Dear Parents and Guardians,
We have started to enter grades into Echo for the projects and activities the students have been working on so far. As Project Based Learning grades are not like traditional grades, we wanted to clarify and explain some of the differences you will notice.
First of all, PBL students are not graded solely on their knowledge of content standards. While this holds great importance, students will also earn grades in the following categories: Agency, Collaboration, Oral Communication, and Written Communication. Each is weighed separately to total 100% of the student’s overall grade. To learn about each of these categories and the weight for each, please visit this page on our PBL team website: http://pblinnovationacademy.weebly.com/grading-learning-outcomes.html
Depending on the project and the learning outcomes we’d like to see leading up to the final products, you may see more grades being entered for certain outcomes more heavily than others. By the end of the quarter, however, there should be close to an even number of assignments and activities entered for each of the five learning outcomes. If you look at the grades we have currently published, there are very few entered. If a student did not receive a perfect score on the very few assignments we have entered, it’s possible their grade appears “low,” or lower than many people expect. Please check back often. As more grades are entered, you will see improvement. (Hopefully!)
Another major difference between a traditional classroom and our PBL classroom is the expectations are significantly higher for all students from the beginning of the year. We recognize your students are entering our classroom as beginners in all of the learning categories. The expectation is by the end of the year they will be proficient or advanced in all of the five grading categories. In lesser words, we know your students will grow and learn these qualities as the year progresses. While we know this is a change, we are hoping that you will also adopt this understanding and growth mindset.
Additionally, we would like to express a sentiment that all four of the 6th grade PBL facilitators have agreed upon: It will be very difficult for your student to earn an A+ in all aspects of the grading outcomes. An A+ is earned when students have met all stated expectations perfectly. To be perfect is a very rare occurrence, not only for students, but for us as adults as well. We do encourage students to strive for this level of learning and achievement and will help them get there to the best of our ability. However, we will not be disappointed if they unable to reach this level of perfection as long as they gave their very best effort 100% of the time (one of our student-created norms).
Please know that we have discussed all of these things with your student and they have indicated they understand what we are asking of them. Your best resource, if you have questions about Echo and your student’s grades, is your student! The 6th graders do understand that we are a team and in order to make this year successful on all accounts, we have to work together. You are an integral part of this team as well!
Thanks for all you do for your student; we couldn’t do our jobs without you!
As always, please feel free to email any of us with more specific questions and concerns.
Thanks again,
6th Grade PBL Facilitators
We have started to enter grades into Echo for the projects and activities the students have been working on so far. As Project Based Learning grades are not like traditional grades, we wanted to clarify and explain some of the differences you will notice.
First of all, PBL students are not graded solely on their knowledge of content standards. While this holds great importance, students will also earn grades in the following categories: Agency, Collaboration, Oral Communication, and Written Communication. Each is weighed separately to total 100% of the student’s overall grade. To learn about each of these categories and the weight for each, please visit this page on our PBL team website: http://pblinnovationacademy.weebly.com/grading-learning-outcomes.html
Depending on the project and the learning outcomes we’d like to see leading up to the final products, you may see more grades being entered for certain outcomes more heavily than others. By the end of the quarter, however, there should be close to an even number of assignments and activities entered for each of the five learning outcomes. If you look at the grades we have currently published, there are very few entered. If a student did not receive a perfect score on the very few assignments we have entered, it’s possible their grade appears “low,” or lower than many people expect. Please check back often. As more grades are entered, you will see improvement. (Hopefully!)
Another major difference between a traditional classroom and our PBL classroom is the expectations are significantly higher for all students from the beginning of the year. We recognize your students are entering our classroom as beginners in all of the learning categories. The expectation is by the end of the year they will be proficient or advanced in all of the five grading categories. In lesser words, we know your students will grow and learn these qualities as the year progresses. While we know this is a change, we are hoping that you will also adopt this understanding and growth mindset.
Additionally, we would like to express a sentiment that all four of the 6th grade PBL facilitators have agreed upon: It will be very difficult for your student to earn an A+ in all aspects of the grading outcomes. An A+ is earned when students have met all stated expectations perfectly. To be perfect is a very rare occurrence, not only for students, but for us as adults as well. We do encourage students to strive for this level of learning and achievement and will help them get there to the best of our ability. However, we will not be disappointed if they unable to reach this level of perfection as long as they gave their very best effort 100% of the time (one of our student-created norms).
Please know that we have discussed all of these things with your student and they have indicated they understand what we are asking of them. Your best resource, if you have questions about Echo and your student’s grades, is your student! The 6th graders do understand that we are a team and in order to make this year successful on all accounts, we have to work together. You are an integral part of this team as well!
Thanks for all you do for your student; we couldn’t do our jobs without you!
As always, please feel free to email any of us with more specific questions and concerns.
Thanks again,
6th Grade PBL Facilitators