Hello Everyone!
I heard that a number of VTs are going to be discussing grading next Wednesday. I would like to use this post as a place to reflect on as well as keep other people informed of their discussions within their VTs. I think it would be great to hear what all of you are discussing!
I know that's our big focus for VT Social Studies this year.
What did your VT discuss?
How did you approach changing practices?
What are the main reservations of teachers in your VT?
General reflection is good, too!
I know you probably want a comment after VT, but I know some thoughts before going in. As a PLC, we know that eventually we are going to standards based grading. There are some members who are for this and others are not. It's complicated because we are coming from different research on it and different experiences. Some people in our PLC have done book studies on standard based grading and others have done their own research. Having a discussion about it makes it hard and interesting because we are all bring different pieces to the puzzle. I think it would be beneficial as a VT if we all did a book study on a grading book. At least then we would all have an equal base to go off of.
ReplyDeleteIn English our VT won't be talking about standards based grading - though it will have to be discussed. I will be glad when the initiative comes down from the entire district because I think some of the discussions that have been going in circles will stop. It is very difficult with everyone coming from different backgrounds to agree on one set of procedures for grading - even when we are looking at the best interests of the students. In 7th grade English we didn't change the grading scale this year, but we are attempting to weight each standard equally in our test category. This has been an interesting situation because our normally 30-40 point tests have been dramatically decreased in points as they only address certain standards. I think our general reservations about a VT have been knowing the system well enough to explain it to parents and dealing with teaching responsibility in a new way.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that there might be various breakout sessions in the January VT meeting to address standards based grading. That would be interesting and helpful because it could meet everyone where they were at.
Our VT won't be discussing grading, but it is always an interesting topic when it does come up. In fact, our PLC just discussed it and what it should look like across the board for all of us. I am really interested to find out what it will look like as we move towards Standard Based Grading. It will be interesting to see how much training and background information we will get about it before we move forward with it.
ReplyDeleteI often wonder if it will help our PLC stay more aligned too?
Our VT has moved exclusively to a 4-3-2-1 grading scale. So, far it seems to have been very effective. Students are doing the work b/c they realize failure is not an option. However, I think the grey area is finding out a grading scale percentage wise that is research based that can be used to reference parents as to how all our 4,3,2, and 1's conver into the ABCD, 100,90,80 grading scale. That is our current dilemma. Any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteI bought a book about standards based grading at SORLA last summer and haven't had a chance to look at it, seriously. So I would like to do some of my own research, and like Connie said above, have the district come down with an initiative so that it is clear what the expectations are. Otherwise it feels very much like everyone is guessing what we should be doing. And in order for there to be trust in the process, I think it needs to have a central organization otherwise it seems there is some lack of fairness in how we are haphazardly implementing it?
ReplyDeleteIt seems as though the jury is still out on most grading. I haven't gotten a conclusive answer on the "best" way to grade. Perhaps there is no "best" way. I do feel as though the 4 point rubric seems to be considered best practices. But check back with me at the end of the school year and I'll really let you know what I though ot it. Have a great MEA.
ReplyDeleteI thought our VT in physical education was very productive last week and we were able to take a tough topic of fitness testing and agreed to all test the same. This has been something hard to agree on the past few years since Elementary felt some of the tests on Fitnessgram weren't age appropriate and we had technical problems with the print out, so we are now going with a new program called Fitstats, which seems to working out great so far. We agreed to do the same tests and were on the same page. It was also great to talk about how other teachers are using the I pad pilot and we were able to share some great ideas.
ReplyDeleteWOW! You guys commented a lot!
ReplyDeleteI think that the real answer is that we need to research using common materials and then make a unified change at the district level. I think that there is a lot of fat to trim and standards based grading does that.
Our VT just discussed how we should approach grading reform and what types of things are already in place at the PLC level. Hopefully we take the next step forward in our next VT meeting.
I agree, Eric. There has to be some commonality in the research that is looked at. Otherwise, you can find endless amounts of research to support an endless amount of arguments. It ends up, like someone said above, resulting in a group of people with differing opinions talking in circles. That being said, I think it's important that both sides of the research are looked at by the group. That way no one opinion feels like they are being attacked.
ReplyDelete