I’m slowly becoming a big believer in the concept of standards-based grading, particularly as it applies to writing. Throughout my own education (which wasn’t all that long ago), I often had no idea what went into the grading of my essays. Though I was an honors/AP student, essay grading often seemed subjective and, while I learned a lot from the comments, I didn’t know what separated an “A” paper from a “B” paper.
When I started working in my current job, our department used a standards-based rubric to score essays. At the time, we used a 10-point scale to grade the essays, which was quite simple. As we have progressed in our movement towards more standards-based grading, we have evolved into using a 4-point scale, which is simpler and easier to understand.
The inherent problem with this shift is that a 4-point grading scale does not convert neatly to a 100-point grading system like that used in our school. One of my biggest stressors over the last year has been trying to figure out how to solve this problem – how to convert the 4-point rubric to a 100-point grade. For example, if a student earns a 3 on our rubric – which we label as meeting standard – she earns a 75%, which in our normal grading scale is a C. A student who does not quite meet the standard and earns a 2 has just failed with a 50%. Even a student who worked hard on the paper but simply lacks the proficiency to do well on an essay will fail miserably by getting a 1, as that is only a 25%. The problem is obvious to anyone who looks at it, and we’re not even dealing with the dreaded zero (for more on that, check out “The Case Against the Zero,” by Doublas B. Reeves - it’s something of an eye-opener).
Lately, I’ve been working on finding an adequate solution for this problem that is both fair to the students and easy for the teachers. Obviously whatever we do will add some work for the teacher, as we have to convert one scale to the other. But the methodology we choose could minimize that work or make it daunting. After doing a little online research, I came up with a couple of ideas, all of which employed Excel.
- Create a spreadsheet for the entire class that allows me to input the scores from each writing category (content, organization, word choice, etc.) and have it calculate the 100-point grades. This seemed to be an effective, but also somewhat time-consuming choice.
- Create a table (to print out) that converts a total score on our 4-point, 6-trait scale (basically a 24 point scale) into a number that can be entered as a percentage. While this seems to be the most efficient way, it also lacks the ability to weight categories or eliminate categories – basically we’d have to have a scale for every imaginable situation.
- Create a grade adjustment calculator that gets used and reused. Have spaces to input the scores for each trait on the rubric, weight those scores, and have the spreadsheet calculate the adjusted point total for an accurate percentage. This seems, to me, the best balance of efficiency and effectiveness. It acts like a calculator, only you have to switch between windows (unless you’re using dual monitors…*drool*).
As I’m continuing to ponder/debate this difficult issue, I’m hoping for input on a couple of things. If you’d like to provide some feedback, please click a response in one of the two polls below, letting the me the world know which of the above options is best, and what grade you think a 3 (meets standard) should earn . I’d also, obviously love to hear comments on what you’re already doing or what you think might work. Looking forward to seeing some ideas bandied about. 
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: assessment, grading, standards
What you need to do is figure out what is absolute zero on an essay that was turned in. I usually say that’s a 40. Here’s an example of how a 30-point rubric might work (6 areas of accomplishment across 5 domains):
30=100
29.5=99
29=98
28.5=97
28=96
27.5=95
27=94
26.5=93
26=92
25.5=91
25=90
24.5=89
24=88
23.5=87
23=86
22.5=85
22=84
21.5=83
21=82
20.5=81
20=80
19.5=79
19=78
18.5=77
18=76
17.5=75
17=74
16.5=73
16=72
15.5=71
15=70
14.5=69
14=68
13.5=67
13=66
12.5=65
12=64
11.5=63
11=62
10.5=61
10=60
9.5=59
9=58
8.5=57
8=56
7.5=55
7=54
6.5=53
6=52
5.5=51
5=50
4.5=49
4=48
3.5=47
3=46
2.5=45
2=44
1.5=43
1=42
0.5=41
0=40
The way it works is that if a kid turns in a paper and earns all 1’s on each domain, she would earn a 50, which seems fair for a paper that is a 1 across the board — it would be a failing paper. You can figure it out for any number of points. It makes it a lot easier to use rubrics to derive a grade.
