How to Grade for Learning: Linking Grades to Standards

Implement standards-based grading practices that help students succeed!   Classroom assessment and grading should help students grow and develop to their full potential, but meshing traditional grading practices with students’ achievement on standards has been difficult and daunting. Making real and lasting changes to grading practices requires both knowledge and willpower.   This 4th edition of the best-selling How to Grade for Learning provides eight guidelines for good grading, offers recommendations for practical applications, and gives solid suggestions for implementing more effective grading practices. Ken O’Connor presents the latest research on motivation, mindset, learning styles, and beliefs about fairness to inform this new edition, which includes: Both the why’s and the how-to’s of implementing standards-based grading practices 48 educator contributions from nationally and internationally known educators, authors, and consultants that provide ideas and testimonials for effective assessment practices Sections on hot-button issues such as academic dishonesty, extra credit, bonus points and homework Additional information on utilizing levels of proficiency and eliminating the use of percentages and averaging Reflective exercises and numerous tools, including rubrics, sample letters, and case studies Techniques for managing grading more efficiently An invaluable resource for helping teachers assign grades that are accurate, consistent, meaningful, and supportive of learning, this book also makes an ideal staff development resource.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Rick Stiggins Preface Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction Chapter 1: Basing Grades on Standards Chapter 2: Using Performance Standards Chapter 3: Grading Individual Achievement Chapter 4: Sampling Student Performance Chapter 5: Emphasizing More Recent Evidence Chapter 6: Determining Grades Chapter 7: Quality Assessment and Keeping Records Chapter 8: Involving Students in Grading and Assessment Chapter 9: Grading Issues Chapter 10: Communicating Student Achievement Chapter 11: Implementing Changes in Grading and Reporting Chapter 12: The Way Ahead Appendix A: A Testimonial on the Impact of Assessment and Grading for Learning Appendix B: Guidelines for Grading in Standards-Based Systems Appendix C: A Proposed Grading Policy Appendix D: Bay District Schools Assessment Principles and Practices Appendix E: NGSS Performance Expectations for a High School Chemistry Course Appendix F: Ontario Achievement Chart for Canadian and World Studies Appendix G: Letter to Parents About Student-Led Conferencing Appendix H: Rubric for Sound Grading Practice Appendix I: Glossary References Additional Resources Index

About the Author :
Ken O’Connor is an independent classroom assessment consultant with a special interest in grading and reporting. An internationally recognized speaker who has presented in 47 states in the United States, 9 provinces and one territory in Canada, and 24 other countries, he has also consulted for schools, districts, and state and provincial departments of education. He had 23 years of classroom experience from grade 7 to grade 12, and 10 years of experience as a curriculum coordinator for a large school district. Ken was born in Melbourne, Australia, but has lived most of his life in the east end of Toronto, Canada. His major extra-curricular interest is field hockey, as a player, umpire and coach. As a coach, three of his players went on to represent Canada in the Olympics. He also umpired at the 1984 Olympic Games and the 1990 World Cup.