I can be reached at school at (715) 265-4266 ext 6179 or by e-mail at blacksue@gcsd.k12.wi.us if you have any questions or concerns!
Grades:
A student’s grade is divided into three categories. The categories count for varying percents of the student’s grade. These are slightly different than last year. See below for explanations of each category.
*Tests / Quizzes: 65% |
A 94 – 100 |
C+ 78 – 80 |
Projects / Activities: 20% |
A- 91 – 93 |
C 74 – 77 |
Homework / Responsibility 15% |
B+ 88 – 90 |
C- 71 – 73 |
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B 84 – 87 |
D+ 68 – 70 |
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B- 81 – 83 |
D 64 - 67 |
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D- 61 – 63 |
Category Information
Tests:
Tests are given at the end of each unit. There will always be at least 2 tests a quarter, and at least 5 tests a semester.
Quizzes:
Speed Quizzes:
Students will take TIMED quizzes on vocabulary, basic formulas, and facts that they need to have MEMORIZED.
(They need to know the answers without a lot of thought, so they need to know these VERY well.)
The questions will be mostly fill-in-the-blank. Students WILL be able to retake these after using such study strategies as
flashcards!
Review Skill Quizzes:
There will be certain essential skills that the students MUST demonstrate mastery of. We will review the skill in class during the week and then students will take a quiz. If the student does not get at least 82% on the quiz, he/she will be required to do remediation of the skill and retake the quiz. Remediation opportunities will be available many times during the following week.
Unit Quizzes:
Quizzes on new material are given during a unit to help the students judge what they need to get help on before the test. The quizzes are designed to also encourage the students to study as they go along. Quiz grades can be improved as described later.
The Tests and Quizzes are combined into ONE category (which will appear as just Tests on the grade slips) as they are both evaluative tools AND there are some things on quizzes that are not on tests due to length and time constraints.
Projects / Activities:
(This will appear as just PROJECTS on the grade slip.)These are items that involve such things as technology (graphing calculator activities and Geometer’s Sketchpad Computer Program), daily TEAM work, applications, student presentations, and experiments. There could also be projects in which the students research an application of a topic covered in class.
***Writing and communication skills will be emphasized here.
Homework:
Homework is assigned to give the student an opportunity to PRACTICE the skills they need to know. It allows them to be exposed to a variety of problems. They are certainly welcome to come in and get help on the homework. Some homework will be graded in class, some will be collected, and some will be checked off to see if the students have attempted the problems and shown work. The point value each assignment is worth will depend on the length and complexity of the problems. If there are certain problems worth more, I will emphasize them to the students.
Responsibility:
This category is made up of items that the students have direct control over. Three-ring binder grades go here, which include organization, corrections on homework (in colored pencil), and notetaking. Also included in this category are review problems assigned periodically from other units. Quiz corrections, pop quizzes, class participation, grade slips signed, and other miscellaneous items also go on a checklist that goes here. Students also need to be prepared for class, making sure to have their required materials each day.
Note: Homework and Responsibility are in the same category called HOMEWORK on the grade slip.
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