I’ve been working on implementing standards-based grading in my class and plan to spend the summer figuring out how I can use this in my science classes (I teach high school). If work is graded on a 4-point scale where 1= above standards; 2 = meets standards; 3 = approaching standards; and 1 = below standards that would roughly translate to:
4.0 = A+
3.7 – 3.9 = A-
3.3 – 3.6 = B+
3.0 – 3.2 = B
2.7 – 2.9 = B-
2.3 – 2.6 = C+
2.0 – 2.2 = C
1.7 – 1.9 = C-
1.3 – 1.6 = D+
1.2 – 1.0 = D
0.7 – 0.9 = D-
0.6 – 0 = F
This is still a work in progress, so if anyone sees any problem with this scale please point it out to me!
One of the things I’m having a hard time figuring out is finding things for the kids who master that standards early. What kind of extension activities would enhance learnign and not seeme like more work? I don’t want to foster the idea that success = more work = punishment. How have others dealt with this?
If a student gets 1s in every single area, for every single assignment, wouldn’t his average be 1.0. That would be a D, for a student who doesn’t know anything, right?
I just realized that my post is incorrect. A 4= exceeds standard, 3=meets standard, 2=approaching standard, 1=doesn’t meet standard, and of course 0=student has not attempted to meet standard.
Which does, indeed, mean that a student who scores a 1 on every assignment receives a passing grade. Not perfect, I realize. But it also indicates that the student at least, attempts to meet the standards. I’m afraid that until the system of reporting changes it’s the best I can do.
I, like all of you struggle with grading systems. Not only do I try to come up with a rubric that meets the standards that student friendly but our department is trying to all get on “the same page” as far as grading goes. This has not been easy because we all have our own expectations and requirements. That’s what make us teachers. I use a system that is almost identical to the one listed above. I found that the drastic point change discourages students when they can get a “100 for a 4″ and then only an “80 for a 3″. Allowing for the “in between” numbers to be given has improved their grades on projects and written assignments.
I have often come across this problem too, while grading my student’s essays. I want the students to understand the difference between an A and B paper, which is sometimes hard with the concept of standard grading. However, scale grading is easier to grade papers, but it is not always fair in my eyes. Global Studies essays are graded on a scale of 1 to 5. If I didn’t change the scale then a student who wrote a 3 essay, which is a decent essay would receive a grade of a 60% A solution to this is to create your own grading scale with numeric grades that reflect the students work.
I think I have decided to use a 4 point scale with a
4 – 100%
3 – 80%
2 – 60%
1 – 40%
However, a significant note is that math teachers at my school have a practice that D- is not passing. Students who do not get a 64% or better will receive an F in the class.
This is perfect for me because “almost meets standard” is not passing to me.
I’m going to go all out on this, with homework not being graded toward the academic grade. Participation will help a student in his citizenship and effort grades (big whoop, I know), and only be practice for tests and quizzes.
Let me know what you think. I did a test run for high school Algebra 2 last semester, but want to do this for all classes this year, once I get the wrinkles smoothed.
This is a really great discussion! I’ve had similar thoughts on the use of s-b grading and transferring it back to the traditional percentage/letter grade scale. I haven’t come up with a clear-cut answer yet, but here are my thoughts so far: http://bit.ly/ZWnUv
Yet another solution is to not really worry about percentages and give students ongoing opportunities to improve their scores. This idea goes along the premise that a grade represents only a student’s current level of understanding rather than some hybrid effort+progress+mastery formula often used in traditional grading. If you’re interested, you can read my extended thoughts on late work: http://bit.ly/Ry5XO
Looking forward to engaging in this discussion here on Edumacation!
What an interesting discussion! I am surprised that this discussion just keeps going. Perhaps an updated post (with some additional research) would be a better place to engage in this topic a little more?
In any case, I am intrigued by a couple of the ideas being shared here, particularly Emily’s note that “Almost meets standard” is not passing.
