Mrs. Berger's
8th Grade Science Class
Standards Based Grading (SBG)
1. Q: What is Standards Based Grading?
A: In a standards-based system, teachers report what students know and are able to do in relationship to the Ohio and Common Core Standards in each content/subject area. This allows for teachers, students, and parents to better isolate in what areas each student is having difficulty and in which areas students are doing well. Standards-based grading sums up a student’s individual growth on specific content standards.
2. Q: What is the purpose of Standards Based Grading?
A: To enhance student growth by providing clear, focused, and accurate feedback about a student’s mastery of a specific standard.
3. Q: What are the benefits of a Standards Based Grading System?
A: 1. It clearly communicates a student’s strengths and needs. 2. Allows for focused reflection. 3. Allows each student an opportunity for growth on his/her own timeline.
4. Q: How does Standards Based Grading differ from a traditional grading system?
A: In the traditional grading system elements such as work completion, effort, and participation have often been factored into student grades. Although these may be important factors in regards to a student’s overall growth, they are not Academic Standards and thus will not be calculated into a student’s overall grade as part of the standards based grading system.
5. Q: Will my child’s grade look different in Progress Book?
A: The only items listed in progressbook will be the standards which are assessed. Each standard will show a percent out of 100 to represent mastery of that standard. There will be between 7 - 11 standards assessed each quarter. The grades for these standards will be averaged to reach a student’s quarter grade.
6. Q: What is reassessment and why is it necessary?
A: The ultimate goal is high levels of student growth. In order to accomplish this goal, students will have the opportunity to be reassessed. If the student demonstrates a higher level of mastery, their grade is changed to reflect this new level.
7. Q: How will the SBG 0 - 4 point scale be converted to the more traditional 100 point scale? Formative Assessment and Standards-Based Grading by Robert J. Marzano, p. 110
Frequenty Asked Questions
Day 1: At the start of each mini unit, tudents receive a copy of the standard and a class discussion is held regarding what students will need to know and be able to do to master that standard. There is never a "mystery" about what we will be learning! In science class, this standard (which is usually in the form of a question), along with standard details (which are "I can" statments), are usually displayed on a "punch card" (see picture to the right). A study guide for the standard is also passed out to students on day 1, which will consist of a content outline and online study tool links.
Day 1-4: Instruction on standard. Students participate in virtual or hands on labs, receive small group instruction, discuss overarching concepts in lab groups, all to learn and help students to master the standard.
Day 5-7: Assesment, intervention, and extensions. Students recieve the following assessments (covering the standard) in order. Each assesment must be mastered (with a 100%) in order to move onto the next assessment:
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Level 1 Assessment: 10 multiple choice questions over the previous standards (kind of like a cumulative test)
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Level 2 Assessment: 10 multiple choice questions over the current standard
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Level 3 Assessment: 2-3 extended response question over the current standard
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Level 4 Assessment (super hard to get): Connect the standard to the real world by creating your own lab or project!
If you miss a question or two on each level, you will have to go back and study those questions again and then retake the questions you missed on that level test. If you miss more than three questions, you will conference with Mrs. B until you feel you are ready to take the questions you missed. Once you master a level, you get to move onto the next!
Day 7: At the end of Day 7, Mrs. B "CUTS YOU OFF"! Whatever level you have currently mastered will be your grade in Progress Book:
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Level 1 Mastery: 60% D-
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Level 2 Mastery: 70% C-
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Level 3 Mastery: 90% A-
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Level 4 Mastery: 100% A++
Your current grade is entered in Progress Book (typically Mrs. B does not enter grades until the last day of assessments). At this point, you will not have time in class to bring up your grade. HOWEVER, you can stay after school ANY day with Mrs. B to reassess and boost up that grade at ANY time before the end of the quarter! No grade is EVER final, unless it's the end of the quarter.
**The 7 day timeline is used just as an example. We typically spend 3 to 10 days on a standard. It just depends how "in depth" the standard is!
Standard
Standard details
This student has ONE PUNCH next to Level 1. This means they have mastered level 1, and are working on level 2.
This is a punch card (rubric) you will receive for each standard. You will get a "punch" for each level that you master so you always know what your current grade is! At the bottom, you can earn extra punches for completing homework on time, going above and beyond, etc. Extra punches can be redeemed for prizes (i.e. pop, candy, lunch).
Standard
Punch Card Rubric
SBG General Guidelines
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No grade is ever "final" (until the end of the quarter), but it will take WORK on your part to bring it up!
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No more than 1 reassessment will be allowed per day outside of the class period
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There is NO SUCH THING AS EXTRA CREDIT. Instead, show me that you have mastered the next level on a standard!
What SBG looks like in SCIENCE CLASS
