Starting SBG (Standard Based Grading)

How do you start sbg?  Good question.  Honestly, I thought I knew the answer until Internet research showed me I was off base.  Way off base.  This school year (2012-2013) will be my first real attempt at sbg.  My colleagues and I developed learning targets and common assessments, but missed the mark on how to give students useful feedback.  I teach high school, so this post is written for math subjects (not grade levels).  Here is what I have learned this summer:

1.  Start with a copy of the subject (grade) standards, your textbook and/or support materials, and past assessments.

2.  Get help (at least one other teacher).  This is a lot of work.

3.  Look at the past assessments and ask yourself; What do I expect my students to learn?

4.  Make a list of learning targets (objectives, skills) that are not too specific, yet not too broad.  We use Marzano's "I can . . . ." statements.  This is tricky.  I noticed that for Advanced Algebra I am averaging about 2 learning targets per week.  I have no idea if I have too many or not enough.  It is important that the learning targets include everything you are going to assess.  Sample student learning targets:

2a	Ø I can identify and evaluate a function.	Getting started…       Getting there…       Got it!          1             2              3             4
2b	Ø I can find the slope and graph linear equations.	Getting started…       Getting there…       Got it!           1             2              3             4

5.  Start planning around your learning targets.  Students need to know you are going to assess them on the learning targets, and that they will have multiple opportunities to master those learning targets.  To do this you must have some type of scoring table in the header of your assessments.  Sample assessment header:

Learning Target	2a	2b	0 = F (Blank or Nonsense)     1 = D (Getting started) 2 = C (Getting there)    3 = B (Minor errors)    4 = A (Got it!)
LT score

6.  Allow students to improve their LT score.  On the 2nd quiz I have some learning target 2a and 2b problems with 2c and 2d.  Note the header will have two more columns added for 2c and 2d.  Any student who mastered the first two LTs may skip those problems.  Any student who needs another (3rd) opportunity to master a LT must come in outside of class time with the quiz corrected and at least one additional problem worked out for each LT before they can retake an assessment on that LT.

7.  In the gradebook, the LTs are listed; 1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, and so on.  When a student retakes an assessment, I will simply change the grade. Note, if they do worse on a LT they get that score.  But they can come back after remediation to take it again.

This is how I am starting sbg for Advanced Algebra.  Currently, I plan to break down the grade into 3 categories:  Daily Practice 20%, Mastery of Learning Targets 40%, and Chapter Tests 40%.  I want to elimate chapter tests and have only one summative assessment at the end of each quarter, but I haven't developed enough material to do that yet.