mixitupdifferentiation

Grading

Grading is a challenging area because of the traditional systems that have been in place forever. Four of the best authors/experts I've read on grading are Rick Wormeli (Fair Isn't Always Equal), Ken O'Connor (How to Grade for Learning), Robert Marzano (Classroom Assessment and Grading that Work) and Carol Tomlinson. All advocate for a critical examination of grading practices. One online article grading and differentiation can be found at: http://www.spokaneschools.org/199720514135236550/lib/199720514135236550/_files/PDDIGrading_and_Differentiation-Paradox_or_Good__Practice.pdf

In the article above, Carol Tomlinson talks about three basic questions when considering grading:

" What is fair?"
"What role does grading play in motivating academically diverse learners?"
"How might reporting of grades work so that they both communicate accurately and contribute to positive student motivation?

From reading these expert's words, I consider echoing these thoughts to be vitally important:

The beginnings of grading start with that first question in the instructional design process: What do you want students to know and be able to do? Remember, students need to be pushed a little farther than they are comfortable going.
Grading is based on what you want your students to know and be able to do, all students. Some students are above that right away and are compacted out to enrichment activities. They hit the "target" so they get the highest grade. Then a notation is made that they went above and beyond in complexity (for example) of understanding the topic or concept. This can be done in a tiering situation as well.
Every assignment isn't graded. Feedback of some sort is necessary on all student work, but not grades. Use grading for the summative work at the end of the unit.
Group work should never receive a grade - only individual efforts.
Teachers' grading practices need to be consistent.
Differentiation grading practices need to be shared with parents.

Grading is a "sticky issue." Even the "experts" do not have a definitive answer - they rather have suggestions. If your school is making differentiation a priority, I'd also suggest the staff reading the Carol Tomlinson article above to begin and then having a book study with either Ken O'Connor's book, Robert Marzano's book or Rick Wormeli's book - all listed above. A final resource would Be Cindy Strickland, who is on the ASCD faculty. She has a powerpoint online from her June, 2008, ASCD presentation on "Grading and Differentiation."