Sample Student Gradesheet
OK. Let's be real. Our school uses Progress Book, and I have to use it. But really the way I will be keeping track of your grade is on a spreadsheet like this, which will be shared with you on Google Drive. This GradeSheet will contain all your XP you earn and which assignments you did to get it. But when I report things in Progress Book it will look a little different. So obviously this is going to be new to both you and your parents, but I hope to explain it well enough here that you understand what it all means.
A short video explaining the Gradesheet process in STEM 7-8
Every time you complete an in-class assignment of the Paxton and Patterson Labs or complete an Epic Quest outside of the classroom, you will earn XP. This XP will automatically show up on this GradeSheet that you will have, and it will do all the math to show you the grade you have based on the XP you earn. Ultimately, these grades will be entered into Progress Book. But THIS is the GradeSheet you should be looking at for your current grade in the class, and don't focus too much with what is in Progress Book.
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Total XP earned/Current Level
These two values will show you how much total XP you have earned up to this point and the Level that you are.
Current Percent/ Current Grade
I have done a LOT of calculations to determine an XP table that works for our classroom. So each Level corresponds to a Percent between 0% and 100%. This shows your current Percent in the class, and that would be your grade in the class if you did NOTHING MORE the entire time you are in the class. And I remind you that this grade will NEVER GO DOWN and you can only improve upon it. Keep working and your Percent and grade will rise.
Projected Grade
I have written a formula into the spreadsheet that projects what your final grade will be in the trimester if you continue to work and earn XP at the same pace you have been working. This grade is not a guarantee, rather it is an educated guess of where you will end up based on your current pace that you are earning XP.
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What this all really means
This is new to everyone - you, me, your parents, your classmates, everyone. We have not done something like this in this school before, and it will have some bumps along the way. However, what I am hoping is that you will work with me as I try out something new that I truly believe is a GREAT way to work with students and make sure that they are learning. Ultimately in the end I believe this grading system will put the focus on learning and doing and take it off of the actual grading. I believe at the core an XP-based system will lead to student confidence and success, especially in a classroom where "failing" does not always mean you did not learn something. And in the end, I believe that students will gain knowledge that will help them in their futures without compromising their present grades, self esteem or desire to learn.