Standards-Based Grading for Educators
Presented by Dr. Karen M. Whiteman
•
Overview of our current grading system
Teaching to Standards
SBG
What is it?
Beliefs
Rubric
Benefits
Grading
Final thoughts
Time for questions
Cell phones off and away
Listen with an open heart and mind
Ask questions when you don’t understand
Limit side bar conversations
We will take a break around 1:30
Anything we need to add?
The restrooms are located to the left down the hall.
I will try to stop for questions periodically, but I want
to get everything in so please jot down questions as
you have them and hopefully I will get to them at some
point.
Use a sticky note to leave me questions on the Parking
Lot if you like…don’t forget your name and email so I
can answer.
Please fill out the evaluation before you leave today
and leave it in the center of your table.
A little about me…
You will have a deeper understanding
of teaching to standards, SBG, and
why we are doing it.
You will (hopefully) feel more
comfortable with SBG.
You will be able to answer parent
questions about SBG
.
Hopefully, you will feel positively
about it too.
Uses a scale of A – F or percents
Points and extra credit are given
Averaging is used
Task completion is important
It is cumulative
Grade book gives information on assignments rather than content.
Based mostly on test grades
Behavior, punctuality, and other non-academic factors are
considered
Very subjective
Teachers define the criteria – can be different teacher to teacher
Prior performance is more important than improvement
The grade is the grade
Students are compared to other students
•
Discuss this with others at your table.
Moving to a standards based system
requires a shift in your thinking and a
shift in what takes place inside the four
walls of your classroom.
Here’s to shifting!
Before we can talk about grading standards, we need to talk about
teaching
to standards.
The standard is the starting point and activities are built
from the standard.
Every lesson/activity is
purposefully
done to help students
master the skills in the standard.
Each lesson taught is connected to a standard, and learning
targets along the way mark progress toward meeting the
standard.
Assessments are planned ahead of time as well and directly
relate to the standard.
Opportunities to meet learning goals are varied.
Students know what standard they are learning and why. “I Can”
statements.
The grade book is set up according to standards,
not
assignments.
As the teacher, you need to be well-planned.
“Performance standards specify “how good is
good enough.” They relate to issues of
assessment that gauge the degree to which
content standards have been attained…They
are indices of quality that specify how adept
or competent a student demonstration
should be.”
J. Kendall and R. J. Marzano
•
What do students need to know, understand
and be able to do?
How will we teach effectively to ensure
students learn?
How will we know that students have
learned?
What do we do when students don’t learn or
reach proficiency?
When you teach to standards:
students do more of the work of learning
students have more opportunities to make their own
meaning
students realize exactly what they need to learn and be
able to do
students can take more ownership of and responsibility
for their learning
students must show you that they have met the standard
– this is important for a level 4
parents know exactly what their child needs to know
and be able to do
students and parents will know their strengths and
weaknesses
•
Discuss this with the teachers at your table
in relation to teaching to standards
.
In groups of 3 or 4, design 3 activities or lessons and at least
2 assessments for the following standard.
Time permitting, groups will report out – what you created,
any thoughts on the process
Grade 2 Standard
OA.1 Use addition and subtraction
within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems
involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting
together, taking apart, and comparing, with
unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using drawings and
equations with a symbol for the unknown number to
represent the problem.
You need to see the larger picture.
You need to focus both on process as well as
product/outcomes.
The standards are your benchmarks.
Think about how you are going to assess the standard
as you are planning
. Know what your assessments are
before you start teaching
.
I recommend that you look over the modules and use
them.
Know which standards will reappear later in the year .
Planning sheets may be helpful.
I recommend doing a longer-range plan and then
transferring the activities on to your daily lesson
planner. This will allow you to see the bigger picture.
Suggestions to include:
Subject area
Standard(s)/Module #
Career Ready Standard(s)
CCS Shift:
CCS Vocabulary
Activities/Lessons for before, during, and re-teaching
(consider scaffolding and differentiating)
Assessments/Observations
SBG is a model of grading which uses a rubric system (1, 2,
3, 4) and is based solely on
what the students know and can
do
.
Standards-Based Grading is a
refined
way of reporting
what students know and how they demonstrate their
learning of state content standards (Aurora Public Schools
in Colorado).
SBG is derived from
outcomes-based
educational
practices. A criterion is set up for standards of what every
student or child is expected to know (learning), and a score
is set compared to these benchmarks rather than a ranking
compared to a norm (paraphrased from Wikipedia).
SB grades are used as tools to communicate a student’s
progress and reflect the student’s level of knowledge
(Mount Vernon Public Schools).
