Jessica Spaulding
Grading Policy
First Grade 2025-2026
Report Card Scoring:
Report cards are aligned with NYS Standards on a 1-4 scale. A great deal of students' report card scores come from observation, completion of class work, assessments, and progress monitoring. . In first grade we talk a lot about having a growth mindset and we fix our mistakes to help our brains grow. Oftentimes, I use independent work as a tool to guide me in what needs to be re-taught or practiced. I believe in hands-on, meaningful, and collaborative instruction where your child is learning the standards in a fun and interactive way that helps their brains make long-term connections.
4 – Exceeds Expectations: Consistently demonstrates mastery and applies skills beyond grade-level expectations.
3 – Meets Expectations: Demonstrates consistent mastery of grade-level standards.
2 – Approaching Expectations: Making progress toward mastery but requires additional support and practice.
1 – Needs Support: Requires significant assistance; skills not yet developed.
Language Arts: CKLA Skills / CKLA Knowledge Domains
In ELA, students will take all of the curriculum assessments to monitor their progress. I will also do progress monitoring every three weeks and meet with the first grade team every 6 weeks so we can adjust AIS groupings. I will also take dictated notes in areas where individuals struggle while we meet in small groups. This way I can keep a checklist of what students have mastered or not mastered. We will also be using the RTI screening tools/ mClass/ LETRS, for progress monitoring and Universal screening to see where students fall in relation to their peers and if they are progressing towards each standard. Student learning is also measured using, written and oral responses, tricky word checks, and teacher observations of classwork and participation.
Math: Eureka Math Squared
In Math, students take part in a Universal Screening which will help me decipher where their needs are at the beginning of the school year. This year I will be doing things a little differently as we will not be meeting with small groups based on goals, but instead we will have access to push in support during our whole group instruction. This will allow the two teachers to better meet the needs of all students. We will be able to utilize several different models of co-teaching including two small groups, stations, pulling students for extra help / challenging students who have already mastered the content, etc. Every student will also take the end of module assessments and complete the exit ticket mini-quizzes along the way to see how they are progressing with the standards we are working on.
Science/Social Studies: OCM BOCES Kits
Student mastery of science standards are based on completion of students' work, activities, collaboration, and whole group discussion. Students will have a culminating unit inquiry based task to complete that measures their level of understanding. Social Studies standards are assessed through participation, effort, and application of skills through our knowledge domains and real life application throughout the school year.
Work Habits & Effort
In addition to academic progress, students are evaluated on learner behaviors including:
Effort
Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Following classroom expectations
Self-control
Taking responsibility for their actions etc.