Parents,
I always try to be clear with my grading policies so this year I am taking the time to explain some of the methods I use. This is a working document and can be changed, but hopefully it will provide some consistency and help answer any questions you might have.
I believe that fourth graders need to be accountable for everything they do in my class. I work very hard to grade their work so that they (and parents) have a good idea how they are doing in school. I use a wonderful grading program that keeps all the grades organized and I have worked hard to put the scores in different categories so it is more specific. For example, a student in my class will have a math score (an average of all areas of math), but will also have a specific score for a particular area of math (ex: geometry or measurement). That way, everyone is clear which are areas of strength and which are areas that need improvement.
The district has changed from letter grades to standards based report cards. So, your child will be receiving scores of 4-3-2-1 instead of letter grades. Their equivalents are: 4 = advanced, 3 = proficient, 2 = Approaching, and 1 = Below Grade Level.
The work that comes home will be in math, reading, writing, science, and social studies. There are a few differences so I wanted to point them out here.
Math:
Our math program has several units. Every unit has an end of the unit assessment that assesses the entire unit. For some of the larger modules there might also be a mid-unit assessment. These will be counted in their grade book and be a substantial part of their grade.
There will be other opportunities for me to see their progress and occasionally I might offer a short quiz to see where they are. Sometimes these won't be graded but instead will be used by me to take the pulse of the class.
Reading/Writing:
Reading and writing have many sub-categories so I will make sure to enter any scores in the appropriate category (some examples: comprehension, grammar, spelling). These assignments will have a score on the top of the page that reflects how many questions they answered correctly. Each assignment will be a bit different, but all will contribute to the overall score as well as the sub-category.
Social Studies/Science:
All of the social studies and science assignments will contribute to the overall scores in each subject. There will be no sub-categories. The score on each particular assignment or project (of which there are several) will reflect how many questions they successfully answered. Some might be worth 5 or 6 points, while others might be as many as 100 points (reports/projects).
The kids will be working on several hyperdocs that introduce and allow them to practice the material. Each hyperdoc has several activities and experiences that help them understand the material better.
Progress Reports:
I will not be giving out progress reports at any specific time but I am always happy to let you know where your child is currently. My gradebook is updated in real time so I can usually give you a pretty good idea of how things are going.
I am flexible in my grading but firmly believe that students get the scores they earn. I try to take any guess work out by diligently recording their scores. That way there is little dispute about scores and everyone can turn their focus to improving or maintaining their current scores.
Last but not least, I believe that kids deserve the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and prove that their understanding of the subject matter has improved. I will offer make-up tests for the kids who request them and will replace their scores if they have proven they know understand the material. This is a great lesson to learn and kids feel very proud to work hard and improve their scores.
Hope this helps and please let me know if there is anything that needs to be added or explained better.
I always try to be clear with my grading policies so this year I am taking the time to explain some of the methods I use. This is a working document and can be changed, but hopefully it will provide some consistency and help answer any questions you might have.
I believe that fourth graders need to be accountable for everything they do in my class. I work very hard to grade their work so that they (and parents) have a good idea how they are doing in school. I use a wonderful grading program that keeps all the grades organized and I have worked hard to put the scores in different categories so it is more specific. For example, a student in my class will have a math score (an average of all areas of math), but will also have a specific score for a particular area of math (ex: geometry or measurement). That way, everyone is clear which are areas of strength and which are areas that need improvement.
The district has changed from letter grades to standards based report cards. So, your child will be receiving scores of 4-3-2-1 instead of letter grades. Their equivalents are: 4 = advanced, 3 = proficient, 2 = Approaching, and 1 = Below Grade Level.
The work that comes home will be in math, reading, writing, science, and social studies. There are a few differences so I wanted to point them out here.
Math:
Our math program has several units. Every unit has an end of the unit assessment that assesses the entire unit. For some of the larger modules there might also be a mid-unit assessment. These will be counted in their grade book and be a substantial part of their grade.
There will be other opportunities for me to see their progress and occasionally I might offer a short quiz to see where they are. Sometimes these won't be graded but instead will be used by me to take the pulse of the class.
Reading/Writing:
Reading and writing have many sub-categories so I will make sure to enter any scores in the appropriate category (some examples: comprehension, grammar, spelling). These assignments will have a score on the top of the page that reflects how many questions they answered correctly. Each assignment will be a bit different, but all will contribute to the overall score as well as the sub-category.
Social Studies/Science:
All of the social studies and science assignments will contribute to the overall scores in each subject. There will be no sub-categories. The score on each particular assignment or project (of which there are several) will reflect how many questions they successfully answered. Some might be worth 5 or 6 points, while others might be as many as 100 points (reports/projects).
The kids will be working on several hyperdocs that introduce and allow them to practice the material. Each hyperdoc has several activities and experiences that help them understand the material better.
Progress Reports:
I will not be giving out progress reports at any specific time but I am always happy to let you know where your child is currently. My gradebook is updated in real time so I can usually give you a pretty good idea of how things are going.
I am flexible in my grading but firmly believe that students get the scores they earn. I try to take any guess work out by diligently recording their scores. That way there is little dispute about scores and everyone can turn their focus to improving or maintaining their current scores.
Last but not least, I believe that kids deserve the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and prove that their understanding of the subject matter has improved. I will offer make-up tests for the kids who request them and will replace their scores if they have proven they know understand the material. This is a great lesson to learn and kids feel very proud to work hard and improve their scores.
Hope this helps and please let me know if there is anything that needs to be added or explained better.