Standards Based Grading
Introduction
We use SBG to help us improve student
achievement by focusing instruction on
standards…what do we want students to know and
be able to do?
A grade represents a valid and undiluted indicator
for what a student knows and is able to do. (Rick
Wormeli).
The primary purpose of a grade is to communicate
student academic achievement.
Learning is a dynamic process that generally
results in deeper understanding as time
progresses.
Level 4 – The student can
independently and
consistently
use the knowledge in
new ways and in
different contexts (transfer)
. The student may know
more than what the standard requires, but this is not
always the case - student answers may be more
creative, detailed, in depth, and/or sophisticated.
Depending on the standard, it may mean that all
questions were answered correctly.
If a 4 is given for a quarterly/final grade, the student
has mastered grade level expectations independently
and most grades on the standards taught are 4s. The
student is well prepared for the next grade level and
will probably need acceleration and enrichment.
Exceeds, above grade level
Level 4
•
Frequency of behavior – all or almost
all of the time
•
Requires no support to demonstrate
understanding
•
Demonstrates a thorough
understanding of the content taught
•
Makes no errors or omissions when
demonstrating concepts or processes.
•
Level 3 –
This is what we expect of our
students. We celebrate and praise 3s!!!
The
student can
independently and consistently
demonstrate the standard to expectations.
However, the student does not have the level of
proficiency, sophistication, transfer, and/or
application required for a level 4.
•
If the quarterly/final grade is a 3, the student has
mastered grade level standards and is ready for the
next grade level. However, there may be a few
standards that have not been mastered.
•
Meets expectations, on grade level
Level 3
•
Frequency of behavior – most of the
time
•
Requires no or limited support to
demonstrate understanding
•
Demonstrates a general
understanding of the content taught
•
Makes a few errors or omissions when
demonstrating concepts or processes
Level 2 – The student
cannot independently
demonstrate the skill or standard consistently;
teacher/adult support and assistance is needed
.
NYS says “meeting basic standards”.
If a 2 is given as a quarterly/final grade, the
student is not mastering many/most grade
level standards independently. The student
may not ready for the next grade level and will
most likely need some additional support and
strategies to be successful.
Approaching, performing inconsistently
Level 2
•
Frequency of behavior – some of the
time
•
Requires moderate support to
demonstrate understanding
•
Demonstrates a partial
understanding of the content taught
•
Makes some errors or omissions when
demonstrating concepts or processes
Level 1 – The student
cannot either independently
or with support
demonstrate the skills in the
standard.
If a 1 is given as a quarterly /final grade, the
student is not mastering grade level standards and
most grades on the standards are 1s. This student
is definitely not ready for the next grade level and
will need intensive support and strategies to make
growth. This student may also require referral for
special education testing if other strategies aren’t
working.
Emergent, developing, below grade level
Level 1
•
Frequency of behavior – seldom or
never
•
Requires considerable support but
rarely demonstrates learning
•
Demonstrates limited to no
understanding of the content taught
•
Makes frequent errors or omissions
when demonstrating concepts or
processes
Olivia's Explanation of the
Rubric
Level 4 – I’ve got it and I can use it!
I can even tell you more about it!
Level 3 – I’ve got it!
Level 2 – I need some help with
this!
Level 1 – I just don’t get it!
Level 4 – Your child is exceeding expectations for this
standard or subject and can demonstrate the
knowledge independently, consistently, and in new
contexts.
Level 3 – Your child is meeting expectations for this
standard or subject independently.
Level 2 – Your child is only meeting basic standards
and is not meeting expectations for this standard or
subject independently or consistently. Teacher
support is needed.
Level 1 – Your child is not meeting expectations for this
standard or subject independently or with teacher
support.
The grades are more
meaningful and clearer.
What does an 85 tell
you?
What does a 3 tell you?
All students have the
opportunity to earn a 4
(high grade).
Parents will know
exactly what is being
taught and how their
child is doing on those
skills.
We can focus more on
quality because rubrics
are used.
Specific feedback must
be written on graded
work.
There is a focus on
mastery while giving
students time to learn.
Less subjective
Allows for more
consistency across
grade levels
“No studies support the use of low grades or
marks as punishments. Instead of
prompting greater effort, low grades more
often cause students to withdraw from
learning.”
T. R. Guskey and J. Bailey
The standards are listed
on the report card.
You can have more
focused and clear
conversations with
parents because the
grades are based on
standards.
The grades are based
only on what students
know and can do.
Grades are never used as
punishment. No zeros
ever!
A child’s strengths and
weaknesses are very evident
to parents and teachers.
