Green Lake 2011: Shawn Cornally – Standards Based Grading
Wow. An historic day for me, getting to meet two of my educational hero’s. Shawn Cornally author of the blog Think Thank Thunk and Dan Meyer author of the blog dy/dan
Shawn’s main points
- Students will play the grading game. The numbers game. The question is how much are they learning?
- Our traditional grading system is broken and has caused this problem.
- Students must know what they need to learn and have opportunities to show that they know it.
- We need to find a way for kids to look at their grades and decide, wow, I need help on…
- Grade books need to be dynamic. Grades in them should be changed based on what the students know.
- Communication with parents is key. They need to know what the kids know and what they don’t and we need to encourage them to help their kids study.
- If it’s important enough to write a test item for it, then it deserves it’s own separate grade.
- Avoid numbers and use written feedback. Use the first assessment to just give feedback on, then when the second one has a grade on it, it isn’t a surprise or slap in the face.
- Passing all standards will result in a B+ even if you fail the midterm and final. Midterm and final (for retention, get you the A.
At this point in the session, a really seemingly bitter lady is going on about how her district is forcing her to use standards based grading. The way she says words like rubric, and formative, are clear indicators that she is in no way in favor of anything other than the traditional bullshit. All the while I’m typing this she is going on and on with seemingly no end in sight. Can you say retirement?
Ok, Shawn is back and addresses this lady’s concern about homework. For him it is about the relationship with the kids. If a kid is not doing well then there needs to be a conversation with him/her about what they think is causing their poor grades. Those talks, for him, get kids back on track and doing some work.
