Videos

Learning Based Grading

Added Oct 01, 2026 •

Copy this URL:
Embed code:	<iframe class="edlio-embed-player" type="text/html" width="640" height="360" src="//pjh.psd201.org/apps/embed/?v=398515" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Change dimensions

Preston Junior High class grading.

Show Transcript

at Preston Junior High the whole idea is student learning and student growth in every classroom and in every subject we want grades to communicate something meaningful what students know what they can do and what they need to learn traditional grading often focuses attention on point accumulation how many points did I earn on the assignment what percentage did I get on the test those numbers tell us how many points were collected they do not always clearly communicate what a student has actually learned think about Athletics practice is where athletes learn build skills make mistakes receive coaching and improve the game is where they demonstrate ate what they can do academics should work in much the same way we still have assignments we still have assessments but assignments are not simply opportunities to collect points they give teachers and students idence what has the student learned where is understanding strong where are the gaps and what specifically do we need to work on next that is where our essential standards learning targets and rubrics become so important essential standards identify the learning that matters most learning targets break that learning into clear understandable pieces and rubrics make the learning visible each level of a rubric spells out specifically what a student needs to know and be able to do a rubric shows where the students understanding is right now what has already been learned what has not yet been learned and what comes next when students receive a score and feedback the conversation should not end with a number the feedback tells them what they understand and where they need to focus next then they continue learning practicing receiving support and demonstrating growth that changes the questions we want students asking not just how many points did I earn but what have I learned what do I still need to learn and what should I work on next parents are an important part of this ask your child what they learned in class ask them to show you their rubric talk together about where they're learning is now and what they still need to learn and reach out to their teachers with those same questions what is my child learned where are the gaps and what can we do to help them grow we are not lowering expectations we are making learning clearer in every classroom and every subject the focus this is student learning and student growth because the goal isn't to collect points the goal