Students earn the grade that
they should earn based on
their knowledge. Nothing
else clouds the grades…extra
credit, behavior, bad
handwriting, etc.
It allows students to shine
and show talents that are
hidden in our current
grading system.
“The appropriate consequence for failing to
complete an assignment is completing the
assignment. That is, students lose
privileges, free time, and unstructured class
or study hall time, and they are required to
complete the assignment. The price of
freedom is proficiency…”
D. B. Reeves
Extra credit is not
necessary.
Formal and informal
assessments are referred
to as opportunities for
students to demonstrate
their learning and
mastery.
Averaging is not needed.
Grading on a curve is not
necessary (norm
referenced).
More student buy – in.
It more accurately
represents real world
experience – meeting
standards, having time to
improve.
It makes us rethink
consequences.
Not cumulative
Grades are individual.
The grades are a more
accurate picture of the
student’s current abilities
and mastery.
“Teachers turn things in late all the
time, as do workers in every profession.
The idea that you can’t get away with
turning work in late in the real world
isn’t true.”
R. Wormelli
“Evaluation experts stress that if you are
going to make important decisions about
students that have broad implication, such
as decisions involved in grading, then you
must have good evidence…In the absence of
good evidence, even the most detailed
grading and reporting system is useless.”
T. R. Guskey and J. Bailey
Level 4
•
The standard says the student should be able to write a summary of a
book/story that was read. What would a level 4 response look like?
A level 4 response could have the following characteristics: longer,
more detailed, perfect/near perfect grammar, conventions, and
spelling, creativity, incorporates prior learning, deeper vocabulary,
correct structure, well organized, invokes feelings in the reader,
connects with the reader, audience is acknowledged and known,
sophisticated and varied sentence structure. The answer demonstrates
skills that possibly have not been taught yet and the answer is better
than what is expected at this time in the year.
•
The standard says the student should be able to count to 20. What
would a level 4 response look like?
A level 4 response could be that the student can count to a much higher
number and can manipulate the numbers while counting by using skip
counting, starting from different numbers, counting backwards, etc.
The student can also apply counting to 20 to solve problems and can
explain his/her thinking and strategies when doing so.
Level 3
•
The standard is to count to 30. What would a
level 3 look like?
•
The student can do this independently. The
student may be able to count a bit higher, but
transfer to other settings and the use of the
skill in different ways is not present. The
response is what we expect.
•
The standard is to explain the difference
between 2 characters. What would a level 3
look like?
•
The student can do this, but the answer does
not have the detail, clarity, accuracy,
creativity, and/or depth of a Level 4 response.
Level 2
•
The standard is to name 4 characteristics
of a triangle. What would a level 2 look
like?
•
The student can’t do this without
teacher/adult support or can only name
one or two without support.
•
The standard is to state 3 characteristics of
a non-fiction book. What would a level 2
response look like?
•
The student can only list 1 or 2 on their
own and needs help to list 3.
Level 1
•
The standard is to use addition to
solve problems. What would a level
1 response look like?
•
The student cannot do this either
independently or with support.
Reteaching, time for practice,
extended support, and
differentiated strategies are needed.
Johnny performs at a level 2 the first time. He is
assessed again, and again performs at a level 2. The
teacher will keep reteaching and assessing to help him
be able to perform at a level 3. However, if it is report
card time, he may have a 2. Once he consistently earns a
3 though, the 2 is replaced.
Sara performs at a level 2 the first two times she is
assessed. However, on the third assessment, she
performs at a level 3. The teacher may either accept this
or assess her one more time just to make sure she truly
has it.
Maria performs at a level 3 the first time. Depending
on her performance on other activities for this
standard, the teacher may accept this or assess again to
be certain.
Nolan performs at a level 4 on the first assessment.
The teacher may either accept this or assess again just
to make sure.
Generally, each standard should be assessed at least 3
times. But, teachers can use their knowledge of the
students’ abilities and the standard to guide them.
You will have students who meet the standards/can
demonstrate what you want them to know and do.
You will have students who don’t meet the
standards/can’t or need help demonstrating what you
want them to know and do. You will be reteaching and
reassessing them.
Discussion: What can you do with the students who
already “know it” while you’re working with the
students who don’t? How will you do it?
Talk with the people at your table about this and
be ready to share with the group
.
Once students earn at least a 3 and can demonstrate the
content consistently, assessment can stop.
A zero is never given. That is a punishment and has
nothing to do with what the student knows. Teachers
should address the behavior of not completing work in
different ways.
Don’t penalize students for being absent.
Emphasize improvement.
