GRADING

1. GRADING Survivor . . . Irving Vannetta Chapman 1st Floor, English

2. Reasons teachers don’t want to talk about grading . . . fear Rick Wormeli “Fair Isn’t Always Equal” ignorance cynicism Perceived increase in workload complacency distrust unclear outcomes Survival Mode

3. How about we trash all that? distrust complacency fear cynicism ignorance Survival Mode Perceived increase in workload unclear outcomes

4. For 60 minutes . . . • Let’s play, Survivor! • Close your computers, • Stop thinking about how stupid this is, • Quit worrying about all you have to do, • And let’s talk about kids, and learning, and assessing that learning.

5. A useful definition . . . • A grade represents a clear and accurate indicator of what a student knows and is able to do – mastery. • Grades document the progress of students and our teaching. • We provide feedback to students and parents • We make instructional decisions. ~ Wormeli

6. Let’s take a short walk . . .. . . down memory lane. • On your card write down the name of the fairest teacher/ professor you have ever had. 10 seconds

7. Let’s take a short walk . . .. . . down memory lane. • REVEAL! Times up!

8. 10 seconds Let’s take a short walk . . .. . . down memory lane. • On your card write down the name of the least fair teacher/ professor you have ever had.

9. Let’s take a short walk . . .. . . down memory lane. • REVEAL! Times up!

10. There is a difference, in Survivor . . . Notice I didn’t ask who was your HARDEST teacher. • between demanding, having high expectations, and being fair.

11. 10 seconds What does Irving ISD state is FAIR grading? Write down every word that stands out to you.

12. Three fourths ( 75%) of the total six week grade will consist of daily grades.  At least two grades and/or evaluations will be given each week.  These grades can consist of written assignments, oral assignments, notebooks (which should not count more than a major test grade), compositions, laboratory projects, homework, unit/departmental tests, class participation, independent practice completed in class, special projects, and criterion referenced tests.  The daily grades should be an appropriately balanced representation of the work done during the marking period.  Six week tests will count one-fourth (25%) of the total six week grade.  A six-week test will be an evaluation of material covered during the grading period. 

13. REVEAL! Times up!

14. How many did you get? Three fourths ( 75%) of the total six week grade will consist of daily grades.  At least two grades and/or evaluations will be given each week.  These grades can consist of written assignments, oral assignments, notebooks (which should not count more than a major test grade), compositions, laboratory projects, homework, unit/departmental tests, class participation, independent practice completed in class, special projects, and criterion referenced tests.  The daily grades should be an appropriately balanced representation of the work done during the marking period.  Six week tests will count one-fourth (25%) of the total six week grade.  A six-week test will be an evaluation of material covered during the grading period. 

15. Grade ratios are determined by I use 65 / 35 daily test YOU!

16. To SURVIVE, remember . . . no one grade should count for more than 25% of a student's grade.  If your percentages are 65 (daily) / 35 (test) then you must give more than one test – in my opinion you should always give more than one test anyway.

17. DIFFERENTIATION DIFFERENT-i-a-tion “doing whatever it takes to maximize students’ learning at every turn, including giving them the tools to handle anything that is undifferentiated.” (Rick Wormeli)

18. DIFFERENTIATION Vote me off. Send me home. I’m ready for tribal council! • This is me, shutting down, because I hate words like DIFFERENTIATION. • Buzzwords make me crazy (er). • So let’s substitute some pictures instead.

19. DIFFERENTIATION

20. DIFFERENTIATION • You can not, and should not, grade these students the same. • It’s wrong. • It’s unfair. • It’s illegal. Patrick Martin He’ll help you survive.

21. Planning Your Six Weeks Grades 12 Grades = 2 grades/week = 1/class some weeks = 1/1.5 class some weeks You have one minute to list twelve grades for your first six weeks! 1 minute

22. REVEAL! Times up!

23. Other ideas . . . Combine grades (warm-ups) Classroom folders help here. Otherwise, they take part 1 home and you NEVER see it again! Layered Curriculum grades (be careful) Visual checks, must complete a certain portion each day. Daily grade PLUS overall grade.

24. More ideas . . . TYPES OF GRADING One-on-One Grading Student brings work to my desk, and I grade it there while he watches, and put a grade in the grade book at that moment. Visual Grading I walk around, check, and put a grade in the grade book at that moment.

25. More ideas . . . TYPES OF GRADING Blackboard Grading I run a report, put a grade in the grade book, and file the report. Turn-it-in Grading Pass out of class (no zeroes) I stay late and grade until I pull my hair out.

