Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Grade Replacement One of my administrators recently pointed out that our state's teacher observation system mandates that teachers use practices that represent final mastery of a skill or concept. My students receive number grades (averages). I have begun to replace one quiz grade per unit with the grade the student made on the unit test (if it is higher). A part of me feels that they need to be held accountable for each assessment. A doctor who is performing brain surgery doesn't get a redo. Is my grade replacement system okay, or do I need to find a better solution? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I think a better way to address the disparity between grades for formative and summative assessments is the way that the grades are weighted in the grade book. If the primary concern is what students walk away knowing at the end of the year, the summative assessments should be very heavily weighted. Additionally, formative assessments can have very low- weights since their purpose is to inform the student and teacher how well the student is grasping the material. Grade replacement seems unnecessary if categories are properly weighted.                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No The suggested solution is relevant to the case No The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement No The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue No The suggested solution is original No Comments: Even if the weights of grades change, it doesn't help if they have still not mastered a skill. Of what if they are having external issues that affects how well they do on the final, but they have done really well all semester- they shouldn't be penalized for one test if the rest had good grades Rated On: July 1, 2015 5:41 pm Rated By: NaXeta