Raise Standards with Raise Standards with Standards-Based Standards-Based

GradingGradingHolly JohnsonHolly Johnson

Lamphere Teacher LeaderLamphere Teacher Leader

Learn the story of one journey Learn the story of one journey to standards-based grading in to standards-based grading in

a quest for consistent and a quest for consistent and accurate reporting of student accurate reporting of student

achievement.achievement.

Contact InformationContact Information• Holly Johnson• 6th Grade Teacher and Middle

School Curriculum and Assessment Coordinator

• Lamphere Schools• John Page Middle School• johnsonh@lamphere.k12.mi.us• (248) 589-3428

AgendaAgenda• My journey• Researchers• What makes a grade• Standards-based grading• Practical Application

• My hope is that by the end of this session you will have a better understanding of grading, be willing to make changes to your grading practice, and be willing to continue professional conversations outside of this conference.

ResearchersResearchersMarzano

TomlinsonReeves

PickeringStiggins

O’ConnerPollock

McTighe

My JourneyMy Journey• Early conversation with veteran teacher• Compliance – citizenship vs. academic• Research• Passion• Grading History• Teaching ELL• Opportunity for project

Why do I provide grades?

Why do I currently provide Why do I currently provide Grades?Grades?

• Who tells us to?• Pro-active or Re-active?• To show learning and/or

responsibility?

What does a grade

represent?

What current systems do we What current systems do we have?have?

• Elementary• Middle School• High School

How often?Too late?

TraditionalTraditional

Who do I communicate grades with

and what do I communicate?

Responsibility for LearningResponsibility for Learning

Who knows what is to be learned and what that looks

like?

BUT……BUT……Who is

responsible for the learning?

Does my grading practice match my beliefs and communicate what I feel would benefit the learning in my classroom?

NO! So…..

What am I going to do about it?

What does

Standards-Based Grading

mean to you?

My application, trials, errors, successes,

questions, and more questions,

and more questions

UnitUnit

• How am I going to do this?• What have others tried?• How does this work in a middle

school?• How will my electronic grade

book reflect this?• How will I change the attitude of

my community of learners?

My MotivationsMy Motivations• Conversations

– Veteran teacher – Mary Lou Malone– Current high school teacher in another

district – Gary Abud

• Research• Ipad• Professional Growth

My ProcessMy Process• CONVERSATIONS• Surveys with progress reports

attached• Performance Objectives• Parent Letter and student

conversations• I CAN statements• Assessments

““I CAN”I CAN”

My Final AssessmentMy Final Assessment

Integer AssessmentDirections:  Answer each question and, if specified, use that method

to show your work and prove your answer. Statement #1 – I can find an absolute value of a number.

Directions:  Evaluate each expression| -2 | = | 7 | = | 6-2 | =  Statement #2 – I can explain absolute value compared to zero. What is absolute value?  

Outcomes- Hoped for and Outcomes- Hoped for and some never dreamed of some never dreamed of • More work completed by students• Small groups easier to put together• Students motivated for learning • Connection to learning for students

– Strengths and areas to work on

• Communication with intervention teacher

• Study Guide• Success rate of students

Parent FeedbackParent Feedback

• “I know where to help my child.”• “Can you do other units like this?”• “Strange and new.”• “I now know where my child does

well and what we need to work on.”• “I am proud of my daughter and we

talk about her progress.”

Student FeedbackStudent Feedback• “I like it because it lets you know if you’re

proficient or not. Also, it lets you know what the problems causes were.”

• “This is really cool. I wonder if we’ll do this again sometime.”

• “It helped me stay on track, so I knew where I was.”

• “It helped me to figure out what I need to spend the most time studying.”

• “It shows what I’m getting better at!!”• “It helped me know what I don’t know so you

could help me.”

My journey continues….

What I have learned…..

What I am trying this upcoming school year…..

Conversations and collaborating……

OverviewOverview• Questions

• Comments

• Email list sign-up for group

Contact InformationContact Information• Holly Johnson• 6th Grade Teacher and Middle

School Curriculum and Assessment Coordinator

• Lamphere Schools• John Page Middle School• johnsonh@lamphere.k12.mi.us• (248) 589-3428