Do not take off points for lateness, incomplete work, etc.
That should be addressed separately.
Do not tell parents that a 4 is not possible because it’s the
beginning of the year or that only a few students get a 4.
Give students plenty of risk-free practice before
assessing.
Summative scores should be used mainly, but
formative assessments may be considered if
meaningful.
Never give a student a 2 or a 1 because you are still
teaching the standard. That is impossible to defend!
Don’t grade it until you have given the student
sufficient time and opportunities to demonstrate the
content.
Doing more does not get students a higher score.
Knowing more and demonstrating that does.
“By comparing one child’s performance to a clear
standard, parents, children and teachers all know
precisely what is expected. Every time a student
attempts a task, the performance is compared to the
standard, not to other children’s performances. The
most important advantages for children and families
are fairness, clarity, and improved learning.”
Doug Reeves
Take a look at the student work I have given you.
The first set has stories written by kindergartners.
The second set has a math problem done by third
graders.
Work in groups of 3 or 4 to place them into piles by
the score (1, 2, 3, or 4) you would give them.
Please try not to write on them, I’d like to be able
to use them again.
Be ready to share your thoughts, observations, and
ideas about this process with the group.
Writing
Standard 2: Use a
combination of drawing,
dictating, and writing to
compose informative or
explanatory texts in which
they name what they are
writing about and supply
some information about the
topic.
Some may be imaginative as
well.
The teacher also looked for:
story and picture match
important details in the
picture
beginning and ending
sounds in the words
Standard 3.0A Use
multiplication within 100
to solve word problems
by using drawings or
other representations.
The answer is 6 and
must be apparent.
The different cones that
could be made must be
represented.
Math
I prefer to call assessments or any assignment that is being
graded an “observation”.
You will get to make your own rubrics, just like always.
The rubrics will vary depending on the standard(s)
assessed, the type of test, subject, and number of
questions. Use written rubrics for longer assignments.
On some standards, a 4 may not be possible. For example,
if the standard states that students should be able to write
the numbers from 1 – 30, if the student does this it’s a 3.
But
,
you can and should offer
level 4 opportunities
. For the
above standard, you would include more blanks to give
students a chance to count higher. If they can, a 4 could be
given.
Homework is still assigned and considered an integral part
of the learning process.
Homework is not graded unless it is assigned after a
standard has been taught and practiced.
Homework on
newly taught standards is considered practice, and should
be marked so, and comments should be added to let the
student and parents know how the student performed
(unless the homework is corrected as a class).
Grades are not awarded simply for completion.
The feedback lets students and parents know the
assignment was important.
Homework completion can be a part of the behavior or
effort grade.
Homework for Practice or
Preparation of Learning
Reflects effort, not mastery
of the concepts.
Reviews and reinforces
skills or knowledge.
Gives independent practice
for a skill or concept.
Allows for mistakes as part
of the learning process.
Provides background
information for upcoming
lessons.
May be incorporated into
the effort grade but not the
academic grade.
Supports long-term,
continuing projects that
parallel classwork.
Enriches classroom
experiences and deepens the
students’ understanding.
Creates opportunities for
problem solving and critical
thinking.
Integrates and applies
different skills and knowledge
sets to a task.
Expects students to apply
previous learning to complete
these assignments.
May be incorporated into the
effort or academic grade.
Homework to Integrate
Learning
What role does homework
play in SBG?
It is important to look at all the standards for a subject as a
whole, without averaging. Teachers should ask themselves:
What rubric score represents this students’ overall proficiency in
this subject this quarter?
The mode is often the appropriate grade, but not always.
If some standards haven’t been assessed in awhile and are
showing the student to be not proficient, you should reassess or
at least have a plan for reassessing in the future and share this
with parents.
However, key or important standards and your knowledge of the
student may be considered and factored into a final grade.
The key to this is being able to explain and justify the grades to
parents.
Comments need to be specific and tied to the standards. Any
grade of 1 or 2 must have comments stating why.
Jocelyn’s performance on the standards taught:
•
3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3
Final grade: 3 Why?
•
Lisa has mastered most of the standards. On one standard she
performed above expectations, but on another she still requires
practice and reteaching. However, her overall performance is what
we expect.
Lisa’s performance on the standards taught:
3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4
Final grade: ? What do you think?
The teacher’s knowledge of the student will come into play here, as well
as the importance of each standard. If the key standards are those that
Lisa earned a 4 for, her overall grade might be a 4. As a school you
might want to come up with a policy regarding this situation.
Kyle’s performance on the standards taught:
•
3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 3, 3
Final grade: 3 Why?
