Grading is ready for a big CHANGE!

To be a guinea pig you have to be willing to step into new territory and try something not yet attempted. So, I am yet again trying to break the mold at my junior high and bring something that is being utilized elsewhere, with my own flair, to our school. That being said, I am the Gwenie pig of grading this time around. Follow my adventures on the blog, comment with suggestions, or throw caution to the wind and join me in my adventure.

For starters, this is my new grading system, keep in mind that the scale percentages are not given 50% for a 2 or 75% for a 3, this will be explained in another post:

Ms. Smith’s new grading policy solely for documenting progress and nothing more or less:

Grades will track mastery of each step on the scale for each learning goal completed independently based on a scale of 0-4, using appropriate methods complementary to task and student, only using standards, based on Alt assessment rubrics to the best of my ability.

What will be omitted from grades, may still be visible in the gradebook, and will continue to have feedback still provided includes:

Participation and Group work

Practice scores, (including grades for homework, completion of items completed as a class)

Work that does not fit the child’s learning style- if not necessary to the task-

Anything not directly from the standards or not leading to mastery of the standard.

Re-dos: are suggested and encouraged, cannot be done within one week of the end of the quarter, or within two days of the first attempt, to promote learning that must take place.

Alt assessment rubrics are based on four or six points

Demonstrating comprehension of standard

Usage of skill

And proficiency in application.

This change will encourage learning for learning, homework for practice, teaching for instruction and grades for documenting actual knowledge formed at the summative end with formative markers within the progression points throughout a standard. Students will be held accountable for classwork, homework and assessments; the grades will not be a consequence, but a true measure of student ability in my classroom. Please have a conversation with your student about their levels of mastery with their work in school. If you have any questions regarding these changes, feel free to contact me.