Are the grades in your classroom product based or process based?

Product based grading focuses on the final product or outcome without giving consideration to the learning process. These types of classrooms value tests, classwork, projects, and presentations. Grades that come from products produced focuses on student performance and achievement vs. actual learning taking place.

Process based grading focuses more on how much the students learn, grew, or changed in regard to a particular standard or unit of instruction. This type of grading focuses on the steps toward mastery of a particular focus. Instead of grades, students receive feedback as they are working towards mastery and lots of practice to solidify the learning.

Ways to incorporate more process based grading include the following:

Make Homework Optional - Some students have so many barriers when it comes to completing homework, while others have too much support where parents just end up doing the homework. Either outcome does not benefit students. So, instead make homework optional and provide feedback for students who complete it to grow. Also, create a culture where students understand that they only benefit by doing the practice, and you will find that most will complete it. We all know that the best homework is independent reading.

Ungraded Participation - This is such a convoluted grade and is so subjective to the personal preferences of each teacher. In other words, it is not an equitable grade. Come up with a variety of ways for students to participate in the class so that all feel successful. Students also should never be graded on having the right supplies, appropriate dress code, or behaving properly.

Ungraded Exit Tickets - Try not to ask such vague questions as what did you learn today or questions from different activities. Use exit tickets to see which students are making progress towards the learning outcome to ultimately provide student feedback for optimal growth. Make sure that the exit ticket questions match what was being taught. Then sort your tickets into three piles: got, sort of, and needs intervention. Then provide small group feedback to streamline the process and moving learning forward for all students.

Rubric Grading - Try to focus on feedback through rubrics that focus on level of understanding rather than grading on meaningless point systems.

No More Grade Deductions - Points seem to go missing from students for all sorts of random reasons like improper headings or the wrong color ink. Instead of deducting points for nonacademic reasons, just tell the student what you want next time. In other words, give students feedback for improvement.



“The Only ‘F’ That Matters” by Michelle Hope SCD Educational Leadership September 2020 pages 28-33.