What is standards based grading (SBG)?
SBG is a grading scale that allows students multiple opportunities to demonstrate mastery of content knowledge. Once mastery is demonstrated they will receive full credit for the standard and are NOT penalized if it took them longer than other students to show mastery.
Why use standards based grading?
1. It teaches students what quality work looks like.
2. It does not penalize students who may take longer to learn material.
3. It encourages students to continue working with material that did not master instead of just moving on and never learning the material.
4. It makes the student responsible for their own grade and gives them opportunities to improve their grade.
2. It does not penalize students who may take longer to learn material.
3. It encourages students to continue working with material that did not master instead of just moving on and never learning the material.
4. It makes the student responsible for their own grade and gives them opportunities to improve their grade.
How does it work in Pate's class?
1. Content is divided up in to small, student friendly standards. EX - I can distinguish between independent and dependent variables in an experiment. Students will have the standards for a unit in advance so they will know exactly what material they are expected to master.
2. Students are assessed frequently on the standards we are working on. Assessments will be organized by standard so it will be easy for the student and teacher to determine what content/standards have and have not been mastered. Students will not receive numeric test scores, but will receive one of three different notations for each standard being assessed. Those notations are as follows:
M (Mastery) is the only notation that receives credit. Students must continue working on standards until they demonstrate M (Mastery) to receive credit. Grades for standards will appear as 1's or 0's in PowerSchool. A '1' will be assigned if a student has mastered a standard and a '0' will be assigned if they have not yet mastered a standard. This is sometimes very frustrating for students and parents because they do not understand the 'all or nothing' idea. However, the goal and expectation for my students is to demonstrate full understanding of the material.
3. Students are given the opportunity to complete reassessments on unmastered standards. Students are eligible to take reassessments when they have completed additional work with the standard(s). These additional assignments vary based on which course you are taking but some of the assignments include completing missing notebook assignments, revising missed test questions, and completing a set of additional practice questions. Once this work is done students will sign up to take their reassessments. These reassessments are custom made and will ONLY cover the standards that they have not yet mastered. Reassessments are completed in class each week during the 30 minute FLEX period. There is no limit on the amount of times a student can attempt to reassess a standard. Once a student shows mastery of a standard on a reassessment the '0' in PowerSchool for that standard will be changed to a '1.' Again, the idea is NOT to penalize students who need a little additional practice before they master a standard.
2. Students are assessed frequently on the standards we are working on. Assessments will be organized by standard so it will be easy for the student and teacher to determine what content/standards have and have not been mastered. Students will not receive numeric test scores, but will receive one of three different notations for each standard being assessed. Those notations are as follows:
- M - Mastery = This means that the student has demonstrated that they fully understand the standard being assessed.
- DM - Developing Mastery = This means that the student has not shown full understanding of the standard and that there is still room for improvement.
- NM - No Mastery = This means that the student has demonstrated very little or no understanding of the standard being assessed.
M (Mastery) is the only notation that receives credit. Students must continue working on standards until they demonstrate M (Mastery) to receive credit. Grades for standards will appear as 1's or 0's in PowerSchool. A '1' will be assigned if a student has mastered a standard and a '0' will be assigned if they have not yet mastered a standard. This is sometimes very frustrating for students and parents because they do not understand the 'all or nothing' idea. However, the goal and expectation for my students is to demonstrate full understanding of the material.
3. Students are given the opportunity to complete reassessments on unmastered standards. Students are eligible to take reassessments when they have completed additional work with the standard(s). These additional assignments vary based on which course you are taking but some of the assignments include completing missing notebook assignments, revising missed test questions, and completing a set of additional practice questions. Once this work is done students will sign up to take their reassessments. These reassessments are custom made and will ONLY cover the standards that they have not yet mastered. Reassessments are completed in class each week during the 30 minute FLEX period. There is no limit on the amount of times a student can attempt to reassess a standard. Once a student shows mastery of a standard on a reassessment the '0' in PowerSchool for that standard will be changed to a '1.' Again, the idea is NOT to penalize students who need a little additional practice before they master a standard.
How are numeric grades assigned?
Numeric grades are calculated based on the number of standards mastered compared to the number of standards covered. For example, if we have covered 10 standards and a student has shown mastery on 9 of those standards their score for standard mastery would be 9/10 or 90%.
Report Card Grades
Standard:
80% - Mastery of the standards covered as described above
20% - Other (notebook checks, homework, etc)
Honors:
85% - Mastery of the standards covered as described above
15% - Other (notebook checks, homework, etc)
AP:
90% - Mastery of the standards covered as described above
10% - Other (notebook check, homework, etc)
Report Card Grades
Standard:
80% - Mastery of the standards covered as described above
20% - Other (notebook checks, homework, etc)
Honors:
85% - Mastery of the standards covered as described above
15% - Other (notebook checks, homework, etc)
AP:
90% - Mastery of the standards covered as described above
10% - Other (notebook check, homework, etc)