Grading

Grading is broken into 2 categories: Major Grades (60% of the grade) and Minor Grades (40% of the grade). Major Grades include singing tests, projects, monthly practice logs, and concerts. Minor grades will include smaller in-class assignments, homework, content quizzes and weekly participation grades.

Missing Work

Any grade not turned in on or before the due date will receive an automatic 0% in PowerSchool; however, students are able to make up grades with a 10 point penalty (with some exceptions). Along with the 0%, students who have not turned in late work may receive lunch detention every day that it is not turned in. 3 lunch detentions in a row will result in a discipline referral for "Refusal to Work."

Retakes/Make-up assignments

Students may retake any major  assessment one time. 

Projects, major writing assignments (such as research papers), and practice logs are excluded from retake procedures because there are checkpoints and feedback given informally prior to the final grade. Additionally, performances are excluded from retake procedures unless Mr. Benitez is made aware of an excused absence via an email from the parent or guardian. This email must be sent as soon as possible in order to adjust for the missing student(s). Athletic events are not excused absences.

Students must show that they have completed all of the minor assessments associated with that unit, as well as any remediation by the teacher, prior to the retake.

Mr Benitez has the discretion to change the assessment; however the difficulty level will remain the same as the original assessment. The highest score will count as the final grade.

Students have 5 days from the date that the major assessment grade is entered in PowerSchool to make arrangements for the retake.

Students may not wait until the end of the grading period to retake multiple major assessments.

Students can submit all late minor assignments up until 5 school days before the end of the grading period. No late work will be accepted after this deadline.

It is the responsibility of the student to notify the teacher when they submit late work past the deadline. 

Grading Schedule

Major Grades

Tests will be due on Thursdays and will typically be scheduled as followed:

1st week – Singing Test (one of our pieces)

2nd Week – Sight Singing Test or Assignment 

3rd Week – Singing Test (one of our pieces)

4th Week – Monthly Practice Logs Due

For each Singing Test, students will record themselves singing the piece with their Chromebook or another device. They will then upload the recording into Google Classroom to be graded after the due date. On the due date, students will have the opportunity to record with the class. Any student who has not uploaded their video by class-time on the due date will be required to record in class whether or not they use that take for the final grade. This ensures everyone has the opportunity to record. 

If you have not uploaded/performed  by the due date, you will be required to perform individually for Mr. Benitez.

We will typically have 1 big Project Grade per quarter that will also count as a Major Grade.

Concerts will count at 2 Major Grades. Students are expected to perform at all planned concerts. There might also be optional concerts that give extra credit. Note

Practice Logs: We do not usually have homework that you will need to turn in, but I do expect you to practice at home. Starting the first full week of school, you will be required to complete a Practice Log which will be checked monthly. This will count as a minor grade for the first month and then as a Major Grade for the rest of the year. If your practice log is still empty by week 3 of the month, Mr. Benitez will email parents as a reminder. 

Each week is 25 points

6th – 25 minutes a week (1 minute = 1 point)

7th – 50 minutes a week (2 minutes = 1 point)

8th – 75 minutes a week (3 minutes = 1 point)

Minor Grades

On 2-3 days of the week, we will have a Question of the Day, or QotD. The QotD is designed to make you think about music. Usually there is not one specific right answer to the question. We will sometimes reflect on a quote, evaluate a performance recording, or discuss an idea about music. Be ready to take time and think about your answer and write in complete sentences (unless the QotD says that you do not have to). Each QotD will count as a separate Minor Grade (a change from last year). As long as you follow the directions and answer all parts of the question, you should be able to do well in this section. 

Quizzes will be announced beforehand to give you time to study. These will count as 2 Minor Grades.

 Participation will be graded each week, where each day students will be able to earn 25 points. Since Chorus meets 4 days a week, at the end of the week students will have earned a maximum of 100 points. Students lose points by actively not participating, sleeping, not preparing for classwork, etc.