tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306386654220611881.post3024005167367100837..comments2022-06-08T05:43:25.831-04:00Comments on Principal's Point of View: The A or Da-ay or Guskey Redux (#apr13)Larry F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140716773101792589noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306386654220611881.post-22528002321961355852011-04-20T12:37:30.675-04:002011-04-20T12:37:30.675-04:00Jill and Mark,
Thank you both for reading and com...Jill and Mark,<br /><br />Thank you both for reading and commenting. I am convinced that tackling the grading questions will lead to much greater thought about teaching and learning. <br /><br />I am eager to read what you both have to say and to continuing the conversation as we all gapple with the ideas.<br /><br />Thanks again.<br /><br />LarryLarry F.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05140716773101792589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306386654220611881.post-80703355981080554102011-04-20T10:28:54.396-04:002011-04-20T10:28:54.396-04:00Larry,
This mine field called grading is alive an...Larry, <br />This mine field called grading is alive and well here in Melbourne Australia. Some 3 years ago the Commonwealth government mandated all states and territories across Australia to adopt a letter based grading system [A-E]: A represented 18 months or more ahead of one’s equivalent year level standard, B represented up to 12 months ahead, C at the standard, D up to 12 months behind the standard and E more than 18 months behind the standard.<br /><br />Of course all the States complied because the tied the grading system to funding grants for education. Now there were several problems one being the grade teachers provided was based on their judgement taking all the assessments completed [this was open to interpretation and therefore inconsistency] and the grading was based on a core curriculum different in each state. One large state applied the A’s to be outstanding work at the same grade level work so the confusion continues if one travels between states. <br /><br />Of course parents failed to be impressed with lots of C’s which meant little Johnny was doing OK.<br /><br />Teachers were often conservative in their judgements afraid to set their colleagues up in the following year; e.g. we have 40% of our students getting A’s with some students in year 6 therefore doing the equivalent of year 8 or 9 work. This presents lots of problems for teachers having the content knowledge to differentiate their instruction particularly in areas like Mathematics.<br /><br />Of course we know that grading [note I am not saying assessment here] is rarely helpful in knowing what to teach the next day. I’ll leave my comments on feedback, mindsets and student effort to another post.<br /><br />I’m busy trying to get teachers to use assessment data that has been triangulated to know what teach next. Did I say mine field or political field? <br /><br />I write about this “stuff too” on my blog: www.mwalker.com.au <br /><br />Thanks<br />MarkMark Walkerhttp://www.mwalker.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306386654220611881.post-69139101811714818302011-04-19T16:14:44.405-04:002011-04-19T16:14:44.405-04:00Hi Larry,
Thank you for thinking with me about t...Hi Larry, <br />Thank you for thinking with me about this. I am a big believer in separating proficiency (achievement) from work habits (effort). I also think we should give our learners feedback on other areas including collaboration. <br /><br />I have been experimenting this year with comments to support the number that I am required to send home. The feedback that I have received is interesting. It is only from 5 of my colleagues and the jury is still out on if my time is being well spent writing these comments.<br /><br />You can read details, with an actual example, in my post Grade Reporting: To comment or not to comment…that is the question! (http://bit.ly/ik5LDZ). I would love your feedback on the questions I have posed in this post. I, of course, still have lots of questions. <br /><br />I have a new post coming about some of the feedback I have gotten from the parents of one of my learners.J Goughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02577825838154232397noreply@blogger.com