•
Kyle has mastered the standards and met expectations. On some of
the standards he has demonstrated additional skill, knowledge, and
creativity, but overall his performance is what we expect.
Isaac’s performance on the standards (key standards are starred):
•
4*, 2, 4*, 4*, 4, 4*, 2
Final grade: 4 Why?
•
Isaac obviously is performing above grade level on many standards
and can use the information and his knowledge in different ways.
However, there are a few standards on which he still needs more
practice, but this does not affect his overall knowledge and
proficiency because he is performing above expectations on the key
standards.
•
Interesting to note: averaged the grade would
be a 3!
Eva’s performance on the standards taught:
•
2, 2*, 2, 3*, 2*, 3, 3
Final grade: 2 Why?
•
Eva has performed at a level 2 on many standards, including two key
or important ones. She is not demonstrating that she has overall
mastery of the content yet, although she has mastered a few of the
standards.
3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3
Final grade? ______
2, 3*, 2, 3*, 2, 2, 3*
Final grade? ______
3, 3, 3*, 4*, 4*, 3, 3*
Final grade? ______
4, 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 2
Final grade? ______
3, 3*, 3*, 4*, 4, 4
Final grade? ______
4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3
Final grade? ______
Remember that these grades may differ once knowledge of the student
is considered and ample evidence must exist to support the grade.
Students are learning how to pack parachutes. Below are 3
students’ grades over a quarter.
Jane’s grades – 4, 1, 3, 1, 4, 1, 3
Jim’s grades – 1, 2, 1, 3, 3, 4, 4
Julie’s grades – 4, 3, 4, 3, 1, 2, 1
Let’s answer the following questions and discuss.
Who would you want to pack your parachute?
If these scores were in a teacher’s grade book, who would
be considered proficient and who would not? Why?
Is there a discrepancy between your answers to those
questions? Why or why not?
What implications does this activity demonstrate for
grading?
Traditional
Rely on a textbook to
guide instruction
Spend majority of time
telling – whole group
Ask more questions that
seek only information.
Teach more specific
procedures
Rely on standards and
curriculum maps to
guide instruction
Spend majority of time
facilitating – small group
Ask more open-ended
and
application
questions
Encourage students to
use more problem
solving strategies
Standards-Based
Traditional
Don’t provide for as
much student
interaction and
discussion
All students learn the
same material
Ask mostly knowledge
level questions
Expect students to
master concepts in a
certain amount of time
Provide for a great deal of
interacting and discussing
Students who have 3s or 4s
work on enriching and
extension activities
Ask more higher level
questions
Expect students to learn at
their own pace and
facilitates that
Standards-Based
Traditional
Do a lot of the work alone
Focus on getting the right
answer
Memorize facts for tests
Practice procedures
Get bored if they already
know what’s being taught
Do a lot of the work in
pairs or groups
Use reasoning to justify
their work and answers
Apply concepts also
Solve problems and look
for real-world solutions
Have opportunities to
explore more, use the
knowledge, and participate
in enrichment activities.
Standards-Based
Traditional
Use pencil, paper, and
worksheets most often
Show knowledge most
often in writing
Show answers in one way
Use manipulatives,
graphic organizers, and
games most often
Show knowledge in
many ways equally
Use multiple
representations for
solutions
Standards-Based
“The best thing you can do is make sure
your grades convey meaningful, accurate
information about student achievement. If
grades give sound information to students,
then their perceptions (and) conclusions
about themselves as learners, and decisions
about future activity will be the best they
can be.”
S. Brookhart
SBG does not translate to assessment based
grading methods.
A 4 does not mean an A or 95%.
Discourage parents from associating them.
If your school is using letter grades or percents, they
should be defined in standards based terms.
Every student is expected to earn a 3 on each standard,
and you should work to help students who earn 1s and
2s to achieve a 3. Reteaching, reassessing.
Although 3 is what should be expected and praised, we
need to believe that ALL STUDENTS CAN GET A 4
DEPENDING ON THE STANDARD.
Give the students “Level 4 Opportunities” whenever
possible.
Grades should not be averaged.
You can (and should) teach multiple standards in your
lessons. It is expected that all standards will be
covered during the year.
With SBG we focus on what we want the student to
know and be able to do
now
. We don’t measure them
against where we want them to be at the end of the
year.
Students are not penalized for the time that it takes
them to learn the skills/information in the standard.
Students can be more involved in tracking their own
progress with charts and through the rubrics.
Parents are worried about high school. Though we
don’t know what the future holds regarding Catholic
high schools accepting SBGs, we do know that SBG
will not affect a student’s ability to earn 8
th
grade
scholarships and high schools give placement tests.
