How do standards-based grading and behavior characteristics work together?

Standards-based grading requires students to be evaluated based on their understanding level of each standard. While this continues to address gaps in the traditional grade book format, it draws a harsh line between student academic success and student behavior characteristics.

More often than not, educators voice concerns about the ability to hold students accountable for factors not assessed within a standard. This often includes behavior, responsibility, and respect. If these elements do not directly affect a student’s “grade,” how can we expect them to turn in an assignment on time or follow classroom expectations?

Standards-based grading does not diminish the ability for teachers to document behavior and hold students accountable. It simply requires the documentation to be made in a separate location. It is suggested school districts implement the use of behavior characteristics to resolve this concern.

Behavior characteristics allow a teacher to record any concerns dealing with behavior separate from the grade book. These scores are often shown as symbols. So, a student would earn a numerical score for their success in a specific content area standard, and a symbol reflecting their behavior. Both scores are shown on a report card. But, how do you get started?

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The Who

To begin, it is important to have teachers in the trenches as part of the process. Identify your pilot group(s) and get them talking! Should behavior characteristics be universal for all K-12 students? Should each behavior characteristic depend on the grade level?

Note: It is common for SBG School Districts to create three tiered Behavior Characteristics – Elementary, Middle School, High School. 

[READ “Standards-Based Grading: The Basics”]

The What

Within each group, identify the types of behaviors you wish to use to evaluate student success. Depending on how behavior characteristics will be implemented vertically, these can either be more general, big bucket ideas (ex: Respect, Invested in Learning, Responsible, etc) or specific targeted behaviors (ex: Arrive to class on time, Speaks respectfully to Peers, etc.). During this development, consider the following components:

(1) Stay between 4 – 8 Behavior Characteristics. Anything higher than 8 becomes extremely cumbersome and tedious for both teachers and parents.

(2) Specific targets can be useful, but may result in gaps in the assessment of the student. Alternatively, general targets often result in misconceptions between what is being assessed. The term “Responsible” may mean something different between educators. What’s an easy solution? Create general, “Big Bucket” Behavior Characteristics and provide each grade level a more specific description of what this means to them.

Ex : Invested in Learning – Student is consistently on task, eager to learn, and often challenges himself/herself to master content.

The Where

Where can you see examples of effective behavior characteristics? Collaborate with other schools and experts that have already taken the plunge into better assessment and grading practices!

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The When

When do you evaluate a student on their behavior characteristics? There is no wrong answer here! Some school districts allow teachers to update behavior characteristics at any point throughout the school year. However, often teachers report this freedom as being intimidating. Therefore, it is common practice for many school districts to report out behavior characteristics at the Quarter, Trimester, or Semester marks.

When should behavior characteristics be implemented? Do not limit your teachers by implementing standards-based grading without behavior characteristics…they go hand and hand! Therefore, as your district begins to implement standards-based grading practices, include behavior characteristics right away!

The Why

Behavior characteristics allow a teacher to record any concerns dealing with behavior separate from the grade book. While seemingly a minor element to the standards-based grading process, it can make or break an educators success in taking ownership in the system as well as the students success painting a clear image of the whole student. Don’t skip out on this important part as you begin your standards-based grading adventure!