Google Classroom and Standards-Based Grading

In our district we use Standards-Based Grading in all grade levels K-12. Our teachers have truly embraced Google Classroom as a way to assess students on the course standards. All students are graded on a 4 point scale using Dr. Robert Marzano's proficiency scales template. To see our district's SBG proficiency scales, click here.

In order to make Google Classroom work best, many teachers make the assignments "worth" 40 points. Since Google Classroom is yet to give the option for 1/2 point grading, the 40 points gives the following grading options:

40 = 4
35 = 3.5
30 = 3
25 = 2.5
20 = 2
15 = 1.5
10 = 1
0 = Level not determined (there is not 0 or .5 on our proficiency scales)

The great thing about Google Classroom is that you can download all your assignments into a spreadsheet file so you can track all your standards.

Add some conditional formatting to your spreadsheet to color code your "green", "yellow", and "red" kiddos, and BOOM, you've got your intervention groups! Now, the only downside to this is that it downloads as a Microsoft Excel file, not a Google Spreadsheet. I'm sure, though, that Google will get that fixed soon and give the option to save it as a Google Sheet. I hope that 1/2 points will be available soon, too.

Even with a few drawbacks, Google Classroom is a great tool to use to assess your students and give them re-learning opportunities by giving them the option to re-do and re-submit.

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