SBG has been researched for over 20 years. Don’t let
resistance to change interfere with that. - Ken
O’Connor
You need to keep accurate and detailed records of each
student’s performance. These should include
anecdotal notes, assessments, and work samples. You
need to be able to justify the grades to the parents.
Since grades are standard dependent, they may
fluctuate from quarter to quarter.
All students must complete the work. That keeps the
emphasis on LEARNING. Giving zeros/not accepting
late work teaches students how to avoid doing the
work and accepts lack of motivation. It also denies the
students an opportunity to learn!
“What information provides the most accurate
depiction of students’ learning at this time? In nearly
all cases, the answer is “the most current information.”
If students demonstrate that past assessment
information no longer accurately reflects their
learning, that information must be dropped and
replaced by the new information. Continuing to rely
on past assessment data miscommunicates students’
learning.”
T. R. Guskey
Grading Gurus: Thomas R. Guskey, Robert J.
Marzano, Ken O’Connor, Douglas B. Reeves, Rick
Stiggins, Rick Wormelli
Do a Google search for Standards Based Grading
Handbooks or SB Teacher/Parent Handbooks.
Books:
Formative Assessment and Standards Based Grading:
Classroom Strategies that Work
, Robert Marzano
Practical Solutions for Serious Problems in Standards
Based Grading
, Thomas R. Guskey
Standard Based Teaching
: A Classroom Guide, Danielle
Elder
Please feel free to call or email me if you have
questions or want to discuss SBG at your school.
kwhiteman@stbschool.org
649 – 3369 ext. 120
Learn about Standards-Based Grading (SBG) presented by Dr. Karen M. Whiteman, including the agenda overview, workshop norms, housekeeping items, and the shift needed for transitioning to a standards-based system. Discover the differences between Assessment-Based Grading and SBG, and engage in discussions to deepen your understanding of this educational approach.
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Presentation Transcript
Standards Based Grading Presented by Dr. Karen M. Whiteman
Agenda Overview of our current grading system Teaching to Standards SBG What is it? Beliefs Rubric Benefits Grading Final thoughts Time for questions
Workshop Norms Cell phones off and away Listen with an open heart and mind Ask questions when you don t understand Limit side bar conversations We will take a break around 1:30 Anything we need to add?
Housekeeping Items The restrooms are located to the left down the hall. I will try to stop for questions periodically, but I want to get everything in so please jot down questions as you have them and hopefully I will get to them at some point. Use a sticky note to leave me questions on the Parking Lot if you like don t forget your name and email so I can answer. Please fill out the evaluation before you leave today and leave it in the center of your table. A little about me
At the end of this session: You will have a deeper understanding of teaching to standards, SBG, and why we are doing it. You will (hopefully) feel more comfortable with SBG. You will be able to answer parent questions about SBG. Hopefully, you will feel positively about it too.
Lets Get Started! Where Are We Now?
Assessment Based Grading Uses a scale of A F or percents Points and extra credit are given Averaging is used Task completion is important It is cumulative Grade book gives information on assignments rather than content. Based mostly on test grades Behavior, punctuality, and other non-academic factors are considered Very subjective Teachers define the criteria can be different teacher to teacher Prior performance is more important than improvement The grade is the grade Students are compared to other students
Moving to a standards based system requires a shift in your thinking and a shift in what takes place inside the four walls of your classroom. Here s to shifting!
First Things First: Teaching to Standards
Teaching to Standards Before we can talk about grading standards, we need to talk about teaching to standards. The standard is the starting point and activities are built from the standard. Every lesson/activity is purposefully done to help students master the skills in the standard. Each lesson taught is connected to a standard, and learning targets along the way mark progress toward meeting the standard. Assessments are planned ahead of time as well and directly relate to the standard. Opportunities to meet learning goals are varied. Students know what standard they are learning and why. I Can statements. The grade book is set up according to standards, not assignments. As the teacher, you need to be well-planned.
Performance standards specify how good is good enough. They relate to issues of assessment that gauge the degree to which content standards have been attained They are indices of quality that specify how adept or competent a student demonstration should be. J. Kendall and R. J. Marzano
Teaching to Standards What do students need to know, understand and be able to do? How will we teach effectively to ensure students learn? How will we know that students have learned? What do we do when students don t learn or reach proficiency?
Teaching to Standards When you teach to standards: students do more of the work of learning students have more opportunities to make their own meaning students realize exactly what they need to learn and be able to do students can take more ownership of and responsibility for their learning students must show you that they have met the standard this is important for a level 4 parents know exactly what their child needs to know and be able to do students and parents will know their strengths and weaknesses
Discuss this with the teachers at your table in relation to teaching to standards.
