Using ChalkTalk to Inform Grading: A Teacher’s Guide to a Flexible Model
As teachers, we want our grading systems to do more than assign a number—they should reflect student learning, recognize effort, and support growth. ChalkTalk helps make this possible by providing real-time insights into students’ skills through adaptive practice and assessments.
While ChalkTalk doesn’t require a specific grading model, many educators have found it helpful as a foundation for building a transparent, fair, and growth-minded grading approach.
Note: Always follow your district’s grading policies. What follows are suggested models that many teachers have successfully used with ChalkTalk.
1. Skill Level Growth: (Recommended: 60% of Grade)
ChalkTalk empowers students to build mastery by tracking meaningful progress. In this model, students earn a grade based on their growth in skill levels, as demonstrated through adaptive practice and assessment results.
Every student begins at Skill Level 1, creating a level playing field. As they engage with the platform, they advance through:
Level 2: Approaching Proficient
Level 3: Proficient
Level 4: Strongly Proficient
Level 5: Mastery
Each level reflects deeper understanding and application of key standards. This structure rewards both growth and achievement—allowing students to demonstrate learning in an adaptive, personalized environment.
💡Teaching Tip: ChalkTalk’s visual skill-level indicators let you quickly see where students stand and tailor your instruction accordingly—ideal for flexible grouping or targeted interventions.
2. Participation & Engagement (Recommended: 20% of Grade)
Student growth is more than just test scores—it’s also about effort, engagement, and consistency. Consider dedicating 20% of a student’s grade to participation and engagement using factors like:
Class attendance
Participation in group activities
Effort shown during adaptive practice sessions
Positive engagement with teachers and peers
Acknowledge the habits of active learning that often go unmeasured—giving students credit for the daily effort, persistence, and engagement that help them grow. This approach ensures all learners feel seen, valued, and supported.
💡Teaching Tip: Use participation checklists, student activity logs, or ChalkTalk’s group activity data to monitor and support student engagement in this category.
3. Growth & Proficiency Extra Credit (Up to 20% Optional Bonus Credit)
ChalkTalk empowers students to track their own growth, and you can recognize that progress by offering extra credit for significant gains or milestone achievements. This can include:
Growth: Demonstrated improvements in skill levels or significant score gains on benchmark tests (e.g., a 100+ point increase on the SAT).
Proficiency: Reaching or exceeding a target score (e.g., meeting a goal score of 480 on the SAT and scoring a 500) or target skill level (e.g., meeting skill level 3 on required skills)
This bonus is completely optional but can serve as a powerful motivator and an equity-focused tool to highlight individual student progress.
💡Teaching Tip: Collaborate with your team and students to set clear growth and proficiency targets if you choose to offer this bonus.
How ChalkTalk Supports Grading
ChalkTalk is built to give you clear, real-time visibility into student learning. With just a few clicks, you can access:
Each student’s skill level by standard
Class-wide views of strength and need
Data from adaptive practice and assessments to inform your teaching
These tools were designed to support, not replace, your grading systems—making it easy to align instructional insights with district requirements.
In Summary: Flexible, Insightful, and Student-Centered
This flexible grading framework—anchored in skill progression, participation, and growth—can help you create a system that motivates, reflects real learning, and supports every student’s journey. Most importantly, this model is just one way to use ChalkTalk to enhance your instruction.
Be sure to consult your district’s grading policies and collaborate with your team to customize it for the needs of your students.
Need help interpreting ChalkTalk data or applying this model? Our support team is here to help, and your fellow educators may already have creative ways to make this approach their own.