why gradefs(grading philosophy 101)
TRANSCRIPT
Why Grade and GIVE F’sYeah, you read that right!
Minarets High School
Students are not Numbers
They are people, trying to learn, trying to cope.
Grades should Help the learning, not hurt it.
Minarets High School
What the Letters Mean… A or B is exceptional and superior work. These
grades represent quality and professionalism. Work done on time and complete. Work domesticates understanding
of subject and mastery. They are college
recommending grades to the rest of the world.
C or D is work that has merit but is not of
great quality or understanding. These
grades represent average or below average work. While they are passing grades they don’t show
mastery of subject.
F is the grade the represents failure. A “F” can have wide
meaning from NOT DOING the assignment(zero), to not
getting done on time(5%-50%) to having
critical mistakes(51%-59%)
Minarets High School
Collaboration
Communication
Community
Creativity
Critical Thinking
Competency
The Minarets 6C’s
All assignments are graded with these 6C’s in mind.
Not all assignments are equal, but all will contain some(if not all) of these criteria.
Students and parents should expect a lease one new grade per week.
No week is more important than another.
Minarets High School
* Provide students with a grading rubric
* Explain to them what they will learn
* Identify the key concepts of the assignment
* Value the work they do in class
Minarets High School
GRADE FOOD for
THOUGHT
Minarets High School
Grades are your Currency($$$)
Make every week worth $100
Minarets High School
Grades are your Currency($$$)
*everyone understands math based on 100 *50%, 60%, 70%, 80% and 90% make sense *students and parents can remember that system
Minarets High School
Grades are your Currency($$$)How it works conceptually:
5 days a week? Then each day is worth 20 points
3 days a week? Then each day is worth 33 points
2 days a week? Then each day is worth 50 points
Your instructional practice should reflect doable and meaningful work that can be done in time allotted.
Minarets High School
Grades are your Currency($$$)Some examples:
Scenario 1: Teacher gives a 24 question test at the end of the week. This test is balanced and reflects teaching and learning that went on during that school week. How is it worth 100? Simple, grade the test, get the percentage…award that many points for the week assignment. 20/24=83%, so the student gets 83 points.
Scenario 2: You will meet with your class 3 times this week. They will be working on a project that is due at the end of the week. Each days’ work counts, but the project is more. Award 20 points for the first 2 days of class and 60 points for the competed project. 100 points total.
Minarets High School
Grades are your Currency($$$)YIKES that is A LOT of GRADING!
✤ Make it EASY on yourself. ✤ Divide the 100 points as you see fit. ✤ One weekly grade. ✤ Two grades, three grades. Just make them total 100 per
week.
Minarets High School
Grades are your Currency($$$)YIKES that is A LOT of GRADING!
*Grade in CLASS. Use the block period to grade. *Give students feedback and give points. *Combine GRADES. Combine two class periods into ONE GRADE. Like PROJECT WORK:WK4. Then the project grade. *Use descriptions and notes to remind you and the student what the grade was for.
Minarets High School
Grades are your Currency($$$)GIVE F’s. and D’s and C’s and B’s and A’s TOO!
Scenario 3: Student comes to class and starts working project, she/he is at the next class and works some more… Friday comes and the project never gets turned in…
GRADE the STUDENT. It can still be an F(and probably is) but it is not a ZERO, reward the work. Maybe they worked part time on the first day and work well the 2nd day..it could be a 45% for the week. 45/100. Still and F, but not a ZERO.
Minarets High School
Grades are your Currency($$$)GIVE F’s. and D’s and C’s and B’s and A’s TOO!
How that might look in a Grade Book:
15/20 Project X work 20/20 Project X work2 10/60 Project X completion
OR…How that might look in a Grade Book:
35/40-Classwork Week 2 10/60 Project X completion
Giving students constant feedback is key! Notes in gradebook are great too!
Minarets High School
We believe in being a PROFESSIONAL
PRO POINTS for being a PROEarly work, going above and beyond, helping others
PROs Value Time
Minarets High School
We believe in PRO POINTS
Students who put in EXTRA DAY of REAL SCHOOLWORKDeserve PRO POINTS
PROs Value Time
Minarets High School
How much PRO POINTS
Let’s say a student comes in on a Friday night to workfor a student event, she/he works 4 hours. That is ½ a day.
Each day 20 points. ½ day 10 points.Don’t overvalue or undervalue good work.
PROs Value Time
Minarets High School
Students are Human and Teachers are Too!
Communication is key. Sometimes whole class, sometimes one on one.
Q: If a student does not work regularly should they get an A or B?
Minarets High School
Students are Human and Teachers are Too!
Communication is key. Sometimes whole class, sometimes one on one.
A: NO, students, even very nice ones can still get a C or D even if they do every assignment.
Quality and Timeliness matter.
Minarets High School
We Access Learning Students and their success matter to all of us.
In the end of the term…what does your professional knowledge of your subject, your knowledge of the student,
and your observations and grading tell you?
Award the Grade the student deserves and has earned.
Minarets High School
Ask for help. Don’t wait. Show that you care.
Grades Matter.
Minarets High School
Have a Great Year!
The End