Group Project In groups of 3 or 4, design 3 activities or lessons and at least 2 assessments for the following standard. Time permitting, groups will report out what you created, any thoughts on the process Grade 2 Standard OA.1 Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.
Teaching to Standards You need to see the larger picture. You need to focus both on process as well as product/outcomes. The standards are your benchmarks. Think about how you are going to assess the standard as you are planning. Know what your assessments are before you start teaching. I recommend that you look over the modules and use them. Know which standards will reappear later in the year . Planning sheets may be helpful.
Teaching to Standards I recommend doing a longer-range plan and then transferring the activities on to your daily lesson planner. This will allow you to see the bigger picture. Suggestions to include: Subject area Standard(s)/Module # Career Ready Standard(s) CCS Shift: CCS Vocabulary Activities/Lessons for before, during, and re-teaching (consider scaffolding and differentiating) Assessments/Observations
What is SBG? Discuss this at your table.
Standards Based Grading SBG is a model of grading which uses a rubric system (1, 2, 3, 4) and is based solely on what the students know and can do. Standards-Based Grading is a refined way of reporting what students know and how they demonstrate their learning of state content standards (Aurora Public Schools in Colorado). SBG is derived from outcomes-based educational practices. A criterion is set up for standards of what every student or child is expected to know (learning), and a score is set compared to these benchmarks rather than a ranking compared to a norm (paraphrased from Wikipedia). SB grades are used as tools to communicate a student s progress and reflect the student s level of knowledge (Mount Vernon Public Schools).
Standards Based Grading Introduction
Standards Based Grading Beliefs We use SBG to help us improve student achievement by focusing instruction on standards what do we want students to know and be able to do? A grade represents a valid and undiluted indicator for what a student knows and is able to do. (Rick Wormeli). The primary purpose of a grade is to communicate student academic achievement. Learning is a dynamic process that generally results in deeper understanding as time progresses.
The Rubric Level 4 The student can independently and consistently use the knowledge in new ways and in different contexts (transfer). The student may know more than what the standard requires, but this is not always the case - student answers may be more creative, detailed, in depth, and/or sophisticated. Depending on the standard, it may mean that all questions were answered correctly. If a 4 is given for a quarterly/final grade, the student has mastered grade level expectations independently and most grades on the standards taught are 4s. The student is well prepared for the next grade level and will probably need acceleration and enrichment. Exceeds, above grade level
Level 4 Frequency of behavior all or almost all of the time Requires no support to demonstrate understanding Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the content taught Makes no errors or omissions when demonstrating concepts or processes.
The Rubric Level 3 This is what we expect of our students. We celebrate and praise 3s!!! The student can independently and consistently demonstrate the standard to expectations. However, the student does not have the level of proficiency, sophistication, transfer, and/or application required for a level 4. If the quarterly/final grade is a 3, the student has mastered grade level standards and is ready for the next grade level. However, there may be a few standards that have not been mastered. Meets expectations, on grade level
Level 3 Frequency of behavior most of the time Requires no or limited support to demonstrate understanding Demonstrates a general understanding of the content taught Makes a few errors or omissions when demonstrating concepts or processes
The Rubric Level 2 The student cannot independently demonstrate the skill or standard consistently; teacher/adult support and assistance is needed. NYS says meeting basic standards . If a 2 is given as a quarterly/final grade, the student is not mastering many/most grade level standards independently. The student may not ready for the next grade level and will most likely need some additional support and strategies to be successful. Approaching, performing inconsistently
Level 2 Frequency of behavior some of the time Requires moderate support to demonstrate understanding Demonstrates a partial understanding of the content taught Makes some errors or omissions when demonstrating concepts or processes
The Rubric Level 1 The student cannot either independently or with support demonstrate the skills in the standard. If a 1 is given as a quarterly /final grade, the student is not mastering grade level standards and most grades on the standards are 1s. This student is definitely not ready for the next grade level and will need intensive support and strategies to make growth. This student may also require referral for special education testing if other strategies aren t working. Emergent, developing, below grade level
Level 1 Frequency of behavior seldom or never Requires considerable support but rarely demonstrates learning Demonstrates limited to no understanding of the content taught Makes frequent errors or omissions when demonstrating concepts or processes
Olivia's Explanation of the Rubric
The Rubric in Kid Friendly Language Level 4 I ve got it and I can use it! I can even tell you more about it! Level 3 I ve got it! Level 2 I need some help with this! Level 1 I just don t get it!
