Kindergarten Pilots Standard-Based Report Card

With so many changes happening, this is an exciting year for Conway's Kindergarten Program! Consider this year's Standards-Based Report Card:

The following examples (without formatting) are to give you an idea of how much information the previous report card transmitted in contrast to the new Standards-Based Report Card.

This is the previous version:

S = satisfactory

P = progressing, partial understanding

B = beginning

Shaded areas = not evaluated this grading period

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th
SOCIAL SKILLS
Treats others with respect	S
Obeys school and safety rules	S
WORK HABITS
Works independently
Practices good listening skills
Completes work in a reasonable time
MATHEMATICS
Counts to 30/50/75/100	S
Accurately counts objects to 10/20/25/30	S
Sorts and classifies objects by attribute: color/shape/size	S
Recognizes, copies and extends patterns	S
Compares and identifies groups: more/fewer/equal
Identifies numbers to 10/20/25/30	S
Measurement: compares and estimates length, capacity, weight
Solves simple addition and subtraction problems using concrete models
Homework
SCIENCE
PHYSICAL EDUCATION

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th
LANGUAGE
Speaks clearly	S
Expresses ideas and experiences to a group	S
Recalls details and sequence of a story
Participates in guided literature discussions	S
WRITING
Uses pictures to convey meaning	S
Tells about own pictures and writing	S
Labels and adds words to pictures	S
FINE MOTOR SKILLS
Writes first name without a model	S
Uses scissors correctly and effectively	S
Prints letters as introduced	S
Writes numerals 0 – 10 without a model
READING READINESS
Recognizes visual differences in pictures and designs	S
Identifies capital letters (as introduced)	S
Identifies lower case letters (as introduced)	P
Identifies letter sounds (as introduced)	S
Identifies beginning sounds in words	S
Identifies rhyming words
Recites/reads predictable or patterned books	S
Reads high frequency words (as introduced)

Now compare. Look at the changes (below) that are reflected on our new Standards-Based Report Card.

Our goal is to inform parents with more specificity. So, instead of receiving S (satisfactory), P (progressing/partial understanding), or B (beginning) - a child's grade will be a 4 (exceeding), 3 (at), 2 (working towards), or 1 (below) to indicate how standards/expectations are being met.

Social and Behavior Skills that Support Learning
4 Exceeds Expectations at Trimester Consistently and independently exceeds expectations	3 Meets Expectations at Trimester Frequently meets expectations with minimal assistance	2 Working Toward Expectations at Trimester Occasionally meets expectations, requires moderate assistance and/or redirecting	1 Below Expectations at Trimester Rarely meets expectations and requires considerable assistance and/or redirecting

Collaboration and Cooperation	F	W	S		Self Directed Learner	F	W	S
Interacts positively and respectfully	3				Organizes work space and materials	3
Follows school/class rules	3				Uses class time productively	2
Works well with others	2				Finishes work in a timely manner	2
Respects property	3				Demonstrates willingness to try	3
Handles small conflicts with ease	3				Follows directions	3
Accepts responsibility for behavior	3				Works independently	2
Communication					Brings backpack and returns folder	3
Listens attentively without interrupting	3				Health and Fitness
Speaks effectively in front of others	3				Develops fundamental movement skills	3
Asks necessary and relevant questions	3				Demonstrates appropriate behavior	3
Understands and applies technology skills	3				Attempts and practices all tasks/activities	3
Music					Art
Develops and applies music skills and concepts	3				Develops and practices skills	3
Demonstrates appropriate behavior	3				Attempts and practices all tasks/assignments	3
Attempts and practices all tasks/activities	3

Academic Quality
4 Exceeds Standards at Trimester Consistently and independently exceeds expectations for grade level	3 Meets Standards at Trimester Frequently meets expectations with minimal assistance	2 Working Toward Standards at Trimester Occasionally meets expectations for grade level, requires moderate assistance, extra time, instruction, & practice	1 Minimal Progress Toward Standard at Trimester Does not yet meet expectations for grade level, requires considerable assistance, an extended amount of time, instruction, & practice

NE = Not evaluated at the time * = See separate report

Reading	F	W	S		Math	F	W	S
Applies understanding of phonics (examples: letter names, consonant/short vowel sounds, decode three- and four-letter words, use phonics to read unfamiliar words)	2				Demonstrates and applies concepts of number sense (examples: counts to 100, reads numerals to 31, orders numbers to 10, uses number line, quantity to 20, compares sets)	3
Understands and applies phonemic awareness (examples: rhyming, segmenting, blending)	3				Applies concepts of algebraic sense (examples: copies, extends, identifies patterns)	3
Reads kindergarten sight words (examples: am I love see mom dad the me you like by on is by no)	NE				Understands and applies concepts in measurement (sorts, compares, orders)	3
Understands and applies new vocabulary	3				Uses math to define and solve problems	NE
Demonstrates comprehension (examples: questioning, retelling, sequencing, making connections)	3				Identifies, sorts and names basic shapes, describes similarities	3
Understands concepts of print (directionality, parts of a book, relationship of print-spoken language)	3				Communicates knowledge and understanding using appropriate vocabulary and symbols	3
Demonstrates effort in language	3				Demonstrates effort in mathematics	3
Completes reading and logs in minutes for homework	3				Completes and returns math homework	2
Writing
Writes clearly and legibly	3				Science
Demonstrates awareness of capitals/lowercase	3				Participates in learning concepts & content	3
Uses conventions (letter/number formation, spaces)	3
Spells words phonetically	2				Social Studies
Communicates ideas through pictures, words, captions and/or sentences	3				Participates in learning concepts & content	3
Demonstrates effort in writing	3

Conway's Kindergarten Program has developed this report card after carefully examining samples from other districts. We took our old report card and revised it into what we considered the best of.

Also note the following from a letter by our principal, Deenie Berry:

An interesting fact about standards-based grading versus traditional grading is that scores are trended rather than averaged. In a system of trending grades, the achievement that students show later in each trimester weigh more heavily than early in the grading period when the skills are newly introduced. In a trending system, if students struggle at the beginning of a skill, but demonstrate effective progress, they are graded on how they consistently meet expectations/standards. In a traditional averaging of grades, this student would actually score lower than a trending grade that clearly acknowledges where the student consistently is working later in the trimester.

We are interested to know what you think! Please drop us a line. dpatterson@conway.k12.wa.us