The report card below is a sample of how I received feedback during elementary, middle, and high school. In addition to being a disinterested color, it lacks any kind of explanation of how the student is assessed, why they received a particular grade, and what they learned.
In SBL, we shift from grades as rewards to grades as communication. Targets provide very clear learning goals for students and reporting indicates levels of mastery achieved by unit's end. Note that only academic targets are included to calculate the grade. Habits of Learning targets based on students character are not included in the academic grade. This transformation in reporting allows us to assess purely academic mastery without the introduction of irrelevant outside influences such as: behavior, tardiness, organizational skills, and extra credit options.
The Mastery Reports that students and their parents receive at the end of each Unit clearly show what the child is learning. This shift in using grades to communicate rather than to reward is a challenge to my juniors and seniors. Education has wedded students to the idea that what counts is the end result; the actual journey of learning is secondary. In the Unit report below, feedback is specific. My students know that they can re-work anything at anytime. Learning - not deadlines - is the goal.
I have been impressed with much of the re-work I have received. Most kids want a second stab at it. Perhaps the grade is their ultimate goal still, but the re-working the targets produces learning far beyond the end grade.
Recently I received an email from a struggling student. Along with some resources and reminders about what the summative targets and goals are, I wrote the following, "Remember that pushing ourselves can be hard. It is actually good that you are struggling, because that means you are trying hard and you are trying to learn something new. Congratulations!!!"
I have been impressed with much of the re-work I have received. Most kids want a second stab at it. Perhaps the grade is their ultimate goal still, but the re-working the targets produces learning far beyond the end grade.
Recently I received an email from a struggling student. Along with some resources and reminders about what the summative targets and goals are, I wrote the following, "Remember that pushing ourselves can be hard. It is actually good that you are struggling, because that means you are trying hard and you are trying to learn something new. Congratulations!!!"