Assessment
This year, I will be using a proficiency-based grading system. This is means that students will need to meet certain standards in order to move on to the next area of study. Understanding that all students will work at different paces to achieve the standards, a student’s grade will be broken down into the following categories:
Product (75%)
The product grade reflects whether or not the student has met the standard. It includes any activity that is collected and graded (tests, quizzes, projects, presentations, essays, and some homework assignments). All assignments in this category may be revised, as long as the student does so before the end of the semester. Since I am looking for proficiency, a low grade is not a sign of “failure” - it is a sign that the student has not yet met the standard.
Process/Progress (25%)
An important part of a person’s success, both in school and in the work place, is the ability to display certain habits of work. These include putting forth significant effort, persevering in the face of a challenge, being responsible, and respecting others. The process grade reflects just this: the process by which a student achieves his or her goals, and the progress s/he makes in getting there. Self-assessments will also be included in this category.
Things that will POSITIVELY affect the process grade are:
Things that will NEGATIVELY affect the process grade are:
Product (75%)
The product grade reflects whether or not the student has met the standard. It includes any activity that is collected and graded (tests, quizzes, projects, presentations, essays, and some homework assignments). All assignments in this category may be revised, as long as the student does so before the end of the semester. Since I am looking for proficiency, a low grade is not a sign of “failure” - it is a sign that the student has not yet met the standard.
- Students may redo an assignment or make revisions only if they show significant effort on the first attempt.
- Students will be REQUIRED to redo certain assignments if they do not meet the standards being assessed. A grade of “incomplete” will be given as a place holder until revisions are made.
- Students who show significant effort on an assignment will not earn a grade lower than 50%, though they will be REQUIRED to make corrections and/or complete some review assignments.
- A grade on an assignment will always reflect what a student KNOWS or CAN DO. That means that I will always take the highest score on revisions, and I will not deduct points from the product grade for late work or work that needs to be revised.
Process/Progress (25%)
An important part of a person’s success, both in school and in the work place, is the ability to display certain habits of work. These include putting forth significant effort, persevering in the face of a challenge, being responsible, and respecting others. The process grade reflects just this: the process by which a student achieves his or her goals, and the progress s/he makes in getting there. Self-assessments will also be included in this category.
Things that will POSITIVELY affect the process grade are:
- Getting right to work
- Working through a challenge
- Not giving up
- Actively participating
- Encouraging or assisting others
- Putting in consistent effort
- Asking for help
- Respecting others
Things that will NEGATIVELY affect the process grade are:
- Handing in assignments late
- Not doing homework
- Being tardy to class
- Off-task behavior and disruptions
- Not following class rules
- Not being prepared for class