Let's discuss how to convert all of those Ns, Ps, and Hs into a number grade. Ideally, you don't want to do this, but I don't think students or parents are ready to not have number grades.
First let's talk about proficiency:
A student who is proficient is a student who learns what you teach and nothing more. When our department had this discussion we decided that a student who is proficient in everything should receive a grade no higher than a C. Remember, this student is not High Performance in anything.
We then discussed what a failing student would look like. We agreed that in order to move to the next course, a student must be Proficient in 70% of all the outcomes.
Here's what we have so far in my district:
70% Proficient (no High Performance) = 75% grade (Lowest C possible)
100% Proficient (no High Performance) = 84% grade (Highest C possible)
Keep this in mind: I don't care how many outcomes a student is High Performance in, if he is not Proficient in at least 70% of the outcomes, then he does not pass the course.
Now let's talk High Performance:
First thing I want to mention is that it is impossible for a student to be High Performance without first being Proficient. So when I say that a student is High Performance, I mean he is Proficient AND High Performance.
I'm sure we can all agree that a student who is High Performance in all outcomes has a number grade of 100%. What happens in-between is really up to you and your school. But I will share with you what our department came up with.
Our conversion system is an if-then statement.
Do this: Determine the percentage of outcomes that the student is Proficient, and the percentage of outcome he is High Performance.
IF he is less than 70% Proficient, THEN that's his grade.
For example, if a student is 65% Proficient and 40% High Performance, then his grade is 65%. Back to the "Keep this in mind:" statement above. I don't even look at the student's High Performance percentage if he is less than 70% Proficient.
If he is 70% or greater Proficient, then I have work to do:
First, add the two percentages together.
Next, use the following table to convert the grade.
For example, If a student is 80% Proficient and 30% High Performance, the total is 110.
This converts to a grade of 86% in my district.
Student 2:
Student 3:
Student 4:
First let's talk about proficiency:
A student who is proficient is a student who learns what you teach and nothing more. When our department had this discussion we decided that a student who is proficient in everything should receive a grade no higher than a C. Remember, this student is not High Performance in anything.
We then discussed what a failing student would look like. We agreed that in order to move to the next course, a student must be Proficient in 70% of all the outcomes.
Here's what we have so far in my district:
70% Proficient (no High Performance) = 75% grade (Lowest C possible)
100% Proficient (no High Performance) = 84% grade (Highest C possible)
Keep this in mind: I don't care how many outcomes a student is High Performance in, if he is not Proficient in at least 70% of the outcomes, then he does not pass the course.
Now let's talk High Performance:
First thing I want to mention is that it is impossible for a student to be High Performance without first being Proficient. So when I say that a student is High Performance, I mean he is Proficient AND High Performance.
I'm sure we can all agree that a student who is High Performance in all outcomes has a number grade of 100%. What happens in-between is really up to you and your school. But I will share with you what our department came up with.
Our conversion system is an if-then statement.
Do this: Determine the percentage of outcomes that the student is Proficient, and the percentage of outcome he is High Performance.
IF he is less than 70% Proficient, THEN that's his grade.
For example, if a student is 65% Proficient and 40% High Performance, then his grade is 65%. Back to the "Keep this in mind:" statement above. I don't even look at the student's High Performance percentage if he is less than 70% Proficient.
If he is 70% or greater Proficient, then I have work to do:
First, add the two percentages together.
Next, use the following table to convert the grade.
For example, If a student is 80% Proficient and 30% High Performance, the total is 110.
This converts to a grade of 86% in my district.
Let's take a look at one of my students:
 |
Out of the 39 outcomes, this student is Proficient in 37 of them. He is 95% Proficient.
Out of the 39 outcomes, he is High Performance in 15 of them. He is 38% High Performance.
He has a total of 133 (95+38).
His grade converts to 90% using the above table.
A little quiz for you:
See if you can convert the following students' grades.
I'll post the answers later and reteach if necessary :)
Post your answers in the comments if you like.
Student 1:
Student 2:
Student 3:
Student 4:
Love this idea . . . going to incorporate this into my classroom. Do you have an example of topic and what is proficient skills versus high proficient skills?
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of setting the benchmark of the "average level" and then giving room for students to go beyond that "level".
Thanks!
Kieron
@mathboyle