Science Policies

Content Knowledge Grades in Science

Content Grades in Science are grades earned on quizzes, tests, lab reports, projects or any product that can demonstrate what students know and can do in any science topic.

I enter grades for CONTENT KNOWLEDGE assignments into Infinite Campus within one week of the assignment due date. Big projects are the exception, and may take up to two weeks to enter into IC.
Care will be taken to grade the content of the assignment separate from the neatness and promptness of the product. The latter qualities will be reflected in the student's Work Habits grade.
Different assignments will be weighted differently, generally due to time spent on the assignment. The following is a general rule of thumb for the weighting of my assignments.

Weighted Grading

Retakes

CIMS uses a standard-based grading system, we WANT the students REACH the standard. Sometimes students just need more practice before a standard can be mastered. Because of this, all Cimarron teachers allow 'retakes' of certain content. There are requirements for a retake so that students are encouraged to always do their best work. Below my expectations for a retake:

Only tests and quizzes earning a '1' or '2' can be 'retaken'
The highest grade possible on a retake is a '3'.
Test corrections need to be completed & submitted before the retake
Students who earned a '1' MUST set up an individual tutoring time with Mrs. Fields before the retake can be taken. This is the student's responsibility.
Students may need to set up the retake time and location individually with Mrs. Fields if a group retake time and location are not set

Cimarron Middle School Grading Policy

CIMS uses a standard-based grading system.

4 (A) Students shows an excellent understanding of the topic. The topic can be shared with others at a high level, applying the topic broadly and with depth in the student’s own words.
3 (B) Students show a proficient level of understanding. They can describe most important concepts about the topic with some depth and some coverage of the many aspects of the topic. Their product would show the basic important features of the topic. Basic knowledge is evident.
2 (C) Students show a partial understanding of the topic. They can identify some of the main concepts some of the time, but they show misunderstandings as well. They can identify and communicate the topic but inaccuracies or gaps are also evident.
1 (D) Students show little understanding of the topic. Their product may have too many inaccuracies or gaps, or things don’t make sense. Partial understanding is evident.
'I' - Insufficient evidence of a students’ understanding. The product may be incomplete or not done at all. Students generally have 1 week to redo for a proficient grade

Extra Help/Contact

If students need additional help or clarification on anything in Science class, they can locate me in my room before school (7:00 a.m.), during lunch, or after school until around 3:30 p.m. I would also encourage students to contact me with their questions through email at dlfields@dscsdk12.org.

Additionally, I welcome parent input, questions, and feedback. Please feel free to email me at deborah.fields@dcsdk12.org. I’m happy to schedule phone calls or meetings as needed. Please contact me if you would like to schedule a meeting about your student.

WORK HABITS GRADES in Science

Work Habits grades are made up of a combination of:

Timely homework completion
General work quality on specific assignments
General classroom Be RED behavior - Students will earn a weekly or bi-monthly

(WH grade based on their general classroom behavior, this will be recorded in Infinite Campus as RED 1, RED 2, etc.)

BE RED ACADEMIC and BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS in SCIENCE CLASS

I am a RESPECTFUL member of the Aztec Community.

I communicate politely and kindly
I work cooperatively with others.
I take care of resources and materials
I act as a steward of our community

I strive for EXCELLENCE in my character and my academic growth.

I arrive for each class on time and prepared
I participate fully and mindfully in class.
I carefully, and thoughtfully complete all class assignments to the best of my ability in a timely manner.
I lead by example with my focus and reliability during independent work times

I am DETERMINED to make my 6th grade year successful both academically and personally.

I advocate for my learning by asking questions
I assess my work based on learning targets and rubrics
I learn from feedback and revise my work.
I am resilient and resourceful when problem solving

Homework/ Class assignments

Students can expect occasional homework in Science class. I strive to make sure that work to be completed at home is meaningful, and that students are capable of completing their work independently. Typically, students will be given class time to start on their daily assignments. On some occasions, students will complete their work in class. At other times, students will need to finish their assignment at home, or will be given a longer assignment or project designed to be completed at home. I expect all students to be responsible for their own work and turn in assignments on time.

Missing or Late Assignments

Students are expected to turn in assignments completed, and on time.
Students are expected to keep track of their own assignments by checking the Daily Class Details and Assignment Page when absent and checking IC daily.
A '2' is the highest WH grade that a late assignment can earn.

Sometimes family events or emergencies can get in the way of homework completion and absolutely want to remain flexible and supporting when there are extenuating circumstances that cause homework to not be completed on time. If this is ever the case for a student, a note/email from home will allow a possible extension for the due date. Sports practices, games, tournaments, and birthday parties do not constitute an ‘emergency’.

Binder Checks

Binders become and invaluable resource and are in important part of our Science class. Binder checks take place about once a month and are a grade that is double weighted. Students are expected to keep their binders neat, organized, and updated.

