Grading Policy
This
class requires a rigorous study effort.
You
must demonstrate mastery of the mathematical skills presented in class.
Your grade in this class is competency based and, primarily, test
determined. Grades reflect
competency with the subject of the course.
Many students enter this course with deficient math skills.
(Placement is not always data-driven).
Often, such students make outstanding progress (advancing, for instance,
from 5th grade skills to 8th grade skills).
However, regardless of this commendable progress, they might still be
deficient with the subject of this course.
Therefore, a grade of “F” might mask outstanding progress relative to
student skill improvement. Grades
are based on a 1000-point system. A
= 900 – 1000 points; B = 800 – 899 points; C = 700 – 799 points; D = 600
– 699 points; F = 0 – 599 points. In
the event not all 1000 points are available to you, your grade shall be
pro-rated on the points available. Your
semester grade will be the average of your quarter grades. (But, see item III
below) Your quarter grade is
determined by the following considerations.
I.
STANDARD ASSESSMENTS
Quizzes,
Tests, Exams:
Your grade in this class will be largely determined by the level of
competence you demonstrate on four short, unannounced, open notes quizzes; two
full period, announced, closed notes tests; and a cumulative end-of-the-quarter
“Review Card only” exam. (See below).
Each quarter, these seven formal assessments represent your primary
opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the course material.
The quizzes (five 10 point questions) are worth 50 points each; the tests
(twenty 10 point questions) are worth 200 points each; and the exam (the length
of which will be announced) is worth 200 points.
These assessments may be machine graded and require that you be equipped
with a #2 pencil
II.
ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS
Class
Participation:
Consistent with the expectations of the “world beyond school”, young
people should be reliable, respectful, and receptive to instruction.
Your display of such positive participation characteristics has value in
the classroom just as it does in the real world.
Success is not separate from behavior; it is the result of
behavior. You will start each
quarter with 50 class participation (CP) points.
Each instance of deficient CP (e.g., tardy arrival, unprepared with
learning materials, inattention during instruction, disrespectful attitude,
obscene language, etc.) will deduct from this starting total in 2-point
increments. It is important to
conserve these 50 CP points. These
50 “free” points could be the difference between one letter grade and the
next. Consult the CKM Student
Handbook for school rules that could impact your CP points.
Projects/Reports:
Every odd quarter, using words, graphics, and vivid colors, each student
is required to prepare an 18”x24” poster.
These poster projects portray either an inspirational,
motivational saying, or they depict an important mathematical idea, or
they pose a math related question, puzzle or riddle which challenges careful
reading, and analytical thinking. The
solution to the latter should appear on the poster’s reverse side.
Every even quarter, each student is required to prepare a one page
report on either a career ambition (including specific math
requirements), or an important person, place, or event in the history of
math. Examples of all
project/report types will be illustrated in class.
Projects and reports are rated on the basis of creativity, presentation,
accuracy and completeness, and scored as completely acceptable (50 points),
partially acceptable (25 points), or not acceptable (0 points).
Projects/reports are due at the beginning of class on the first day of
the fifth week of each quarter. Mark
your calendar.
Portfolio:
Every quarter all students are required to prepare a portfolio (Pf) containing
samples of their very best work. The
Pf should contain class notes from two different lessons identified by date and
topic, and the completed assignments from three different lessons identified by
date, text page number, and topic. These
five components should be stapled along the top inside edge of a manila folder,
the front of which is clearly marked with your name, class period, and quarter.
Portfolios are rated for completeness, accuracy, organization, and
neatness, and are scored as completely acceptable (50 points), partially
acceptable (25 points), or unacceptable (0 points).
Portfolios are due at the beginning of class on the first day of the
eighth week of each quarter. Mark your calendar.
Exam
Review Card:
Prior to the end-of-quarter exam, students should review their class notes and
prepare a Review Card that summarizes the quarter’s highlights.
Each student will be provided with one 5” x 7” note card on which to
record this review. No other format
is acceptable. Only one card is
permissible. This card will be collected at the beginning of class on the first
day of the ninth week of each quarter (mark your calendar), evaluated for
accuracy and completeness, and scored as completely acceptable (50 points),
partially acceptable (25 points), or not acceptable (0 points).
Review cards will be returned at the start of the exam and may be used as
reference during the exam. If the
End-of-Course Mastery Exam (see below) is used as the end-of-quarter exam,
Review Cards cannot be used as reference.
III.
HIGH STAKES ASSESSMENT
(Note Well)
Qualifying
Minimum:
Consistent with the goal of demonstrable competency in a high stakes climate,
all students must qualify in order to receive the average of their
quarter points totals (the sum of I, & II, above) as their semester
grade. Such qualification shall
consist of attaining a passing score on the semester (2nd
& 4th quarters) final exam.
Students who do not attain this minimum qualifying score shall receive a
semester
grade of “F” regardless of their quarter points total, or its
average with the previous quarter’s total.
