Standards Based Report Cards

[bernie]

My school is piloting a new standards based report card for my district this year. The district is going to implement it next year as the new report card.

If you are using standards based report cards, what do you like about them? What's good? And what do you not like about them? What needs improving?

In case you think it's pertinent. I teach fifth grade students in a public elementary school in California. But I would welcome comments from anyone who is using standards based report cards; they don't have to be using California state standards. Thanks in advance.

[AAA Teacher Forum]

Bernie,
The district that I work in has been using standards-based report cards for the elementary schools for about 5 years. Personally, I really like them. I found it difficult to complete report cards based on percentages of assignments.
We use the following system:
4 (above grade level)
3 (at grade level)
2 (below grade level)
1 (insufficient work completed by student)
We also have 10 work habits and study skills that we assess. We then give summary grades from A-D that combine their skills and work habits.

I'm assuming that you are having to change your overall grading procedures? You have to be able to separate the students' ability from the their work quality. This is probably the hardest thing for teachers to do.

I enjoy using the standards-based report cards & grading because I believe it gives both parents and students a better understanding of what is expected and where their current level of performance.

I hope this helps. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Jennifer

[bernie]

Jennifer, thanks for your response.

Yes, we're moving from Outstanding, Competent, or Needs Improvement to 4, 3, 2, or 1 for Advanced, Proficient, Basic, or Below Basic.

Part of it is providing a critique of the report card that we're being asked to pilot. It has many flaws that I won't go into here. I'm being hopeful that the district will take our suggestions seriously and make some changes.

The other part is making a shift in my grade book and general grading policies to reflect the new report card. I'll have little problem with writing assignments, because I have been using rubrics based on the standards for years now. I will have to adjust them to fit the new 1, 2, 3, or 4 mark, but that seems doable. Other subjects like math and science, I have been grading on a percentage basis, so that will take a larger shift.

Do you like the 10 work habits and study skills that you use on your district's report card? While our existing ones aren't great, the ones on the report card we're piloting are awful. Could I also ask you to list what those 10 habits and skills are?

In general, I am looking forward to using a standards based report card. I do like the specificity of it. I also like that it really shows how much work my students and I do over the course of a year. It does seem a little intimidating at first glance, but I imagine once reviewed at the end of the year, it seems quite an achievement.

[AAA Teacher Forum]

Do you like the 10 work habits and study skills that you use on your district's report card? While our existing ones aren't great, the ones on the report card we're piloting are awful. Could I also ask you to list what those 10 habits and skills are?


Here are the 10 that we use - and they are abbreviated:
Participates Effectively
Shows cont’d effort
Completes class work
Completes homework
Works Cooperatively
Shows Respect for people/property
Works Independently
Effectively Resolve conflicts
Produces quality work

I'm anxious to see how they compare to the ones you use.

Jennifer

[bernie]

Jennifer,

Here are the nine from our old report card:
Follows directions
Demonstrates self-discipline
Works independently
Cooperates in a group
Completes homework
Completes classwork
Shows neatness in work
Reflects on personal performance
Sets social/academic goals

Here are the ones on the report card pilot:
Completes homework
Keeps self and others safe
Handles transitions well
Willing to take risks
Resolves conflicts

[AAA Teacher Forum]

Jennifer,

Here are the nine from our old report card:
Follows directions
Demonstrates self-discipline
Works independently
Cooperates in a group
Completes homework
Completes classwork
Shows neatness in work
Reflects on personal performance
Sets social/academic goals

Here are the ones on the report card pilot:
Completes homework
Keeps self and others safe
Handles transitions well
Willing to take risks
Resolves conflicts

I'm surprised to see that they took off the "Completing Classwork" and "Shows neatness in work." Neither of these seem to fall into any of the other categories and I personally believe they are important things to assess in students.

Were are you supposed to include the "Works Independently" ..within the "Keeps self & other safe?" That's another important aspect.

Since this is a pilot, will you be able to provide feedback on what should be changed?

Happy Thanksgiving!
Jennifer

[bernie]

Since this is a pilot, will you be able to provide feedback on what should be changed?

Jennifer

Yes, my fellow fifth-grade teacher and I wrote a memo to our principal which she forwarded to the district person in charge of this. And I'm preparing another one that I'm sending myself. I just hope they actually consider our suggestions.

[mbcasey]

I have been asked to research this subject. Could you share your thoughts/results/how-to's?

How much extra time doe is require of teachers?

How do the staff/students/parents/admin feel about it?

Do you know of any High Schools using them?

thanks for any info you may offer.

[dolmansaxlil]

Our entire province uses standards based report cards (if I'm understanding the term correctly). We also use a 4 level system for each "strand" within subjects (so language is broken into Reading, Writing, Oral, and Media). Comments MUST be pulled directly from the Ministry curriculum documents, using specific qualifiers at each level.

In some ways, I find it very easy to build comments, as most of the comment is simply copied and pasted from the expectations. On the other hand, it's a lot more work to comment very specifically on a student, and requires some careful wording to say everything that needs to be said.

Our learning skills fall into 9 areas:
Homework Completion
Independent Work
Initiative
Cooperation with Others
Conflict Resolution
Goal Setting
Problem Solving
Use of information
Class Participation

The comments for Learning Skills is when we get to address behaviour issues, organization, etc. That's where all the "personal" comments are.

[javamomma]

Our district is thinking about changing to a standards based report card for next year. We will see what happens.