There are a lot of issues at play here – standards-based grading, traditional grading scales, the standards we are using to assess students, and even administrative decisions to hold back or “pass” students on to the next grade. This last one, however, I feel is the absolutely critical component of the entire discussion. The more I wrestle with this topic the more I realize that, if a student was not meeting lower standards, why am I holding that student accountable to even higher standards? It would seem that if we truly believe in standards, we would be holding back students that don’t meet those standards.
Obviously, this isn’t likely to happen in the educational/political climate of public schools. I’ll have more on this in a future post, but it’s something I continue to think about. If holding students back is not an option, however, we’re left with the current discussion of melding s-b and traditional grades. Like Matt, I’m excited to continue this discussion.
I piloted standards-based assessment and reporting in my classroom and then in my department at my last school. We struggled mightily with all of the questions and issues raised in the post and comments above. There is so much to deal with when shifting from traditional grading to SBAR, including colleagues’, students’, and parents’ perceptions of rubrics, which – no matter how detailed – are “mushy” when compared to a “real” grade in many people’s eyes. My best advice is to take the time needed to educate your learning community about SBAR and 4- or 5-point scales and to use those scales exclusively if you’re able to do so. It’s a tough political sell, but every time you crosswalk a rubric back to a number score, you take away the student’s perception of therubric’s importancer by undercutting the behaviors articulated on it with a number grade. I’ll try to post more on SBAR and its impact on authentic engagement sometime this week over at Classroots.org.
Wow! Our district has just switched to SBAR for the first time this year. I teach 5th grade and I am so confused as to where to start. I like the concept but do not know how to switch everything over to grading with a rubric. Thanks for you positive outlook.
Kristen Norris
Cholla Elementary
Try understanding the New York State French Regents’ idea behind giving an essay a grade on a scale of 18, and then converting that scale to a scale of 8…for 2 different essays! It’s just too difficult to say which method of grade conversion is best for you. You need to decide what is best for the department, while also considering which method will be best for the students. Not necessarily saying that grades should be inflated, but that they need to properly reflect the students ability, and I think we all know that dividing a class into 4 grading criteria is not effective. Have you tried to create a rubric for each grade given. Maybe each grade (1,2,3,4) could be further divided into 4 grades making 16 possibilities instead of 4. I know you said that it needed to be kept simple, but using only 4 grades for the students is doing them and injustice.
[...] at Twitter this morning, @mctownsley pointed toward a post at Edumacation about the tension between standards-based assessment and traditional [...]
I feel there is some injustice when I say, essentially, “You know it” “You aren’t there yet.” But I was amazed at how easily I could tell what a student knew when I tried this grading last semester. It’s so easy to tell a student who knows it somewhat, and gets some right answers, from a student who knows it well, and gets most right answers with silly mistakes like a negative sign, or not reading one’s own writing correctly. Additionally, they are given the chance to show what they know in re-takes.
One thing I would like to note, I need to remember that as teachers, we are educated professionals. We are the ones that should be trusted to tell whether students have learned what they needed. Instead of letting some complicated system of points (which students know just how to hoard) dictate whether they pass, we can (I can, at least) tell what grade a student should get.
I get the feeling that I need to justify it all the time, and I’m happy to do it, but I’d rather do it with evidence of learning than a series of point values making a numerical grade.
However, I’m somewhat happy to go along with those around me, as they come around.
“I feel there is some injustice when I say, essentially, “You know it” “You aren’t there yet.” But I was amazed at how easily I could tell what a student knew when I tried this grading last semester. It’s so easy to tell a student who knows it somewhat, and gets some right answers, from a student who knows it well, and gets most right answers with silly mistakes like a negative sign, or not reading one’s own writing correctly. Additionally, they are given the chance to show what they know in re-takes.”
BINGO! Some pushback against s-b grading by saying it’s impossible to classify students’ understanding into a 4 or 5 points scale. I’ve had the consult for several educational publishers as they write and pilot tests which involve holistic scoring. The consensus in that field is that when a grading scale is widened by adding more values, it becomes much more difficult to score and hence, inconsistency comes into play.
