Standards-Based Grading

Once we’ve created our concept checklist, the next step is designing assessments for each concept. In my classroom, I call these assessments quizzes instead of tests. That may seem like a small detail, but language matters. The word “quiz” tends to feel less threatening to students, which helps create a classroom culture focused more on growth and learning than fear and performance. But the bigger question is this: What actually makes a good standards-based grading quiz? Afte

One of the biggest shifts in standards-based grading isn’t actually the grading itself. It’s deciding what truly matters. Before we can create quizzes, assess learning, or build a gradebook, we first need clarity on the most important concepts students should deeply understand during the school year. That’s where concept checklists come in. Example of a standards-based grading concept checklist from my classroom. What Is a Concept Checklist? A concept checklist is the foundat

Early in my teaching career, I kept running into the same frustrating pattern. A student would make a very low test grade… and then mentally check out for the rest of the grading period. Sometimes for the entire year. At first, I didn’t understand it. I cared deeply about my students. I encouraged growth mindset. I told students that mistakes were part of learning. I worked hard to create a positive classroom culture. But eventually I realized something important: My grading