Standards-based grading—and what it means for you!

What is standard-based grading, anyways?

Standards-based grading (SBG) looks at individual skills (standards) within an assignment instead of the overall assignment grade (holistic grading).

SBG vs. Holistic Grading Example

For example, let’s say you write an essay about Katniss as a hero in The Hunger Games. What different skills and knowledge would you use in the essay? Spelling/grammar/punctuation

Determine central themes or ideas

Understand what you’re reading

Find details in the text to support your ideas

Brainstorm, write a rough draft, revise and write a final copy

Write for the correct audience

Write in a specific style (essay)

Holistic Grading With holistic grading, you would get one score for your

essay, a percentage, 0-100%

Let’s say you get an 82%, a B. What does that score tell us?

Hunger Games Essay 82% B

?

Standards-based grading lets us see exactly what you did well on—and what we need to keep working on.

Hunger Games Essay

R2: Determine central idea or themes, analyze their development; summarize key ideas and details

4

R1: Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and make logical inference; cite textual evidence.

3

W2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information.

2.5

W5: Develop and strengthen writing as needed using writing process.

1

L2: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English spelling, punctuation and capitalization when writing.

2

Mastered the reading skills (can understand

and discuss what you’ve read)

Struggled with writing the essay.

What does this mean for my grade?Descriptor Letter Grade Percent

4.0 Advanced A 100.0

3.5 Approaching Advanced

A-/B+ 92.5

3.0 Proficient B 85.0

2.5 Approaching Proficient

C+ 77.5

2.0 Basic C 70.0

1.5 Approaching Basic INC/F 62.5

1.0 Below Standard F 55

0.0 No Evidence F 40

IMPORTANT You must meet ALL standards at 2.0 AND complete all

summatives. Otherwise, your overall grade will show as an “F,” like this:

But what if I don’t meet standards the first time?

That’s okay! Standards-based grading is all about having multiple opportunities to prove you know how to meet a standard.

Let’s look at a real example from the gradebook:

Look at the progress made on standards R2 and R3:

So what’s the final grade for R2 & R3?

If you practice hard and get better, why should your hard work count against you?

Standards-based grading averages your scores on each standard to determine your grade.

So how do I read my online grades?

There are three separate sections in your online grade report: Overall Grade

Standard Breakdown

Assignments

Overall Grades

Your letter gradeOverall

progress on each area,

or “domain”

A breakdown of each standard within the category:

The standards met in each assignment:

Other gradebook scores:

Score Meaning Notes

INC (or I)

Incomplete Turned in but did not complete all parts of the assignment

MI Missing Assignment was not turned in

EX Excused Do not have to complete assignment

CR/NC Credit/No Credit Completed assignment. Graded credit/no credit

DP Deadline Passed Assignment can no longer be turned in for credit. Alternative assignment will be given.

Does this count for a grade?

Formative Summative

Does NOT figure into your final grade

Counts for the final grade

Chance to practice skills, get feedback, and improve

Chance to show what you know

Sports metaphor: “Practice” Sports metaphor: “The big game”

Required to take the summative

Required to pass the class

Why don’t formatives count?

We believe that you shouldn’t be penalized for learning. If you get a 1 the first time you practice a skill and a 4 on

the summative, you have obviously learned how to do the skill. Why should the 1 of your first practice count against you?

Formatives are a chance to practice, get feedback, and improve your skills.

Formatives show us your progress toward meeting standard on the summative.

They do not affect your grade, but they are NOT optional. Formatives help you prepare for the summative and

summatives DO affect your grade.

If I have multiple chances to meet standard then deadlines don’t matter, right?

WRONG! SBG allows you to learn at your own pace, but this means that you, the learner, are accountable for turning work in so that you can get feedback and have the preparation needed to move on to the next skill.

What happens if I miss a deadline? After the deadline several things may happen:

You will be sent to Freshman/Sophomore Success

You may be given a NEW assignment to meet the same standards. That means any work you put toward the 1st summative won’t count and you’ll start all over.

Why? Assignments build on one another. The skills learned in this

assignment will be needed to complete future assignments.

The assignment was to be presented to your peers to provide knowledge to them.

The value of the assignment was in meeting a deadline in a timely manner (such as a timed write).

Why do I have to put my last name on everything? I’m the only Bob/Sue/Jim in this class!

1. It’s faster for me when entering grades. Happy teacher = happy students.

2. I see only last names and first initials in the grade book. First names don’t help me at all!