By allowing re-takes and follow-up assessments, students are always given the opportunity to improve their “grade” and overcome the common rebuttals to one shot assessments.
Thanks for articulating the value of s-b grading so well, Emily.
My child’s school is going to the 4 point grade scale and as a parent, I’m very dismayed by it. I guess I am too traditional but I want to see how my child scored on a paper. I don’t want to know that they meet the standard. What standard? Who is setting the standard? What if my standard is higher than the acceptable standard? When I was a student I was motivated by that score on the paper or test. I wanted to know that my score beat everyone else’s. If everyone is getting a 3 or a 4 how do I know if I knew all the answers or only enough of the answers to get an A? How can a student who wants to excel, beat the competition if everyone can get a 4 by making an A?
Can someone explain to me why a 4 point system is better for the student, better for competition, better for the parents than the traditional grading of 0-100? I don’t even like the grading scale of A-F or E, S, and NS. Again I want the percentages of the grades for my students so that I can tell accruately how they are doing in the classroom. Not meeting some standard set by someone that doesn’t share my values or know my student. My standard of acceptable is not matching their peers but making A’s and B’s (with more A’s than B’s) because I know what my student is capable of doing.
@Marci,
Some really excellent questions to which there aren’t necessarily hard and fast answers. That said, I’ll give it a shot. The 4 point grade scale, as you point out, is meant to help educators identify whether or not the student’s work is meeting standard. Typically in the US, that standard is aligned with the standards the state has set for writing at a given grade level. The idea behind this scale is that there are two levels below and two levels above the “standard” line, which means that scores of 3 and 4 have met standard, while scores of 1 and 2 have not.
What most educators value in the 4-point scale is twofold. First, by using the same scale and, more importantly, the same rubric for all students, we are able to get a better idea of where students are relative to where we expect them to be in their writing (or reading, or mathematical ability, etc.). If all teachers are using the same rubric and scale, they are being assessed based on the same criteria. Theoretically, this means that there are no “easy” teachers or “hard” teachers because they all grade the same way. As a result, students in one class can be accurately compared to students in another class, regardless of who the teacher is.
The other advantage to the 4-point scale is pure simplicity. When grading on a 4-point scale/rubric, there is a clear difference between a “2″ paper and a “3″ paper – it demonstrates a certain sophistication, utilizes examples and good elaboration, and so on. When using a 100-point scale, you would be hard pressed to find a teacher who can clearly articulate the concrete differences between an “88″ paper and an “89″ paper. In reality, there are virtually no differences, save for the teacher’s preference.
In reality, the student’s paper will still have a score. However, instead of a number out of 100, you are likely to see that assignments are graded out of multiples of 4. Our writing rubric, for example, is on a 4-point scale, but we grade on 6 writing traits. Consequently, a student could get 3’s (meeting standard) on each category and the score might be 18/24. So there is still a score, still some way to look at how students are doing, but instead of comparing students to each other, we are comparing the skills they have demonstrated to this expectation (standard) that we have set for them.
The discussion stemming from this particular post, as you might have noticed, relates to your last question. Like yourself, most parents neither understand nor agree with a 4-point grading scale for the same reasons you mention – particularly that they are familiar with the 100-point / A-B-C grading system. Because we, as educators, understand this, we’re trying to figure out a sensible way for us to grade using a 4-point scale, while still giving students a letter grade.
Finally, I just want to address a couple of your comments regarding competition. First, I am just like you – grades were all the motivation I needed in school, and because I am a competitive person, I wanted better grades than my classmates. However, my experience in the classroom (limited as it is) has taught me very quickly that there are a lot of students who are not like this. In fact, for many students I teach, grades are actually a deterrent (can’t get good grades because it isn’t “cool,” and so on). For these students, it’s imperative that teachers find other means of motivation, otherwise those students are destined to fail.
