Setting the Standard for Standards-Based Grading
Post submitted by Whole Child Blogger Matt Swift
At ASCD’s Fall Conference in October, educator Mary McDonough used a variety of techniques while explaining the importance of formative assessment in standard-based grading. During her session, “Formative Assessment: Linchpin for Standards-Based Grading,” McDonough had attendees share their own experiences and discuss the topic amongst themselves and presented a slide show with everything from detailed instructions to cartoons that related to her presentation. The discussion was lively, and the audience was engaged with the large amount of information they were receiving, but it all came down to one important point:
“It’s good for learning,” said McDonough of using formative assessment and standards-based grading. “And it’s