Conversely, students who attain a qualifying score of 90% or higher on
the semester final exam shall receive a semester grade of “A” regardless
of their quarter points total. Students
who attain a qualifying score of 60% - 89% on the semester final exam
shall receive as their semester grade the higher of either the
average of their quarter points totals, or their semester final exam
score.
Things
to Remember:
Notebook: All students are expected to keep class notes, corrected
homework, worksheets, test reviews, and a record of their quiz and test grades
(a Student Grade Record will be provided for this purpose) in a
“Math Notebook”. This notebook should be brought to class every day.
Note: There can be a significant correlation between a well-kept notebook
and high achievement on the four open notes quizzes.
Be sure to keep a good notebook.
Assignments: Math work will be assigned each day. It is to be completed and brought to class the next day for
correction. All such work is
discussed, explained, and corrected in class, and remains in your possession
as a study reference. Quiz and test
questions are often drawn from a pool of previously assigned problems.
Additionally, your ongoing assignment is to read the text material, and
study the text examples related to the topic currently discussed in class.
You will find the time-honored “preview/review” approach very
helpful. Your math textbook is a
valuable resource. Bring it to
class every day.
Home
work: While I can provide assignments, I cannot control where they
will be completed. I regularly see students doing “home” work at lunch
tables and bus
stops.
However,
at home, parents can help monitor and assist student progress by asking their
child to illustrate the day’s math lesson using examples from their notebook.
This process may help uncover uncertainties that can be clarified at the
next class meeting.
Deficiency
Notices:
The intention of Deficiency Notices is to warn students who are in danger
of failing a class. In the absence of such notification, a student has recourse
to the receipt of a failing grade. Adolescent behavior is often erratic and unpredictable.
Frequently, academic achievement follows this same pattern.
Therefore, in order to preserve my responsibility to assign honest grades
to all students (uncompromised by prior notification requirements) every student enrolled in this class at the
District’s designated time for issuance of Deficiency Notices will receive
such a notice.
All
work in this class must be: Complete, showing the
problem, and all the work done to arrive at an answer; Done in an organized and
neat manner; Readily
legible (work that cannot be easily read will receive a grade of
“F”); Show easily recognizable answers in simplest form and with
proper units. Correct answers that do not show logical work will be marked
“MSW” (must show work) and will not receive credit.
Test
conditions:
“Test conditions” require that you be above suspicion during
all assessments. Any form of
student-to-student communication (regardless of its content) during a quiz,
test, or exam will cause your paper to be marked “VTC” (violation of test
conditions) and receive a grade of “F”.
Make-up
work/Late work:
Make-up work is student initiated and, like late work, available to, and
acceptable from, only students who clear an absence within three school
days of their return. I highly
recommend having a “study buddy” from whom you can get class notes and
missed assignments.
Special
Ed. Students:
Frequently, students who receive services from a branch of Special Ed. (R.S.P,
L.H./L.D., S.D., etc.) are mainstreamed in this class.
All such students have an Individual Educational Plan (I.E.P.).
These students should have their Special Ed. instructor provide me
with a copy of their I.E.P.
Progress
reporting:
Solutions to assigned problems are illustrated on an overhead projector
the day following their assignment. You
have the opportunity to compare your work with these illustrations, and ask any
questions you may have, thereby getting an ongoing, timely response on your
progress. Throughout the semester, you will be informed of your grade status.
Quizzes and tests will be graded and returned to you.
End-of-the-Quarter exams are graded and reported to you, however, exam
papers are kept on file, and may be viewed by appointment.
Periodically during the quarter, the class roster showing points achieved
will be posted on a classroom bulletin board.
These postings will identify students by the last three digits of their
textbook number, not by name.
Textbooks: Textbooks are issued at the beginning of the course.
If you were not present at that time, obtain a textbook from the clerk in
the bookroom.
Advancement: The CKM Math Department requires that you achieve a grade of
“A”, “B”, or “C+” in your present math class in order to advance to
a higher-level math class next year.
Students
who achieve a grade lower than “C+” should repeat their present math course.
Reality
check:
Beginning with the year 2004, in order to graduate, you MUST PASS: 1) Two
years of math, 2) The Algebra End-of-Course Mastery Exam, 3) The CA High School
Exit Exam.
Expectations: I utilize a variety of instructional strategies.
I will provide frequent reviews, and regular opportunities for individual
assistance. I encourage you to join
a study group, and will provide opportunities for such cooperative learning
formats within the classroom. The
learning environment will be positive, supportive, and non-threatening.
I make a clear distinction between learning and “schooling”. If you’ve been conditioned to learn only under coercion,
you should rethink your motives and purposes.
Amongst the compulsory, mandatory, and required
impositions of contemporary education, it is easy for students to lose sight of
an essential component of their education, volition.
Your real education takes place in the unbound territory of your will.
It is expected that you will have the WILL to learn.
Although your success will require regular attendance and considerable
effort, alone these will not “earn” you a passing grade.
Demonstrable competency is required.
Your grade will be an award attained, not a reward obtained.
Your grade is based on learning, not earning. Expectations are high.
Scholarship
is required.