The upshot of this is that you end up with a classroom full of very different students – some are self-motivated, some are anti-school, and some are in between. The standards the state sets are attempting to create a “minimum” level of competence that all students should reach by the time they leave public schools. That said, a lot of people (myself included) expect more out of their students. We want our students to be challenged and pushed because that’s how people grow. As teachers, we try to do this in the classroom by differentiating instruction – giving students work that is different, but will challenge each of them past their individual abilities. As a parent, I am sure you find other ways to challenge your child, as well, both as a student and as a person, and that’s what has to happen.
Thanks so much for sharing – it’s exciting to hear a different perspective!
First let me say, it is GREAT to have a parent weigh in on this conversation. I haven’t spoken to the parents of my students because most of them speak Spanish, and I can’t accurately represent this in Spanish.
One important thing to know is that this does not foster competition. I don’t know if that was one of the arguments for it originally, but it certainly does not foster competition among students.
The standards are set by the state or federal government, and the idea is that all teachers are supposed to teach these standards. It’s been that way for years, but teachers already had their way of teaching and grading, so the standards simply told them “OK, I won’t focus my entire year on the Civil War that I like best, because there are 24 other things the students should know when they leave my class.” Ideally, the standards would make it so that every student in a certain class would be taught the same things all over the state.
That’s where the grading trouble comes in. No one knows what an A means across the state. Supposedly, your student was taught 21 different standards in geometry, and got a B, but no one could tell you what that means. It may mean that the student had trouble with a few certain things or that the student was generally good at everything but not great. Especially on progress reports, we feel it would be good for parents to know exactly how their student is doing on each thing that he does, so that you could provide help on the things that he is not understanding.
For me, on each test, there are about 4 standards and I give them a number grade for each one. I have questions that line up with the standard, and then I have questions that require advanced understanding beyond the standard.
If a student can get a 4 on a “standard” (section) I would say they more than just met the standard, but the school your students are at may be different. A parent who wanted to see his/her student be a high achiever should push for more 4s than 3s.
I can’t actually give you any details because for me the school is on traditional grading, and I am the only one trying this out!
I just discovered this blog and thread of conversation while researching s-b grading. I, too, have assessed demonstrated skills across a range of domains on a 4-1 scale with clear descriptions of each domain from “approaches” to “exceeds.” I also have engaged my students in assessing work against these rubrics to figure out what a 2 or 3 or 4 “looks like.” HOWEVER, I’m wondering how to actually assess against a specific GLE (split infinitive intended). So, if I’m teaching writing GLEs 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 (dealing with analyzing ideas, using details, etc.), then should I assess against those specific GLEs on a 4-1 scale? And shouldn’t my gradebook reflect a student’s achievement on specific GLEs rather than on an assignment with a grade that represents an average across mutliple domains…representing multiple GLEs?
I’m soliciting ideas because I’m really struggling with this. I really want to know. I was flipping through the NMSA catalog and searching for resources on the web when I stumbled across this site, and I would love to figure this out with others…. What, truly, is s-b grading if we’re not aligning all grades with specific standards?
Check out the rubric grade converter at
http://roobrix.com/
Regarding roobrix.com: I had a bit of confusion because I put 60% or 65% in the “minimum passing score.” But the converter took that score and assigned it to the 1 value. As in my student getting a 1 with one criteria would get a 60% and then a 2 would get a little better, etc, up to 4 being 100%. But I wouldn’t want a 1 to be a passing score, would you? When I put in 40%, my minimum failing score, equivalent to a 1, it is a handy tool that I can refer students and parents to in order to find a grade equivalence for their s-b score. Being a mathematician, I would not find it useful (especially when Excel could do it for many scores at once).
Response to Shelley Lima: My assessments and quizzes are broken into categories with headings above every 3 to 7 questions or problems. So an assessment may say “Finding measurements using bisectors” then a few problems. Then “Finding complementary and supplementary angles” and a few more problems. Each section gets a score from 1 – 4 and in my gradebook there is no “Test 3.” There is “Test 3 – Bisectors” and “Test 3 – Comp and Supp” with distinct grades in each. Students’ grade reports list every standard and a distinct score, and quizzes usually assess only 1 or 2. Occasionally I will use the same problems to assess two different standards, but I will still give them a grade for each one. Hope this helps!