Classroom Procedures
Grading
The student's final quarterly grades will be calculated using a modified total points grading system that incorporates several classroom factors in to the calculation. A modified total points scale will use a standard TOTAL POINTS system in which more points will come from summative assessments and lab work and less from homework.
45-55% of total points = End of Unit Test (Summative Assessments)
20-30% of total points = Lab reports/ papers/ assignments
10-15% of total points = Quizzes (Formative Assessments)
15-25% of total points = Homework Assignments / Class Participation
100% = Final Quarterly Grade
*These percentages are only estimates and might vary slightly based on the total number of points offered during any nine weeks.
Franklin Regional Grading Scale
A = 100% - 90%
B = 89% - 80%
C = 79% - 70%
D = 69% - 60%
F = 59% - 0%
Modified Total Point
Grading Scale
(approximately)
REMINDER: Our school's official grading system is PowerSchool. Please refer to this grading system for the most arcuate grades. If you don't know your PowerSchool login information, then visit the FR website to request that information.
Students will also have the opportunity to maintain their own Grade Record sheet. The students will record all graded items on this sheet and will periodically be asked to do a grade check to calculate their current science grade.
Types of Grades
End of Unit Test: Summative Assessments:
45-55%
Summative Assessments are given periodically to determine at a particular point in time what students know and do not know. In other words, these are the unit test. If the student has done his/her job correctly (Made and followed adjustments from the formative assessments), then there should be no need to re-test the summative assessments. Remember the formative assessments (“Practice assessments”) help tell the student where his/her weaknesses are. By identifying those weaknesses, and then TRYING TO CORRECT those weaknesses, the student should be better prepared for the unit test. Therefore the summative assessments (or Unit test) are one and done. Meaning students will be given one chance to prove they have made corrections to their misunderstandings, sought help on topics of weaknesses identified by the formative assessments, and have studied and prepared appropriately for the unit test. (Almost no exceptions will be made for this.)
QUIZ:
Formative Assessments:
10-15%
Formative assessments are part of the instructional process. When incorporated into classroom practice, they provide the information needed to adjust teaching and learning while they are happening. In this sense, formative assessment informs both teachers and students about student understanding at a point when timely adjustments can be made.
While many formative assessments will be non-graded (Homework reflections, exit tickets, class discussions, etc.), quizzes will be. Students that earn less than a desired score on a formative assessment quiz (70%), will be given the opportunity to re-learn, and then be re-evaluated on the material ONE TIME ONLY. The student will be given this retest opportunity ONLY IF the student completes the Re-Assessment Study Plan document (found on the Student Resource webpage), has ALL assignments (Labs and Homework) completed, AND provides evidence of his/her attempt to relearn the material. (Evidence can include fixing mistakes on past assignments, retaking notes on a misunderstood section, requesting help from the teacher, etc.)
If a student attempts a re-do on a quiz, the score of the second attempt will replace the score from the first attempt regardless of which score was higher. (In theory, if the work was put in to better understand the material, then the score should be higher). Since the purpose of the formative assessment is to help with learning, all attempted retest for formative assessments MUST BE COMPLETED prior to the summative assessment.
Lab Work:
Lab papers, reports, activities
20-30%
Lab work is typically done in several parts. Part one, the students work within lab groups to design and/or run a scientific investigation to collect data and make observations. Part two, the students evaluate and analyze the collected data, draw conclusions and answer related lab questions. Part three, the students reflect on and report their findings. Typically part one is done as a team in class and parts two and three will need to be finished individually for homework. Depending on the amount of work required and hours dedicated to it, typical Lab grades will range anywhere between 5-25 points. Any lab work missed due to any absence from class MUST BE MADE UP PRIOR TO the Summative Assessment (The sooner the better).
