Six Tips for Implementing a Standards-Based Grading ModelCreate a New Scale.Grade by Goals, Not by Assignments.Weigh Your Grades.Mark Effort and Behavior Separately.Eliminate Extra Credit and Zeros.Bring It All Together with Interoperable Technology.
Standards-based grading allows me to clearly communicate with students and parents where individuals are with their understanding of each concept. No longer are students able to hide behind weighted averages and positive academic behaviors such as attendance.
Standards-based grading is an unfair way to assess students because it places all emphasis on assessments and performance tasks and most coursework does not count toward the final class grade. This means that students must do well on all tests, which adds unnecessary stress.
What is standards-based grading? Studies show standards-based teaching practices correlate to higher academic achievement (Craig, 2011; Schoen, Cebulla, Finn, & Fi, 2003). Therefore, it is critical that teachers also link assessments and reporting to the standards (Guskey, 2001).
standards-based curriculum A curriculum that is developed by looking at the standards (district, state, or national); identifying the skills, knowledge, and dispositions that students should demonstrate to meet these standards; and identifying activities that will allow students to reach the goals stated in the ...
As opposed to the traditional grading system that only provides students with a single numerical or letter grade, the standards-based grading system requires teachers to provide their students with meaningful and appropriate feedback that will accelerate mastery of learning standards.
Under this framework, even incomplete work or work turned in late could plausibly receive a high grade if “learning” was somehow exhibited. This new system is known as “standards-based grading” or “mastery-based grading,” but this is a misnomer because it actually destroys standards and discourages mastery.
Instructional objectives should precisely describe what is expected of a learner. For example, the learner will be able to deal with irritable customers, which is not a specific objective. This could be made better by stating how the learner will deal with the irritable customer.
Colleges are also getting on board with the method and are usually accepting of standards-based grading methods. However, the use of standards-based grading does not necessarily equate with improved learning.
Grading is used to evaluate and provide feedback on student work. In this way, instructors communicate to students how they are performing in the course and where they need more help to achieve the course's goals.
Transitioning to Standards-Based GradingClass of 2020 – 100% of learners get a 2.0; learners must achieve a 3 in 80% of the standards in a specific class.Class of 2021 – 100% of learners get a 2.0; learners must achieve a 3 in 85% of the standards in a specific class.More items...•
Classroom Look Like? -Appropriate Standards or Learning Targets are posted and visible and frequently referenced – students and teachers use the language of the standards while they are studying it. The students KNOW what they are learning and can tell you. Mastering the standard is the goal.