StBSs ERC Rubric Level 4 Your child is exceeding expectations for this standard or subject and can demonstrate the knowledge independently, consistently, and in new contexts. Level 3 Your child is meeting expectations for this standard or subject independently. Level 2 Your child is only meeting basic standards and is not meeting expectations for this standard or subject independently or consistently. Teacher support is needed. Level 1 Your child is not meeting expectations for this standard or subject independently or with teacher support.
Benefits of SBG The grades are more meaningful and clearer. What does an 85 tell you? What does a 3 tell you? All students have the opportunity to earn a 4 (high grade). Parents will know exactly what is being taught and how their child is doing on those skills. We can focus more on quality because rubrics are used. Specific feedback must be written on graded work. There is a focus on mastery while giving students time to learn. Less subjective Allows for more consistency across grade levels
No studies support the use of low grades or marks as punishments. Instead of prompting greater effort, low grades more often cause students to withdraw from learning. T. R. Guskey and J. Bailey
Benefits of SBG The standards are listed on the report card. You can have more focused and clear conversations with parents because the grades are based on standards. The grades are based only on what students know and can do. Grades are never used as punishment. No zeros ever! A child s strengths and weaknesses are very evident to parents and teachers. Students earn the grade that they should earn based on their knowledge. Nothing else clouds the grades extra credit, behavior, bad handwriting, etc. It allows students to shine and show talents that are hidden in our current grading system.
The appropriate consequence for failing to complete an assignment is completing the assignment. That is, students lose privileges, free time, and unstructured class or study hall time, and they are required to complete the assignment. The price of freedom is proficiency D. B. Reeves
Benefits of SBG Extra credit is not necessary. Formal and informal assessments are referred to as opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning and mastery. Averaging is not needed. Grading on a curve is not necessary (norm referenced). More student buy in. It more accurately represents real world experience meeting standards, having time to improve. It makes us rethink consequences. Not cumulative Grades are individual. The grades are a more accurate picture of the student s current abilities and mastery.
Teachers turn things in late all the time, as do workers in every profession. The idea that you can t get away with turning work in late in the real world isn t true. R. Wormelli
Grading in a SB System Standards
Evaluation experts stress that if you are going to make important decisions about students that have broad implication, such as decisions involved in grading, then you must have good evidence In the absence of good evidence, even the most detailed grading and reporting system is useless. T. R. Guskey and J. Bailey
Grading Examples - Standards Level 4 The standard says the student should be able to write a summary of a book/story that was read. What would a level 4 response look like? A level 4 response could have the following characteristics: longer, more detailed, perfect/near perfect grammar, conventions, and spelling, creativity, incorporates prior learning, deeper vocabulary, correct structure, well organized, invokes feelings in the reader, connects with the reader, audience is acknowledged and known, sophisticated and varied sentence structure. The answer demonstrates skills that possibly have not been taught yet and the answer is better than what is expected at this time in the year. The standard says the student should be able to count to 20. What would a level 4 response look like? A level 4 response could be that the student can count to a much higher number and can manipulate the numbers while counting by using skip counting, starting from different numbers, counting backwards, etc. The student can also apply counting to 20 to solve problems and can explain his/her thinking and strategies when doing so.
Grading Examples - Standards Level 3 The standard is to count to 30. What would a level 3 look like? The student can do this independently. The student may be able to count a bit higher, but transfer to other settings and the use of the skill in different ways is not present. The response is what we expect. The standard is to explain the difference between 2 characters. What would a level 3 look like? The student can do this, but the answer does not have the detail, clarity, accuracy, creativity, and/or depth of a Level 4 response.
Grading Examples - Standards Level 2 The standard is to name 4 characteristics of a triangle. What would a level 2 look like? The student can t do this without teacher/adult support or can only name one or two without support. The standard is to state 3 characteristics of a non-fiction book. What would a level 2 response look like? The student can only list 1 or 2 on their own and needs help to list 3.
Grading Examples - Standards Level 1 The standard is to use addition to solve problems. What would a level 1 response look like? The student cannot do this either independently or with support. Reteaching, time for practice, extended support, and differentiated strategies are needed.
More Grading Examples Standards Johnny performs at a level 2 the first time. He is assessed again, and again performs at a level 2. The teacher will keep reteaching and assessing to help him be able to perform at a level 3. However, if it is report card time, he may have a 2. Once he consistently earns a 3 though, the 2 is replaced. Sara performs at a level 2 the first two times she is assessed. However, on the third assessment, she performs at a level 3. The teacher may either accept this or assess her one more time just to make sure she truly has it.
