Grading+Criteria

School Year 2011-2012
 * Grading Criteria: 7th Grade English Language Arts **

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Overview
Grades for the marking period will be divided into __Formative__ and __Summative__ grades. **Formative** grades are the classwork averages, homework averages, and brief checks on learning that create the framework of a unit. During the initial stage, students begin to explore the unit material in depth. Formative grades lay the groundwork for the Summative or unit-end grades. Formative grades will be averaged and weighted as **30%** of the marking period grade.

**Summative** grades will allow the students to bring together and apply their knowledge from the unit in the form of a written composition, project, presentation, or unit assessment. Summative assignments may generate more than one summative grade or may be more heavily weighted in the gradebook. For example, on a writing process piece, one grade will be identified as __//writing//__ and represents how well the writer captures all necessary information and details in his/her writing. A //__language use__// grade reflects the writer's accurate use of grammar, punctuation, and word usage. Additionally, the student's use of the __//writing process//__: brainstorming, drafting, thoughtful revision, editing, and publishing the draft in the final form may also be scored. All summative assignments will be averaged and weighted as **70%** of the marking period grade. Although the subjects are integrated, there will be at least 9 separate English and 9 separate reading grades for a minimum total of 18 grades each marking period.

Quality of Work
All assignments are expected to be completed __on time__ and are expected to reflect a quality effort from the student. Any summative work that does not meet the minimum standard of 70% may be returned to the student to make the necessary revisions needed to achieve the minimum standard in a specified time frame to be determined by the teacher and the student. This revised work's grade may be averaged with the original grade or may replace the previous grade. The revision of unsatisfactory work is used to engrain in the students an awareness of quality products, the understanding of concepts, and the habit of self-regulation to ensure achievement of the standard throughout the year.

Late and Missing Work
Late work will be accepted. Absent students will have one day to complete missed work for each day of absence. The missed work may receive full credit. However, students will receive partial credit for assignments up to a week late. Anything received that is beyond a week late may not be accepted. All non-completed or missing assignments will be noted in the gradebook. Disciplinary action will occur when a student is missing several assignments.

Grading Breakdown

 * Formative Grades: 30% of Grade **
 * Homework
 * Classwork
 * BCRs (may be weighted)
 * Quizzes (may be weighted)


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Summative Grades: 70% of Grade **
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">BCRs
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Quizzes
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Writing Process Pieces (extended writing)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">On-demand writing pieces (students independently read a text and respond to it in writing)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Projects
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Unit Assessments
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Other tests (e.g., vocabulary)

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Percentages will be recorded in the grade book and will be assessed the following point values to determine the marking period letter grade:


 * = **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Grade ** ||= **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Points ** ||= **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Percent ** ||
 * = A ||= 4.0 ||= 93-100% ||
 * = A- ||= 3.5 ||= 90-92% ||
 * = B+ ||= 3.38 ||= 87-89% ||
 * = B ||= 3.0 ||= 83-86% ||
 * = B- ||= 2.62 ||= 80-82% ||
 * = C+ ||= 2.38 ||= 77-79% ||
 * = C ||= 2.0 ||= 73-76% ||
 * = C- ||= 1.62 ||= 70-72% ||
 * = D+ ||= 1.38 ||= 67-69% ||
 * = D ||= 1.0 ||= 65-66% ||
 * = F ||= 0.0 ||= 64-50% ||
 * = Missed ||= 0.0 ||= 50% ||

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Parent Access to PowerSchool
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Parents can have access to their child's grades, attendance, lunch accounts, etc. through the PowerSchool program. Teachers will be able to indicate when assignments are due and add comments to individual student's assignment grades. For example, a teacher may indicate on an assignment if it was exempt, missing, late, or poorly done.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">New parent users need to register through our Guidance Office if they would like to have this access.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Once you have parent access to PowerSchool, it will remain active each year. You do not need to re-activate or re-enroll each year.