26. 7 Tools to help you SURVIVE! • Rubrics • Self-Assessment • Grade sheets • Progress Reports • Parents • Extra Credit • Other teachers/ your vp

27. Grading Tools Rubrics It’s FAIR. Students know ahead of time what portions count the most (a good & bad thing – they CAN add) Students stop feeling their grade has been pulled out of a hat. It’s easy to modify for sped students

28. 10 seconds Let’s try one! Grade yourself . . .

29. REVEAL! Times up! Anyone get 100? 90? 80? If you made below a 70 you’ll be asked to leave the tribal council area immediately . . .

30. Grading Tools Self-Assessment You assessed yourself. Now you know your grade. In class - - - • Students learn to stop and consider the value of the work they have done. • Students are rewarded for assessing their work objectively – a skill they sorely need! • You have great documentation for any grade disputes!

31. Grading Tools Grade sheets I give students a paper grade sheet (and colored folders). It teaches them to list and average their grades. If I need an additional grade, I will take a completion grade over it. Grade sheets and folders stay IN THE CLASSROOM (I may grade them any time). Students never have to ask me what their grade is.

32. Grading Tools Grade sheets By the second six weeks, we’ve moved to an excel grade sheet. It computes automatically. Students can fill in future grades and see what they “need to make.” When parents contact me, I can say, “Has Johnny shown you the grade sheet on his computer?”

33. Grading Tools Progress Reports Progress reports are printed BY FLOOR at the 3 week period. Unfortunately they don’t get into the students’ hands and home until the end of the 4th week. By that time there’s only 2 weeks to raise grades, IF the progress report even makes it home. This report lists the grades for all classes, but with no detail.

34. Grading Tools Progress Reports I print a detailed report at the end of the 3rd week, and hand it out the Monday and Tuesday of the 4th week. Students must compare the report to the graded papers in their folder. They can only dispute a grade IF they have the graded paper in their folder. If they take it home and get it signed, they get extra credit.

35. Grading Tools Progress Reports If students find an error in their favor, they are instructed NOT to tell me. My mistake – they keep it. If students find an error that hurts their grade, all they have to do is show me and I change it (usually with a few bonus points added on).

36. Grading Tools Parents If parents understand how you are grading, or what upcoming grades are, they will back you up. They will encourage their children. (More of this in my parent contact workshop).

37. Grading Tools Parents I always email parents that progress reports are coming home. If they email me that they never saw it, I copy and paste another into their email.

38. Grading Tools Extra Credit I try to offer one extra credit assignment per six weeks. I give restroom passes that can be used for extra credit. I give extra credit for finding my errors! “be very cautious with extra credit and bonus points, using them only to entice students, but never to substitute for or significantly alter a grade.” (Wormeli)

39. Grading Tools Other teachers/ your vp There will be times when you don’t know “what’s fair.” Ask someone! The teachers around you and your floor vp are good resources. Sometimes they can be more objective than you!

40. 10 seconds SEMESTER EXAMS Write down every word that stands out to you.

41. District Requirements Semester Grades • Each six week grade will represent 25% of the student's work.  The semester exam will represent 25% of the student's work.  This exam should be over material taught all three six weeks.  All semester and exam grades are to be recorded in proper columns in the grade book.

42. REVEAL! Times up! Anyone find THREE PHRASES?

43. District Requirements Semester Grades • Each six week grade will represent 25% of the student's work.  The semester exam will represent 25% of the student's work.  This exam should be over material taught all three six weeks.  All semester and exam grades are to be recorded in proper columns in the grade book.

44. Furthermore . . . • A waiver has been granted from TEA to exempt junior and senior students from final examinations for the spring semester if the student's grade average is not less than 85 and the student has missed no more than 2 classes during the semester.  If a semester exam is not given in a course, an average of the three six week grades should be recorded as the semester exam grade.

45. Final notes . . . Make-up work You are required to allow it for excused absences. I have students sign a makeup work log showing they received the work and the date it is due.

46. Final notes . . . Late work and zeroes If an A is a 90 B is an 80 C is a 70 ___ is a 0? K- Do you really want to give a student a K-?

47. Just THINK about it . . . “Adjusting zeroes to sixty is not giving students something for having done nothing. It’s adjusting the grading scale so that . . . each grade has an appropriate amount of influence. Marking zeroes as sixties still means the student failed.” Rick Wormeli “Fair Isn’t Always Equal”

48. 10 seconds Final notes . . . Re-do’s Should students get a second chance? Let’s VOTE!

49. REVEAL! Times up!

50. Final notes . . . Re-do’s If it gets the students back into the material one more time, it might be a good idea. (How can it be bad for them to go over vocabulary one more time?) I often REQUIRE it until they get an 85! Boy does that irk them, but they do it! : )