HOW DO I GRADE?

1.  Each classroom task is worth 10 points. Large projects are broken into smaller pieces so that kids get points as they complete parts of the task.I do not weight classwork assignments; they have the value of the amount of time that I expect the work to take. Thus, a 2-day assignments is 20 points, a 3-day assignments is 30 points, etc.   Students may request additional time if there has been an issue with the assignment.  However, it does not increase in value if I allow more time for completion.

2. Homework is designed for reading and writing projects.  Each one is listed on a calendar that you are provided monthly.  The reading calendar is worth 50 points.  You will write one My Access entry each month, and it is worth 20 points if done correctly.

3.  In a 6-week cycle, I expect that there will be about 80 points per week for classwork or total value of 480 for classwork over the trimester. 

4.  I don't give tests because there is too much anxiety involved for students, and I don't get a valid product/score.  I am product driven and compare the end result unto the child and not the class.  I want to see improvement in each task as we study it.

5.  I give many assessments, which can never hurt your grade.  The purpose of assessments is to show a student and a teacher what has been learned and what needs to be taught or retaught next.  I have an assessment of some kind (performance, memorization, writing, reading, oral, or visual) almost every day.

6.  Students are given 24 hours if they forget work that is due.  They must come to me the next day and turn it in or show it to me.  After that the late policy applies.  I state the due dates on our web site agenda and also tell students to write them in their personal agendas. It is not up to me to remind them after that.  It is their responsibility to turn the work into the blue boxes assigned to each class period.  Graded work is returned to the bin next to the turn-in box.

7.  Core policy is that late work goes down 10% each day until it reaches 50%.  That is the lowest late work score; it never dips below that provided it has been done correctly.  It is recorded in the grade book as an "attempt" so that parents know you started the work in the teacher's presence.

8.  Much of the homework later in the year will be projects done in partnership with our Social Studies teachers and will count for a grade in both classrooms.

9.  Students who don't do their work will be sent to ZAP (Zeros Aren't Permitted) until the assignment is completed or an assessment is taken that shows they have understanding and mastery of the concept/skill.  ZAP is offered as an all core study hall every 3 weeks.  Those who don't need ZAP get to have an enrichment day with fun labs, math activities, and social studies games designed to let kids play with enriched content.

10.  Many group or paired tasks are given, but I only give individual grades.  The group/pair performs together, but their grades are based on each person's completion of his/her assigned task.