Search This Blog

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

SBG for AP Statistics

If you are just starting SBG (Standard Based Grading), see my post Starting SBG (July 2012).

Finally finished the first semester of Learning Targets for SBG for my AP Statistics class.  If you are looking for Learning Targets aligned with The Practice of Statistics (YMS 3rd ed.), I posted mine at: http://apstatssbg.wikispaces.com/
Thanks to Jared Derksen for starting this wikispace.

As with Advanced Algebra, most of the students grade (60%) is for SBG assessments.  The other components of their grade are: Daily Pracitice (10%), FRAPPYs (10%), and End of Quarter Summative Assessments (20%).  FRAPPYs are past AP problems, to learn more go to: http://apstatsmonkey.com/StatsMonkey/FRAPPYs.html
There are several other resource at StatsMonkey.  Check it out!

The Learning Targets I use are designed from Dr.Robert Marzano's teaching strategies. For a list of his researched instructional strategies go to: http://www.marzanoresearch.com/research/researched_strategies.aspx

It's count down time.  The first day of school is Aug 20th!  :)


Wednesday, August 1, 2012

SBG Grade Weighting and Rubric

Just finished planning the first semester of Standard Based Grading (SBG) for my Advanced Algebra classes.  As I go through this process, I continue to revise my syllabus.  I realize from reading other blogs, that SBG must be a large part of the grade (otherwise, why should they take it seriously?).  So I updated my semester grade weights and have separated daily practice (having materials/textbook, staying on task, working on problems together) from unit problems (an end of chapter "big picture" problem that ties several learning targets together).  As of this posting, here are links to 2 teacher blogs that I have found useful:

     dy / dan
     druin

My revised semester grade weights:
Daily Practice   10%
Unit Problems  10%
Learning Target Assessments (SBGs)  60%
Chapter Assessments  20%

Some teachers asked me about my grading rubric and how that rubric is calculated in my grade book (I am not an expert!).  In the past I have used a 4 point scale and then converted the scores to percents for an overall test grade.  Now with SBG assessments I want the grade book program to do the work for me.  My current plan is to assign these percents to the rubric scores:

Rubric    Percent
        0 =   0%  (blank or nonsense)
     0.5 = 60%  (glimmer)
     1.0 = 65%  (getting started)
     1.5 = 70%  (little understanding)
     2.0 = 75%  (getting there)
     2.5 = 80%  (almost there)
     3.0 = 85%  (some minor errors)
     3.5 = 90%  (minor arithmetic errors)
     4.0 = 95%  (got it!)
     4.5 = 100% (perfect)
     5.0 = 105% (beyond perfect)

Except for the 4.5, I will not give 1/2 scores on the SBGs.  The students have multiple chances to improve their SBG grade on any learning target.  So if they want to improve their grade, they need to move up to a solid letter (whole number on the rubric).  No more, "What do I need to do to just get a B?"  They want to just "squeak by" to get the next letter grade.  My district does not give plus or minus letter grades, so a C - is just a C on the transcript.

A perfect (4.5 = 100%) is for no errors, including all directions followed.  Beyond perfect (5 = 105%) is for the bonus problem on the chapter tests.

I'm sure there will be revisions as I move along.  At this point, I am optimistic for a great school year.  :)