! Study for the other!

ADVANTAGE #5 It’s better preparation for college and for a professional career. Standards-Based Grading encourages more critical thinking and stretches your abilities. It gets you to focus on LEARNING and on GETTING BETTER. College and career professionals want to know how good you are at what you do. They are looking for thinkers, for writers, for readers. They are looking for workers who know how to analyze their performance and can make specific plans to get better. That’s what you do regularly with standards-based grading.

FAQ #1 What if I just don’t want to do it and am willing to take a zero? NOT AT WAIANAE! We care enough about you to MAKE you do the right thing. You will thank us later! Failure to turn in work is considered unacceptable behavior and will receive consequences just like any other poor behavior – verbal warning, detention, call home, referral

FAQ #2 Do I have to be perfect to get a “ 4”? No. In order to score a 4 on any standard, you would have to show learning that goes “above and beyond” and your work would reflect in-depth understanding of content and/or skills. Realistically, you may not score 4’s on assignments the first time. However, with standards-based grading, students with 3’s can stretch to a 4, just as students with 1’s can stretch to a 2 or a 3. Remember, an “A” term grade does not require all 4’s.

FAQ #3 Can I still get extra credit? Standards-Based Grading is about QUALITY, not quantity. You can no longer just do something “more” to get more points. You can improve your grade, however! With Standards-Based Grading you improve your grade by learning more/doing better on one of the essential standards in your class. By meeting the standard on time, you will have an opportunity to extend the learning and improve your grade.

Explain it! Work together to come up with an explanation or definition of Standardsbased Grading in your own words.

Other questions? ? Write down any questions you still have about Standards Based Grading. I will try to answer all questions as soon as possible

Level of Understanding I can explain Standards Based Grading Hold your fingers up to show what level you are ending at today: 1 – I know nothing about standards based grading 2 – I have heard of it, but I don’t know what it is 3 – I can tell my neighbor what it is 4 – I can explain how it works and how it will help me to succeed to my family at home