[ola] Re: rubrics, please

  • From: Tracy Patterson <Tracy.Patterson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "<ola@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>" <ola@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2013 04:01:51 +0000

Arnold et al-
This is the exact quagmire we are in the middle if in 549c. We have been 
talking until we are blue in the face trying to get somebody (in the district) 
to read our STATE standards and realize that they are global descriptors of 
performance superimposed over a scholastic calendar year of classes called 
Spanish 1,2,3,4,5. Most language teachers quickly realize that saying 
"Proficiency Stage 1 approximates ACTFL NM" is somewhat useless when aligning 
it to traditional grading systems (A,B,C,D,F). These are two different ways 
about describimg performance/proficiency. The spirit of The Oregon State 
Standards (based on ACTFL descriptors) is, in my opinion, incompatible with 
letter grades.
I don't feel like I am explaining myself well. Anyhow, to all of the language 
teachers out there, Keep up the good work! I hope that the decision makers in 
the State, in general, and our district, in particular, will recognize the 
incompatibility of our Standards and what they are mandating we do insofar as 
fequency and types of assessments. Perhaps it boils down to semantics.
Saludos,

Tracy Patterson
Profesora de español

On Mar 12, 2013, at 7:10 PM, "Arnold Bleicher" 
<arnoldb@xxxxxxxx<mailto:arnoldb@xxxxxxxx>> wrote:

Harris – mixing grades with performance is dicey. Explain to me, as a parent of 
a kid who meets the goal for the class, why she gets a B. You set a goal, she 
met it. Also, I really hesitate to mix performance standards with grades. This 
muddies the waters. I want to move away from grades and whenever we start 
moving in the direction of performance standards, the first thing admins want 
to do is bring the discussion of grades into the mix. This is apples and 
oranges. You want to assign grades based on X,Y,Z, (and parents and admins want 
to see grades so you have to come up with some half-baked formula) but the 
grade does not have to reflect the performance of a student. Maybe they don't 
do their HW 8 times or are tardy 5 times and get docked, but are solid NH after 
year 1. Grade = C – How does that have anything to do with her ability to 
function at levels way beyond her peers? Don't get me wrong, I was in the 
classroom for 25 years and know the game and what hoops we have to jump 
through. Gotta give a grade. But damn, I want to reward the kid for her 
performance. Do I have an answer? Sure: change the whole friggin system. Do I 
have a workable answer other than the smart-aleck response I just gave? Nope.

ab

From: Harris levinson <hlevinson@xxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:hlevinson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Reply-To: OLA Listserve <ola@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ola@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Date: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 5:52 PM
To: OLA Listserve <ola@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ola@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Subject: [ola] Re: rubrics, please

Exactly. I imagine we not only interpret approaching standard, at standard, and 
exceeding standard differently (maybe not!), but that we also have differing 
ideas regarding what grade each of those receives. I could argue that meeting 
standard is a C, B, or an A depending on how I interpret the letter grades C, 
B, and A!

Right now, I am inclined to give a B to someone who meets standards, an A to 
someone who exceeds them. I have not fully switched to ACTFL standards only but 
hope to get there and am very interested in how those of you who have switched 
turn meeting standard into a letter or numerical grade.

Thank you.
Harris

2013/3/12 Tracy Patterson 
<Tracy.Patterson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:Tracy.Patterson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Hey all-
I agree with Arnold :) Attached is the OPIc rating chart for speaking to give 
you an example. In Oregon, Spanish 1 corresponds to proficiency stage 1 which 
"approximates ACTFL Novice-Low." Spanish 2, proficiency stage 2,  "approximates 
Novice-Mid."
The challenge is assigning a letter grade to that!


Tracy Patterson
Profesora de español
North Medford High School
Department of World Languages
1900 N. Keene Way Drive
Medford, Or 97504
541-842-1249<tel:541-842-1249>
"El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz."
Benito Juárez


-----Original Message-----
From: ola-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ola-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
[mailto:ola-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ola-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>] On Behalf Of 
Nanosh Lucas
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 3:30 PM
To: ola@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ola@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [ola] rubrics, please

Hello,

Would you kindly share your rubric for presentational and writing for Spanish 1 
& Spanish 2, respectively?

I am working on this with students to help teach them the standards, but it 
would be good to have something else to refer to. I'm sure I must have this 
already, but I don't remember where.

Thanks,

Nanosh



--
Harris Levinson
Teacher, Adviser
Vashon Island High School

Tel:  206.463.9171 x141

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