Mastery Grading v. Weighted Grading
When using the weighted grading system, the students' grade that is calculated finalizes as either a percentage, point value, and/or letter grade. The maximum amount of points teachers assign to each assignment can be any value that they choose.
Mastery learning is a method of teaching where the focus is on the role of feedback in learning. It revolves around the theory that all students must ‘master’ the current topic before moving on to the next.
When teachers use Master-Based Reports, rather than students being graded by 'points,' students are given 'indicators' that reflect their grade. Such verbiage can include 'mastered,' 'proficient,' or 'emerging.'
The mastery‐based report card is the product of teaching and learning in a standards‐based educational environment. Each individual student's education is connected to specific learning goals. Weighted-Grading includes points and common letter grades. This type of feedback is ineffectively presented to both students and their parents. Mastery-Based systems allow students and their parents to keep better track of their progress in subject areas and meeting their learning goals.
The following information can also be found Hanover Research Document, Mastery Based Report Cards.
http://studentachievementblog.cbd9.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/HANOVERMasteryBasedReportCards.pdf
When implementing Mastery‐Based reporting, educators, students, and parents alike believe that all students can learn, given the appropriate instructional supports and learning goals.
Mastery reporting is based on the following principles:
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All students, given the proper instruction to meet their needs, can learn in any class.
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Everyone has their own way and rate of learning.
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Most learning difficulties occur due to uncorrected learning errors in class.
Below are some examples of grading scales used in different school districts.
One of the biggest challenges in implementing mastery‐based report cards is communicating their meaning to parents. Because we are all used to the point and letter grade system, the verbiage used in Mastery reporting may be confusing at first.
To help parents understand the mastery-based report, some districts offer equivalency charts. These helpd to make comparisons between the traditional grading system and the new one. Below, you can see the chart distributed by Excelsior Springs High School. This school grades their students on a 4‐point scale and decimal values of mastery.
