Shifting to standards-based learning is a big change. Rely on Planning and Teaching in the Standards-Based Classroom to help you move forward with clarity and confidence. Authors Jeff Flygare, Jan K. Hoegh, and Tammy Heflebower have created a must-have guide for teachers that delivers straightforward, practical tools and detailed instructions for everything from lesson planning to proficiency scales to parent communication.
Understand priority standards and proficiency scales.Develop curriculum maps to plan for the entire year or course.Follow the steps of the instructional cycle to create standards-based units and lessons.Help exceptional students continue to thrive and grow in a standards-based environment.Communicate objectively with students and families about learning.IntroductionChapter 1: Curriculum Based on Standards and ScalesChapter 2: Year-Long Planning With Curriculum MapsChapter 3: Unit Planning With the Instructional CycleChapter 4: Lesson Planning and Teaching Within the Instructional CycleChapter 5: Assessments and Progress TrackingChapter 6: Communication Using Proficiency ScalesEpilogue
Of the many books I have read on SBG this year, this one seems the most practical. This is much more the trees than the forest and offers hands-on tools you can use in your classes. I would really like to see us focus on priority standards and proficiency scales before any changes to grading. It could save a lot of uncertainty and resistance. Changing grade reporting without training our teachers to plan and teach in a standards-based classroom first is putting the cart before the horse. I understand the prioritizing, planning, assessing, etc. I still am unsure how you translate the 4,3,2,1 scale to grades (which you have to do at a high school level for transcripts and GPA calculations) if the target score is a 3? Different authors have different takes on this.