Rethinking Letter Grades A Five-Step Approach for Aligning Letter Grades to Learning Standards
Product details
Biographical note
Caren Cameron, M.Ed. (1949-2021) retired from a long and varied career in education. She was a teacher for over 30 years and became a District Principal for Educational Programs in Sooke School District #62. As a workshop leader and facilitator, and university instructor, she spent time working with colleagues across North America on a variety of literacy and assessment topics. She has co-authored several practical books to assist busy teachers. Kathleen Gregory, M.Ed. has retired from a wide-ranging career in education. She taught in elementary, middle and secondary schools and became a district curriculum coordinator and a district support teacher for classroom teachers and school teams who were integrating students with special needs. Kathleen was an instructor for assessment courses at the University of Victoria and Vancouver Island University, and worked with colleagues across BC on strategies in literacy and assessment.Rethinking Letter Grades A Five-Step Approach for Aligning Letter Grades to Learning Standards
<p><i>The cover promises “A Five-Step Approach for Aligning Letter Grades to Learning Standards”, and it is deceptively small, at 72 pages, and is a quick read at about an hour. Despite its small size, this book changed everything as far as my assessment process is concerned.</i></p>
Ignite Language
<p><i>This concise book is an ideal resource for bachelor of education programs and professional learning communities</i>.</p>
Canadian Teacher Magazine
Contents
Introduction
- Who Is This Book For?
- What Is This Book About?
- Why Use a Different Approach? Why Now?
- How Is This Book Organized?
- What Are Our Intentions for Writing This Book?
1. Arriving at Letter Grades: Focus on Numbers
- Some Key Research Findings
- Changing our Focus
2. Arriving at Letter Grades: Focus on Learning
- The Five-Step Process
3. Arriving at Letter Grades: Focus on Working It Through
- Step 1: Identify Three to Five Big Ideas for One Subject Area
- Step 2: Write Three Levels of Performance for Each Big Idea
- Step 3: Identify Evidence that Shows Student Performance
- Step 4: Highlight Descriptions of Learning on the Learning Map
- Step 5: Determine a Letter Grade (and a Percentage if Necessary)
4. Arriving at Letter Grades: Focus on Questions
- Frequently Asked Questions
5. Rethinking Letter Grades: Focus on Personal Findings
- Three Reminders
- Seven Findings
Appendix 1: Example of Conversion from a Letter Grade to a Percentage
Appendix 2: Big Ideas for Different Subject Areas
Appendix 3: Descriptive Language for Learning Maps
Appendix 4: Parent Brochure
Appendix 5: Conversation Cards
Appendix 6: Article: “Arriving at Letter Grades: Get Closer to the Learning”
<p><i>The cover promises “A Five-Step Approach for Aligning Letter Grades to Learning Standards”, and it is deceptively small, at 72 pages, and is a quick read at about an hour. Despite its small size, this book changed everything as far as my assessment process is concerned.</i></p>
Ignite Language
<p><i>This concise book is an ideal resource for bachelor of education programs and professional learning communities</i>.</p>
Canadian Teacher Magazine
Contents
Introduction
- Who Is This Book For?
- What Is This Book About?
- Why Use a Different Approach? Why Now?
- How Is This Book Organized?
- What Are Our Intentions for Writing This Book?
1. Arriving at Letter Grades: Focus on Numbers
- Some Key Research Findings
- Changing our Focus
2. Arriving at Letter Grades: Focus on Learning
- The Five-Step Process
3. Arriving at Letter Grades: Focus on Working It Through
- Step 1: Identify Three to Five Big Ideas for One Subject Area
- Step 2: Write Three Levels of Performance for Each Big Idea
- Step 3: Identify Evidence that Shows Student Performance
- Step 4: Highlight Descriptions of Learning on the Learning Map
- Step 5: Determine a Letter Grade (and a Percentage if Necessary)
4. Arriving at Letter Grades: Focus on Questions
- Frequently Asked Questions
5. Rethinking Letter Grades: Focus on Personal Findings
- Three Reminders
- Seven Findings
Appendix 1: Example of Conversion from a Letter Grade to a Percentage
Appendix 2: Big Ideas for Different Subject Areas
Appendix 3: Descriptive Language for Learning Maps
Appendix 4: Parent Brochure
Appendix 5: Conversation Cards
Appendix 6: Article: “Arriving at Letter Grades: Get Closer to the Learning”