#5thchat Archive
#5thchat is for people interested in chatting about topics in education, especially as they relate to Grade 5. The goal is to connect people who enjoy learning & sharing, plus supporting & creating partnerships worldwide!
Tuesday May 3, 2016
Welcome to ! Topic: formative assessment and grading. Introduce yourself and share your favorite end of the year class activity.
Hello All!!! Ed Tech from ATX
Hi all...Jordan from Princeton, NJ. Going to try triple-dipping tonight. 3 great convos going on at and
Welcome all...favorite end of year is self-reflection on learning and hopes for the future! Maybe some PBL or service learning
Hi all. I teach in Princeton NJ. Fave EOY activity has to be having my current students write letters to next year's class.
Love this topic. Close to my ❤️ At dinner with daughter, but will try to catch some live convo and then read the feed.
Hi all! Shari here! My favorite end of the year activity is anything that gets the kids outside!!
Jessie, 5th Gr, Grand Forks, ND. I have a beginning/end of the year form we fill out and turn it into a document w/ picts.
Hello, I am Robin Diedrichs from Deland, Florida! My DPP focused on assessment this year so excited to participate & learn from you
Hi! Erica from SATX. EOY-enjoying each min w/ the kids!
Favorite EOY-For 5 years my class has written puppet plays, turned class into theater, and performed for the school last days of Sc
EOY in our class is getting ready for presenting projects
A1: Unless Ss know what meeting standard looks like,grading done by T is pointless.Self-assessment is key.
A1 To guide instruction-inform parents of S achievement-alert Ts of student ie enrichment, intervention, accountability
Q1: to report progress/growth
Leslye Thiery, Grand Forks, ND I really love the end of year city wide 5th grade track meet! I hate saying goodbye to the kids.
A1: to report progress/growth
A1: Tried something new a few times this year...Only highlighting mistakes on math test, no actual grade.
Did this, too...experimenting with different feedback methods in math.
A1I think ABCD started because the higher ups needed an efficient standardized system. It was a mistake! Feedback is critical.
A1: To provide feedback as to where to go next with instruction
"Grades" should reflect real time progress toward the standards and benchmarks for the lession or unit. https://t.co/VxJXP4TLAr
Q3: Does an “average” over the semester or quarter show student growth and improvement over time? https://t.co/FxgnlpDBIO
A3 Capital NO! It shows the average of their work over a semester or quarter.
A3 can also make it look any way you want...weighting, grading participation, etc.
A3: No! It shows their average, not where they started or how much they grew!
A3: Doesn't reflect growth at all - it negates change over time.
A3: No! It's diluted by earlier struggles.
A4 So...much...paperwork!
A4: Ambiguity. What does an "A" really mean? What about a "B?"
A4: Doesn't accurately show us what Ss Know, Understand and can do in relation to the goal at a given time.
It doesn’t measure growth. An A student is satisfied with an A and doesn’t always push themselves. A D student remains unmotivated.
Too often grades are used as a carrot to motivate students.
A4 Do you think giving students a 1, 2, 3, 4 on a rubric scale without feedback is similar?
True - or "threaten" Ss. And all too often it doesn't motivate real learning :(!
A4: #2 Ss focus is on grades and not the actual learning.
A4-Subjectiviy/meaning of A/B/C/D/F/ comparative value/confusing 4 parents when disparity across Ts/Schools/ lack of information
A3-Such a difficult topic-I don't think so b/c it is dependent on quality of assessment/lack of standardization/subjectivity
A5 Standards Based Grading guides students towards excellence.
A5: Standards-based grading, involves measuring students' proficiency on well-defined course objectives.
A5 SBG is assessing the standard in terms of level of mastery allowing Ss/Ts & parents to see where they are on the continuum
A5: SBG follows SBL,where Ts teach/model/provide practice towards standards.Mult opps for Ss. Then,Ss self-assess & redo if needed.
A5 It allows teachers to adjust instruction. When a student is proficient, they know they’ve mastered. What does a 70% or 80% mean?
Q6: What is the purpose of standards-based grading?
A5 Standards Based grading takes time- standards must be clear, kids must be able to be reflective-and have the grit to redo work.
True. The continuum from "I've got it" to "I don't have it...yet." Growth mindset.
very true! We need something that better describes what concepts students are understanding and need more help
A6-Purpose of SBG is to inform all particips allowing 4 intervention/goal setting/enrichment/increased challenge-natural to future
standards-based grading allows both students and parents to understand what the student specifically has mastered
A6: The purpose of SBG is to assess Ss on their progress towards standards, so Ss get specific/timely feedback needed to improve.
Do any of you use Standards Based Report Cards in your district? If so, how to you record when they’ve mastered a standard?
Q7 How does standards-based grading differ from more conventional grading approaches?
I would love to hear about this as well!!!
A7: Precision. Shows exactly what skills have been mastered/in progress/not yet
A7: It measures Ss current level of proficiency, and doesn't average all the attempts made. Last best attempt is reported.
A7: The focus is more about mastering standards, not completing "A" work or "B" work.
A7-Maybe less about "labeling" Ss & more about truly employing a mastery approach to learning.
A7:It's not about earning pts, worrying about getting an "A" or wanting to do X cred so Ss get a higher score. It's about LEARNING.
hmm, that sounds confusing to me! The school I am currently working at uses the typical "A-F" system. Not a fan
Q8: What are the advantages to standard’s based grading and adjustments needed when moving from a more traditional approach?
A8: Adjustments-buy in from Ts, Ps, Ss. Change is hard for all.
A8-Reeducating all members of education system-students, teachers & parents! It is a big learning curve-seen it begun & dropped b/c
and isn't this the goal of education?
A8: Benefit, Ss embrace feedback and first attempts to improve. Work toward learning and mastery - not memorize for the grade.
Very true! I'm willing to change but not without knowing I'll be backed up from admin.
The symbols R not what is most important; what is important is what the symbols mean. I prefer E P AP & NY
YES!!! https://t.co/9bxiRqX2Io
Yes- and once they understand the growth mindset, they take pride in working toward their goal-persevering!
E= Excels; P= Proficient; AP = Approaching Proficient; NY= Not Yet.
Challenge is getting them out of the mindset of comparing to each other.
A8 Basic advantage of standards-based grading - it puts the emphasis on learning while traditional grading puts emphasis on points.
