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REPORT CARDS & GRADING SYSTEMS : ASSESSMENT OF

LEARNING

CHAPTER 11

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SUMMARY

DEVELOP A SOLID ASSESSMENT PLAN CLEARLY DEFINE EXPECTATIONS FOR

GRADING. SPELL OUT THE ACHIEVEMENT TARGETS DEVELOP SOUND ASSESSMENTS

– USE ASSESSMENTS THAT WILL ACCURATELY REFLECT THE TARGETS AND DO NOT OVER ASSESS.

KEEP CAREFUL RECORDS OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

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Reflect & Respond

What is the difference between grades being used as communicators and grades being used as motivators?

– Of the two uses mentioned, how do you hope to use grades?

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Reflect & Respond

MOST ASSESSMENT TEXTBOOKS SAY THAT THE ASSIGNED GRADE SHOULD ACCURATELY REFLECT ONLY STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. MANY TEACHERS INCLUDE PARTICIPATION/EFFORT, ATTENDANCE, ATTITUDE AND/OR PUNCTUALITY IN THEIR ASSIGNED GRADES.

Where do you stand on this issue/What will you do?

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Reflect & Respond

IN CASES OF STRUGGLING STUDENTS OR SPECIAL EDUCATION, HOW SHOULD THEIR GRADE BE ASSESSED?

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APTITUDE

STIGGINGS ARGUES THAT THE DIFFERENTIATION SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE INSTRUCTION IN ORDER TO HELP THE STUDENT ACHIEVE THE TARGETS.

THE STUDENTS’ SUCCESS IN HITTING THE TARGETS DETERMINES THEIR GRADE ON THE REPORT CARD.

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COMPUTING THE GRADE

Decide at the beginning of your assessment system which method you want to use.

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CALCULATING GRADES

KEEP YOUR GRADING SYSTEM SIMPLE. THE SIMPLEST GRADING METHOD IS TO ASSIGN

POINTS TO EACH ASSESSMENT. ADD UP THE POINTS AND DETERMINE THE PERCENTAGE. This may not work for you! SO FIND SOMETHING ELSE THAT WORKS.

MOST SCHOOLSYSTEMS HAVE A DISTRICT WIDE GRADING SCALE.

MAKE SURE YOUR GRADING SYSTEM IS EASILY UNDERSTOOD BY STUDENTS, PARENTS AND ADMINISTRATION.

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USING PERCENTAGE CORRECTLY

ASSIGNMENTS SHOULD EQUAL TO 100 PERCENT. IF YOU HAVE A TEST WITH 20 QUESTIONS, YOU CAN EITHER FIND THE PERCENTAGE SCORE OR COUNT EACH QUESTION 5 POINTS.

YOU WILL HAVE TO TRANSLATE EACH ASSIGNMENT TO 100 PERCENT.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE USING A 4 LEVEL RUBRIC4 = 1003.5 = 903.0 = 802.5 = 702.0 = 601.5 = 50

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WEIGHTING ASSESSMENTS

SimpleInvertebrates

ComplexInvertebrates

Cold-Blooded Vertebrates

Warm-Blooded Vertebrates

Animal Behavior

15% 15% 20% 30% 20%

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USING A PERCENTAGE CORRECT SCOREAssume 5 tests

Test Keith Dion

1 Simple Invertebrates 70 85

2 Complex Invertebrates 65 90

3 Cold Blooded Vertebrates 80 88

4Warm BloodedVertebrates

75 93

5 Animal Behavior 83 95

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How to Weight

Test Keith Dion 1 70 x .15 = 10.5 85 x .15 = 12.75 2 65 x .15 = 9.75 90 x .15 = 13.5 3 80 x .20 = 16 88 x .20 = 17.6 4 75 x .30 = 22.5 93 x .30 = 27.9 5 83 x .20 = 16.6 95 x .20 = 19

Total 74.6 75.35 90.2 90.75

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WEIGHTING

This distribution reflects the value of each topic, not the length of chapters, etc.

Your assessments need to reflect the overall value of each topic.

This will provide good content-related evidence for validity.

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WEIGHTNG (2)

Instructional time spent on each of these subjects is a barometer of the value or importance of the topic.

General reliability increases with a greater number of items for

each learning target. You need to combine the assessments

properly for the final grade.

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CALCULATING THE FINAL GRADE

IN MOST SCHOOLS THE SEMESTER FINAL EXAM IS 1/5 (20%) OF THE FINAL SEMESTER GRADE. ADD UP THE 2 QUARTERS TWICE AND THE FINAL EXAM ONCE AND DIVIDE THAT TOTAL BY 5 TO GET THE FINAL GRADE FOR THE COURSE.

– - If a student has an 83% for 1st Q, an 87% for 2nd Q and a 78% on the final exam…(83+83+87+87+78) / 5 = final percentage for course.

MOST SCHOOLS WILL HAVE A COMPUTERIZED GRADING SYSTEM THAT WILL CALCULATE AND WEIGHT GRADES, AND PRINT OUT THE REPORT CARDS.

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Sample 1 : Total Points

32 homework assignments @ 25 pts. each = 800 6 unit tests @ 250 pts. each = 1500 3 theme based projects @ 250 pts. each = 750 Daily participation @ 25 points / week = 450

(18 weeks)

Total 3500

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Sample 2 : Weighted Categories A

Homework = 20% Participation = 15% Tests & Quizzes = 40% Projects & Presentations = 25%

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Sample 2 : Weighted Categories B

Homework = 15% Participation = 10% Tests = 30% Quizzes = 20% Projects = 15% Presentations = 15%

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Sample 2 : Weighted Categories C

Reading = 20% Writing = 20% Speaking/Discussion = 20% Assessments = 40%

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Sample 2 : Weighted Categories D

Poetry = 20% Short Story = 15% Novels = 40% Tests & Quizzes = 25%

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Sample 2 : Weighted Categories E

Elements = 16.67% Principles = 16.67% Vocabulary = 16.66% Styles = 16.66% Structures = 16.67% Technical Skills = 16.67%

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Sample 2 : Weighted Categories F

Motor & Movement 20% Participation 20% Fitness (enhancing personal level/knowledge of

resources) 20% Teamwork 20% Tests & Quizzes 20%

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Sample 1 : Total Points

32 homework assignments @ 25 pts. each = 800– 5 = elements– 5 = principles– 5 = styles– 7 = vocabulary– 5 = structures– 5 = technical skills

6 unit tests @ 250 pts. each = 1500– Drawing (charcoal, pastel & graphite)– Painting (acrylic, oil & water color)– Print Making (engraving, inkjet, screen)

OR– Romanticism– Modernism– Contemporary

3 theme based projects @ 250 pts. each = 750 Daily participation @ 25 points / week = 450

(18 weeks)

Total 3500

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ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING

THESE ARE ASSESSMENTS THAT HELP STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PROGRESS, BUT WILL NOT BE PART OF THEIR GRADE. EXAMPLES:

QUIZZES, HOMEWORK, ORAL QUESTIONING.

HOW DO YOU GET STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF THIS?