1Sat.+51813+Online+class

1. Complete your action research ch. 1-3 and send to me and Karen Tardrew (ktardrew@nl.edu) by 5/25.

2. Complete the online discussion below of ch. 11, 12 from Fair Isn’t Always Equal: Assessing and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom by Risk Wormeli

Questions for Discussion Posted by Caryn Willis __ **Chapter 11:** __


 * 1. What grading strategy do you use when a student in your class misses an assignment? P. 138 **

Well last year I gave the students a zero for any work that they missed but that was only because that is how the school directed us. If it was left upto me I would have either left it blank or gave them a 60% because zeros really hurt their grades. ~Tiaa

I just cant believe you had to give them grades!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like I have said before, I do not do a lot of "assignments" in my class. At least that are for a grade. Depending upon what is missed, I will have a student stay in during recess in what I call "after lunch bunch" to work with me or a peer to go over concepts that were missed. Tests are also given at this time if they are missed. I do not agree that a 4 year old should be given a 0 for a missing assignment. It isn't their fault that they aren't at school and I believe it holds no relevance to their learning. I agree with Tiaa that it should be left blank and would really love to sit down with her administration to see what justification they have for having their teachers report out like that with the little ones...~Christen

2. **How do you feel about giving students zeros? Do you give zeros for missed work and have you ever adjusted a student’s grades for a “justified” average? P. 140**

I answer that above but I don't like zeros because they make the students grades lower and for a student that is already a low student it hurts them even more. If I give a kid a zero I would go back and change it if the child is an above average kid or average kid because of the weigh of an zero. One zero in our grade book can be the difference in a letter grade.~Tiaa

In the upper grades students need to be held accountable. If we are going to prepare them for college and the work force however, I'm not sure if the 100 point system is the way to do it. I think students that make "good grades" do well with a 100 point system however I believe we are just failing our "failing" students (no pun intended) by continuing to just give them D's and F's instead of finding an alternative system. We have an alternative school in our district and it's very interesting how well those students do once you take some of the pressure of reaching an A and B out of the picture. I'd like to see us become more goal/narrative based. I agreed with Wormeli when he said that the system that most currently use does not always support learning/teaching goals. Someone just needs to just "step up to the plate and figure it out". ~Christen

3. **Do you “weigh grades”? Give an example of an assignment that would be weighed more than that of another. P. 143**

I do not weigh grades either. We use a 4 point rubric. However, I do not weigh grades personally.~Tiaa

I do not weigh my grades. ~Christen To be honest, my students are given very few assignments. We do a lot of hands on activities and group work and their assessment is based on my observation. I assess them throughout the way but they are not penalized for their learning journey. I am only interested in reporting out where they stand at the end of a unit or term. ~Christen

__ **Chapter 12:** __

1. **What type of grading system fits your classroom the best, a 100-point scale, a 4 point- rubric scale or a mixture of both? Why do you feel this way? P.154**

I like the 100-point scale. It works the best in my class when we were doing percents. I would grade all the students on what they got out of 100. **Now the** way that I grade is based on if they are secure, developed, not observed or begining.~Tiaa

I use a 4 point rubric in my class. I feel it works very well because we want to know what kids have mastered at the end of a period of time. I feel like a 100 point scale focuses too much on what a child has gotten wrong. I don't think it belongs in a classroom with young students. It is not developmentally appropriate. I'm still shocked that four year olds are being given assignments. I would love for us to use that language Tiaa! I feel like it is most useful for parents and in a language that they can translate. I still find that my parents do not understand what a 1,2,3, or 4 means even when there is a key at the top of the report card. I think at the primary age, "grades" should be more on a developmental skill level. ~Christen

2. **Should minus and plus versions of grades be used? What is your opinion about what Wormeli says about this? P. 156** I say yes they should be used because it gives the student a chance to stay in that letter grade if they are a couple of points over or under. ~Tiaa

I disagree. I agree with Wormeli in that they are not useful. My kids argue with me up and down that they still have a C when they are only a point away from really having a D. I think it takes away their motivation to work harder. The minuses at least are centered around negativity. They are not a secure C they are almost a D. That is the conotation behind a minus grade. ~Christen