Below you will
find answers to many of the common questions we receive regarding
the new report card Wendell implemented last year and is continuing this
year. Please e-mail the webmaster or contact your child's
teacher(s) with additional questions we can post here!
What does "Standards Based" Grading really mean?
Just that. Your child's knowledge of the particular grade level
curriculum is measure according to preset standards. For example,
it is typical for a 4th grader to use commas in a series (with
3 or more objects). That is one standard used to determine their
Level (1, 2, 3, 3*, or 4) for their grade.
My child received a 4 on his/her EOG test. Now they
only received 3s on their report card. Are they struggling?
No! With this new grading system, a common generalization
people make is the grades on EOG transfer to the report card.
This is false. A 4 on EOGs does not equal a 4 on the report
card. While Wake County is trying to align the grading closer
to EOGs, the alignment is not exact. Wake County Public Schools
is trying to align the EOGs with Student Achievment reporting
better, but there is not yet an exact match. Really read
the comments from the teacher to see a better idea of where
your child is.
Why so many 3s?
3s are good! A score of 3 indicates your child is showing
grade level expectations on a particular objective/subject.
That's where we want our students to be!
What about honor roll?
A Grading Committee at Wendell GT is currently developing
an Awards System. Since we can no longer use the criteria
of all As or As and Bs, we will inform you of new expectations
at a later date.
How do children earn 4s?
Students need to extend the grade level standards
beyond simple mastery. If a class is reading a story on Japan,
grade level (3) mastery would be telling a summary of the
story, completing questions on the story, or other such activities. In
addition to these activities, the student must
complete additional work at school and at home showing a
more advance understanding of the topic. Examples include
writing a journal as a Japanese resident, research projects
on Japanese culture or geography, and many other things.
Talk to your child's teacher for more ideas!
So to get a 4, my student must
complete additional work beyond classroom work/homework?
No. A student can show '4' Level mastery in the classroom
during a discussion. A student can also show this mastery while
the teacher observes him/her working on something in the class.
An 'extra' project is just another way of showing 4 Level mastery,
but not the only way.
Is a perfect paper a 4?
No. A perfect paper simply shows mastery of a certain
objective/standard. For instance, on a sheet of mapping
skills, a 10 out of 10 merely shows grade level competency,
which is still very good! A perfect paper does not show
'above grade level expectations.'
Tell me again, why are we using these new report cards?
In the past, students received 'grades' with little
meaning. Two students, of different abilities, could receive
a B on the same project. The question becomes, "What is a
B? What is an A?" Often, teachers could not answer that question.
With the new, standards-based grading, each student is assessed
according to a set of standards. For instance, each student
needs to show mastery of double digit addition in a grade
to be considered 'on grade level' (3). If they do not, they
would score a 2 or 1.
So, you've read everything about the new report card. Confused?
Hopefully, this
next portion can spread more 'common sense' light on the use of the new
report card.
Can you give me an easier way of explaining what the different
scores mean?
Sure! This was found on other school's site, but really puts
the standards based system in terms of the real end-users, our
children:
Level
4
Extends
targeted grade level standards
"Since I can do/get this, I can figure out new things!"
Level
3*
Demonstrates
proficiency of targeted grade level standards with evidence
of application.
"I get it and I can use it."
Level
3
Demonstrates
proficiency of targeted grade level standards.
"I get it!" "I can do it well!"
Level
2
Needs
support to meet targeted grade level standards.
"I almost get it but I need help."
Level
l
Insufficient
performance of targeted grade level standards.
"I don't get it yet. I need help."
