What is standards-based grading?

Summary

Standards-based grading (SBG) is an educational approach that prioritizes student learning and mastery over traditional letter grades. Courses are divided into clear, student-friendly learning targets, with rubrics guiding progress. Students receive specific feedback, self-assess, and have multiple opportunities to demonstrate mastery, fostering growth and ownership of learning. Teachers can use mastery data to implement differentiated instruction, grouping students by skill level for targeted support. By emphasizing progress and creating a safe environment for mistakes, SBG encourages engagement, work ethic, and a positive classroom experience, moving away from fear-driven high-stakes testing toward continuous skill development.

Takeaways

• 📚 Standards-based grading focuses on student learning and aims to increase achievement.
• 🎯 Subjects are divided into smaller, teachable learning targets rather than a single overall grade.
• 📝 Learning targets are written in student-friendly language to promote understanding and engagement.
• 📊 Rubrics provide concrete guidance for each learning target, helping students know what is expected.
• ✅ Students can self-assess their progress as they work on activities, fostering ownership of learning.
• 🗣️ Teachers provide specific feedback to help students improve, making education a conversation about skills.
• 📈 Grades typically range from 1-4, representing a ladder of mastery that students climb as they learn.
• 👥 Standards-based grading makes differentiated instruction easier by allowing dynamic student grouping.
• 🔄 Students can attempt multiple times to demonstrate mastery, creating an emotionally safe environment for learning.
• 💡 Fear of failure is reduced, encouraging students to stretch themselves, make mistakes, and grow.

Q & A

What is standards-based grading (SBG)?

Standards-based grading is an educational approach that focuses on student learning and mastery of specific learning targets rather than assigning a single overall grade.

How does SBG differ from traditional grading?

Unlike traditional grading, which often assigns one overall score per assignment, SBG breaks subjects into smaller learning targets, provides detailed feedback, and allows multiple attempts for mastery.

What are learning targets in SBG?

Learning targets are specific, teachable concepts written in student-friendly language that students are expected to master throughout a course.

How are student scores represented in SBG?

Scores typically range from 1 to 4, reflecting a ladder of mastery: 1 indicates no understanding, while 4 represents full mastery of the target.

Why is feedback important in SBG?

Feedback is essential because it guides students on how to improve, encourages self-assessment, and makes the learning process transparent and engaging.

How does SBG support differentiated instruction?

SBG provides teachers with mastery data, allowing them to dynamically group students and provide lessons that match each student's skill level.

What role does self-assessment play in SBG?

Self-assessment allows students to monitor their own progress toward learning targets, helping them take ownership of their learning journey.

How does SBG create a safe learning environment?

By allowing multiple attempts to demonstrate mastery, SBG reduces the fear of failure, encourages risk-taking, and treats failure as temporary and part of learning.

What are the benefits of breaking down subjects into smaller learning targets?

Breaking down subjects into smaller targets provides clearer guidance, helps track student progress more accurately, and allows personalized instruction to address individual needs.

How does SBG impact student engagement and motivation?

SBG increases engagement by making progress visible, showing that effort leads to growth, and encouraging students to actively participate in their learning process.

Can students improve their scores in SBG after an initial attempt?

Yes, students can try and retry activities to move up the mastery ladder, which promotes persistence and continuous learning.

How does SBG connect to rubrics?

Learning targets in SBG are linked to rubrics, which provide concrete guidance on the expectations and criteria for each target.