Grading:
Grading is based on a point system. Students will see a score of number correct/total number of points on their papers. If they have a perfect paper they will receive a STAR! We take grades for Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. You can check your child's grades online at the Home Access Center. If you are unsure of how to do this, information will be sent home shortly. Grades should be entered in weekly and graded work will be sent home every two weeks.
Graded Work will go home on Tuesdays unless Monday is a holiday: There will be a slip attached to the top of the stapled set of papers. Please sign and return the ENTIRE packet within a few days. Please check over the work carefully. If you have any questions, please write a note or send me an email. Mistakes are made and I am not perfect. I welcome your diligence as this demonstrates a strong partnership between school and home. Thank you.
Rubrics: I use an open ended method for gathering data such as creating a poster for assessment of vocabulary acquisition. The students can write a sentence, give a definition or draw an illustration of a particular word. This allows the student to exhibit their talents. I am attaching the rubric (grading tool) in order for you to understand your student's grade on a particular project. This has been shared with the students so that they understand the expectations.
I will also attach any rubrics that are standard for grading - such as handwriting. We take a handwriting quiz every week. It is 10 points and entered in Language Arts. The students received a yellow copy of this rubric and it is to be kept in their folder at all times.
Phonics First: We are using a program to improve spelling and reading patterns. This is a program that we spend approximately 30 minutes a day on in class. Due to this program - we will not have a traditional spelling list or test weekly.
Reading: We will be working on a new story with skills and strategies weekly. On Fridays there will be an assessment of those skills and strategies. We will alternate using Think Central (online) and paper. This allows us the flexibility that some students need for paper/pencil but also prepares them for online assessments.
Social Studies: We will be studying a variety of topics and will use Social Studies Weekly as well as other resources to enhance our social studies curriculum.