CIMS Work Habits Grade Expectations

4 (A) Excellent effort, work in on time, participating often, on task and promotes a positive learning environment. Students can do an assignment at the level of applying concepts that may not even have been taught.
3 (B) Mostly on task, participates, work in on time most of the time, Participates most of the time. The student can complete the task using the knowledge taught with few mistakes.
2 (C) May need prompting often to be on task, work is late often, Socializing too much. The student can complete the easier tasks but not the more complicated. Work may be done, but effort is not evident.
U (D) Unsatisfactory performance on individual tasks. Not meeting expectations.
I= Incomplete: no letter grade but should be completed or redone within a timely manner, usually 1 week.

Student Grade Reporting

Grades will be available online via Infinite Campus. It is the student’s responsibility to check his/her grades on a regular basis. I typically enter grades several times a week Middle School students are encouraged to begin to advocate for themselves when they have a question about a grade or missing assignment; however, parents are ALWAYS welcome to contact me to discuss student progress and/or performance. I am happy to communicate with parents via email, phone contact, or in a face-to-face conference.

No Name Policy

Students are required to have a complete heading on every assignment that is handed in and must remember to write their name on their paper before turning it in. Should a student neglect to put his/her name on a paper and I am unable to identify student’s work, the assignment will be placed in the “No Name” clip and will not be graded. No Name work will be marked MISSING in Infinite Campus until the work is properly identified. When the student identifies that work, credit will be given, and the Missing flag will be taken off of IC.

Extra Help/Contact

I welcome parent input, questions, and feedback. Please feel free to email me at deborah.fields@dcsdk12.org. I’m happy to schedule phone calls or meetings as needed. Please contact me if you would like to schedule a meeting about your student.

Science Classroom Behavior Expectations

In order for authentic learning to take place, it is vital that students invest in the process of learning. Participation impacts outcome! Students who are respectful, engaged, focused, and have a positive attitude in class each day will be more likely to feel successful, retain what they have learned, and enjoy Science Class in general.

I expect respectful, positive, and non-disruptive behavior from all students in my Science class.

Students who have trouble meeting behavior expectations will be given a warning.
If a student continues to have trouble meeting basic behavior expectations during the same class period, he/she will sign my Classroom Behavior Clipboard.
If a student consistently has trouble maintaining acceptable classroom behavior, he/she may be asked to remove himself/herself from the activity in order to fill out a personal Reflection Sheet.
Student responses on this Reflection Sheet will help to direct the conversation I will have with him/her about how we can change behavior in such a way as to allow continued participation in the class activity The student will then take the Reflection sheet home to be signed by a parent.
Depending upon the nature and severity of the student behavior, parents may get a text/email or phone call from your student, or from myself to better explain the situation. If a student fills out three Reflection forms in one semester, he/she will be given a Referral. Students who earn Referrals meet with a Cimarron Principal before re-entering the Science classroom.

Absences

A big change for students entering middle school is the responsibility of making up missed work when absent. It is the student's responsibility in Middle School to collect absent work and make up assignments missed. This is often a several step process. It is my expectation that students are proactive about this responsibility. Students in Science should complete the steps below IN ODRDER:

Collect papers from FOLDER for the day(s) you missed.
Go to the Science Website and read the Learning Target, Class Activities, and Homework in the Assignment Calendar.
Click on any links listed under LINKS next to the Assignment Calendar and watch lessons and/or follow instructions on the link.
Update Binder T of C & collect passed back papers.
Meet with Mrs. Fields for further instructions.

I am happy to meet with students before/after school, during lunch, or passing periods to go over questions that arise due to missed school or any other assistance that is needed.

Due Dates for Absent Work:

Students have one day for each day absent, plus one extra day to complete absent work.

example: absent Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday - student has 4 school days to make up work so all work is due on

Wednesday of the following week.

Keeping track of due dates for absent work is the student's responsibility.
Students will not get reminders about absent work, it is the student's responsibility to make up work and turn it in on time

Absences & Infinite Campus

Make up absent work will NOT be counted as late if completed within the 'adjusted' due date. However, absent work WILL be marked as MISSING in Infinite Campus until it is completed. Students are responsible for making up missed work due to absences, Aztec Team teachers will not track down individual students for absent work.

Absences due to Illness

Don't worry about making up assignments until you are well! Take care of yourself, get rest, and get better!
When you feel better, check my website and follow the steps above.
If you are not well enough to check for absent work online before you return to school, please use lunch time or independent classwork time to check the calendar and website for work missed.
Be assured that WE DID SOMETHING while you were gone and you will need to make it up.
Make up Labs are always held during lunch on the Tuesday following the week the lab took place.

Absences due to Medical Appointments

Many students miss class due to well-checks, vision, orthodontist or dental or various medical issues (x-ray, casts, counseling, etc), In this instance, since students are not ill, it is expected that they check my website BEFORE returning to school the next day to watch lessons or print homework missed in order to be prepared for class the next day.

Absences due to Travel or Personal Time

When families choose to miss school due to travel or other personal time it is my policy to NOT give work ahead of time. All work missed during this kind of an absence can be made up when the student returns to school. In some instances, students may have access to the Internet during their travel time and some down time in which to complete work. In that case, it's a great idea to check my website daily and watch any lessons linked as they are posted daily so that some work can be completed while you are away. This will make the make up of absent work less overwhelming upon return to school.

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