Even though homework is assigned, checked and reviewed daily, typically homework is assigned little to no point value. Homework is a learning tool. It is designed and developed to help the student better understand a topic or reinforce a new skill being learned. If homework is assigned, it is my expectation that it is completed and attempted to the best of your ability. Don't come to class with a blank worksheet and tell me that you "didn't get
it." A messy paper may not have the right
answers, but it shows that you put forth much effort to TRY to understand. (A messy paper is one with a lot of erase marks, items scratched out, notes to ask me for specific help in the margin)
Homework:
Assignments and Follow-ups
15-25%
THE PURPOSE of Homework is to gain practice at new skills and to better understand new concepts. Doing ALL of your homework - ON YOUR OWN - will help you truly understand the material and better prepare you for the summative End of the Unit test that are worth the biggest percentage of your grade.
Typically the students that struggle the most on my End of the Unit Test are also the students that fail to do their homework or fail to try to do their homework on their own.
Homework FOLLOW-UPS
While some homework will be collected (often randomly), most will simply be checked and reviewed. Sometimes a follow-up will be assigned. For example, after completing an assignment, students will be given a HOMEWORK FOLLOW UP. These will often be only a few questions related to the assignments, to help gauge the student's understanding of the material. If a student does well, then he/she is thought to have understood the topic and is ready to move on. If a student did poorly, a help session will be schedule in which the student and teacher (or peer tutor) will review both the homework assignment and Homework Follow Up together. Homework Follow Ups are non-graded formative assessments and are worth zero points. They are designed to help a student reach mastery understanding of the topics covered and prepare them for the end of the unit summative test.
* PLEASE NOTE: A Follow-up HELP session will only be scheduled if the student has attempted the original assignment! If the student did poorly on the Homework Follow-Up, but never attempted the original assignment, then the student will be asked to first attempt the homework before a help session will be given.
LATE Homework Policy
It is my expectation that ALL homework is completed ON TIME! Successful students learn to manage their time and ensure all assignments are carefully done on time. However, I am also aware that you are currently in the 8th grade which means there might be a time or two that you fail to get it completed on time. If you fail to turn in your homework on time, you may still obtain some points for the assignment.
At the start of every nine weeks, you will be given a limited number of LATE assignment passes that you can turn in with a late assignment for some points. Once you are out of Late work passes, no late work will be accepted. REMEMBER, during the 4th nine weeks NOTHING is excepted late.
Nine Weeks
1st
Each Student will be given
SIX
Late Work Passes
Nine Weeks
2nd
Each Student will be given
FOUR
Late Work Passes
Nine Weeks
3rd
Each Student will be given
TWO
Late Work Passes
Nine Weeks
4th
Each Student will be given
ZERO
Late Work Passes
Example
*** Passes do not carry over to the next nine weeks. Any unused Late Work Passes can be turned in at the end of the nine weeks for Bonus points.
To receive partial credit for a late assignment, It must be turned in NO later than one day prior to the unit test.
If the assignment is turned in (With a Late Pass):
-
Before the END OF THE DAY it was due = -10% off the points earned
-
Anytime ONE school day after it was due = -50% off the points earned
-
At least a day before the end of the Unit Summative Assessment = -80% off the points earned
-
Anytime beyond the Unit Test = 0 points will be awarded
If the student suffers from chronic late/missing assignments (3 or more), an email will be sent to his/her parents that may required them to first discuss the late/missing assignment problems and also return a completed Chronic Late/missing Assignment Reflection Document with a parent's signature. Extra copies of the C.L.A.R.D. can be found at the on this website on the Student Resource page
Cheating Policy
I know it is very tempting to just ask a friend for the homework answers so your work is "complete." However, if you complete the homework on your own, you have not only started to develop a personal understanding of the material, but you have also already begun to prepare for the unit test. It's all about which do you value more, short term rewards or long term gains.
According to school policy cheating is defined as: Copying from other students during a test, using unauthorized information on a test, and copying another student’s homework.
According to the same policy BOTH the student that copied as well as the student who permitted the student to cheat will receive a failing grade on the materials, and cannot make up the work.
Bottom line is very simple: Always do your own work. Remember we are learning. If you have the answers of someone else on your homework, test, or quiz; there will be no way for you or I to truly identify your areas of weakness.