Is SBG at McLean?

[Anonymous]

How do we find out if it will be implemented at our school?

[Anonymous]

What is SBG?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is SBG?

Look at the long thread that already exists on “skills based grading” at Madison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is SBG?

In principle SBG has a lot going for it as a method to ensure mastery of the subject being taught.

However, as implemented in FCPS it is a mechanism to lower the grades of higher achieving students while also raising the grades of lower performing students resulting in more Bs and Cs all around and achieving, you guessed it, more equitable grading.

[Anonymous]

Currently not at McLean, but seems to be coming to all FCPS HS within a few years.

[Anonymous]

Some MHS teachers do it but it definitely doesn’t seem designed to raise grades. My kid’s AP Physics 1 teacher uses it. It’s really confusing and I don’t get it. The main impact so far is lower grades than would be expected with the understanding that the final grade should be fine as long as growth is shown with each assessment.

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine them ever using this for team taught regular ed classes. If you have anyone with learning disabilities, you have to give them multiple ways to show skills.

It seems like it would only benefit that genius kid who can't always get homework done/loses papers, but has an easy time mastering material and acing tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is SBG?

In principle SBG has a lot going for it as a method to ensure mastery of the subject being taught.

However, as implemented in FCPS it is a mechanism to lower the grades of higher achieving students while also raising the grades of lower performing students resulting in more Bs and Cs all around and achieving, you guessed it, more equitable grading.

No it doesn't. There is no way to assess this through a few tests a year and less assessments throughout the year than before. It's just a way of allowing teachers to assess less in the year which then shows up in kids not caring about the other days of school. Are we really that concerned about teachers at Mclean not teaching content correctly? No, we are not. There are already standards and many materials for teachers to use and they are highly educated. Find another way to assess your teachers than through SBG. Grading should be to help children and it is not helping children at all in assessing their mastery or growth in the subject.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some MHS teachers do it but it definitely doesn’t seem designed to raise grades. My kid’s AP Physics 1 teacher uses it. It’s really confusing and I don’t get it. The main impact so far is lower grades than would be expected with the understanding that the final grade should be fine as long as growth is shown with each assessment.

The grading approach in that class made me insane. Good teacher but I thought the grading approach was bizarre.