Why gradeFs(grading philosophy 101)

Why Grade and GIVE F’sYeah, you read that right!

Minarets High School

Students are not Numbers

They are people, trying to learn, trying to cope.

Grades should Help the learning, not hurt it.


What the Letters Mean… A or B is exceptional and superior work. These

grades represent quality and professionalism. Work done on time and complete. Work domesticates understanding

of subject and mastery. They are college

recommending grades to the rest of the world.

C or D is work that has merit but is not of

great quality or understanding. These

grades represent average or below average work. While they are passing grades they don’t show

mastery of subject.

F is the grade the represents failure. A “F” can have wide

meaning from NOT DOING the assignment(zero), to not

getting done on time(5%-50%) to having

critical mistakes(51%-59%)


Collaboration

Communication

Community

Creativity

Critical Thinking

Competency

The Minarets 6C’s

All assignments are graded with these 6C’s in mind.

Not all assignments are equal, but all will contain some(if not all) of these criteria.

Students and parents should expect a lease one new grade per week.

No week is more important than another.


* Provide students with a grading rubric

* Explain to them what they will learn

* Identify the key concepts of the assignment

* Value the work they do in class


GRADE FOOD for

THOUGHT


Grades are your Currency($$$)

Make every week worth $100


Grades are your Currency($$$)

*everyone understands math based on 100 *50%, 60%, 70%, 80% and 90% make sense *students and parents can remember that system


Grades are your Currency($$$)How it works conceptually:

5 days a week? Then each day is worth 20 points



Your instructional practice should reflect doable and meaningful work that can be done in time allotted.


Grades are your Currency($$$)Some examples:

Scenario 1: Teacher gives a 24 question test at the end of the week. This test is balanced and reflects teaching and learning that went on during that school week. How is it worth 100? Simple, grade the test, get the percentage…award that many points for the week assignment. 20/24=83%, so the student gets 83 points.

Scenario 2: You will meet with your class 3 times this week. They will be working on a project that is due at the end of the week. Each days’ work counts, but the project is more. Award 20 points for the first 2 days of class and 60 points for the competed project. 100 points total.


Grades are your Currency($$$)YIKES that is A LOT of GRADING!

✤ Make it EASY on yourself. ✤ Divide the 100 points as you see fit. ✤ One weekly grade. ✤ Two grades, three grades. Just make them total 100 per

week.


Grades are your Currency($$$)YIKES that is A LOT of GRADING!

*Grade in CLASS. Use the block period to grade. *Give students feedback and give points. *Combine GRADES. Combine two class periods into ONE GRADE. Like PROJECT WORK:WK4. Then the project grade. *Use descriptions and notes to remind you and the student what the grade was for.


Grades are your Currency($$$)GIVE F’s. and D’s and C’s and B’s and A’s TOO!

Scenario 3: Student comes to class and starts working project, she/he is at the next class and works some more… Friday comes and the project never gets turned in…

GRADE the STUDENT. It can still be an F(and probably is) but it is not a ZERO, reward the work. Maybe they worked part time on the first day and work well the 2nd day..it could be a 45% for the week. 45/100. Still and F, but not a ZERO.


Grades are your Currency($$$)GIVE F’s. and D’s and C’s and B’s and A’s TOO!

How that might look in a Grade Book:

15/20 Project X work 20/20 Project X work2 10/60 Project X completion

OR…How that might look in a Grade Book:

35/40-Classwork Week 2 10/60 Project X completion

Giving students constant feedback is key! Notes in gradebook are great too!


We believe in being a PROFESSIONAL

PRO POINTS for being a PROEarly work, going above and beyond, helping others

PROs Value Time


We believe in PRO POINTS

Students who put in EXTRA DAY of REAL SCHOOLWORKDeserve PRO POINTS

PROs Value Time


How much PRO POINTS

Let’s say a student comes in on a Friday night to workfor a student event, she/he works 4 hours. That is ½ a day.

Each day 20 points. ½ day 10 points.Don’t overvalue or undervalue good work.

PROs Value Time


Students are Human and Teachers are Too!

Communication is key. Sometimes whole class, sometimes one on one.

Q: If a student does not work regularly should they get an A or B?


Students are Human and Teachers are Too!

Communication is key. Sometimes whole class, sometimes one on one.

A: NO, students, even very nice ones can still get a C or D even if they do every assignment.

Quality and Timeliness matter.


We Access Learning Students and their success matter to all of us.

In the end of the term…what does your professional knowledge of your subject, your knowledge of the student,

and your observations and grading tell you?

Award the Grade the student deserves and has earned.


Ask for help. Don’t wait. Show that you care.

Grades Matter.


Have a Great Year!

The End

Education

Why gradeFs(grading philosophy 101)