Dear Parents,August 2013
I believe that all people can learn and grow. While we all learn in different ways and at different paces, we can all master concepts and skills that are put before us. This is what school is all about -- students figuring out what they already know and can do well and then working hard at the concepts and skills they struggle to master – until there is mastery.My goal is for all students to grow toward a deep understanding and ability to apply what they are learning.
In order to communicate student progress toward this goal effectively, I will be using a different type of grading system this year called Standards Based Grading (SBG). You will notice a few differences from the traditional grading system that I will try and explain.
First of all, I want students to take the necessary risks to master new and challenging tasks. I don’t want them to be afraid that a bad grade will harm them, so there will be no daily work grades recorded. Daily class work and/or homework is still extremely important, but it will be used differently. Instead of placing a grade on it, students will use it as practice, and I will use it as a tool to figure out what they need next. I want to have an accurate picture of where they are at in their learning, so I can create their next lessons appropriately. Daily work will be given a (+) in the grade book if it is completed on time and a (-) if it is not completed on time.
A second change is students will have multiple opportunities to learn and assess concepts and skills. If a student does not reach a proficient level on a standard (via a rubric), he or she will have another opportunity to reassess on that standard. In truth, a student will have many opportunities to reassess until mastery of that standard is met. Between reassessments, the student will have things to do before being able to reassess. The grade book will stay open all year. For example: a student takes an assessment in October on a particular standard but does not reach proficiency. He or she MAY retake that assessment much later in the school year. If their proficiency level improves, I will go back to the grade book and change their score. Any reteaching and reassessingthat needs to be done will be built into our weekly schedule, but there might be times when your child needs another lesson or assessment before or after school. Your support with this is greatly appreciated!
The final big change is student behavior will be communicated differently. Instead of it being a hidden part of each grade, there will be a section of their report card called Life Skills where specific feedback can be given. Things such as showing responsibility interacting with other students, being prepared for class, completing work efficiently and on time, and engaging in appropriate problem solving skills are included in the rubric that will provide the score for this section on the report card. Students will be scored on this a few times each quarter. Students will be able to provide input as well as how they can improve their current score. This section will not be included in their academic grade, but it is my hope that it will be clear and meaningful for both you and your child.
I have spent a lot of time studying and learning about the SBG system, andthis is my first year trying it out, so please be patient with me. I am always open to constructive and helpful feedback, so don’t hesitate to email or call me if you have any questions. Thank you for your support while we work together to educate your child. I hope you’re as excited as I am to begin this adventure!
Sincerely,
Ms. Ringsdorf
Mr. De Smit
1-712-722-3783 (school)1-712-722-2170 (home)
1-712-722-3783 (school)1-712-541-8689 (cell)