See Syllabus and Grading Info Below!

Grades

One of the biggest jumps from being a Firstie to becoming a Second Grader is grades!

In 2nd grade, students will begin taking assessments that are graded using the GCS grading scale. You can keep up with your child’s grades through your Backpack account. I will also list all assessments for the week in our classroom newsletter so you know what to expect.

We will have assessments in every subject, and these grades will count toward each quarter’s report card grade. Please do not panic! At the beginning of the year, I will spend quite a bit of time walking the students through their tests, reading directions aloud, and helping them learn how to find the correct answers. This is a big transition, but we will ease into it together.

Here is a quick overview of what grades may look like in each subject:

Spelling:
Spelling tests will be given weekly and will include two dictation sentences, which will be a separate grade. Spelling homework will be based on our weekly words, and a spelling menu will go home each month (in the back of the take home folder) for students to choose from. Students will typically have 10-15 words each week. These words will be based on our phonics skills, with lots of review from 1st grade as we continue to build from there.

Reading:
Module assessments will be given through Mastery Connect, as required by the district. These are major grades and usually happen about every 3-4 weeks. Each week, students will also complete a Google Classroom assessment based on our weekly story. These are minor grades. Throughout the 9 weeks, students will also complete many other assignments that will count as minor grades and help support their overall reading average.

Math:
End-of-unit math assessments will be given through Mastery Connect and will count as major grades. Students will also take paper-and-pencil quizzes and complete class assignments that will count as minor grades and help support their math average.

Social Studies:
There are usually only a few tests or assessments in Social Studies. Many of the grades will come from class assignments and activities.

Science:
Science grades will mostly be based on participation, class assignments, and a few in-class projects. There are usually only a few tests or assessments in this subject.

Language Arts:
Language Arts is the subject area with the most grades. This will include spelling tests, spelling work, dictation sentences, phonics, and writing assignments.

Please remember, this can feel intimidating at first for both students and parents, but I am here to support you and your child every step of the way. We are a team, and we’ve got this!

Mastery Connect

Three times a year, students will also take the Mastery Connect standardized assessment. We will work weekly on the types of questions and wording they may see on these assessments. This assessment does not count as a report card grade.

CogAT/Iowa

In the fall, your child will also take the CogAT/Iowa assessment. This is the Gifted and Talented screening. It will be given over a few days and completed using paper and pencil. We will walk students through the process, but it will look and feel a little different from the other assessments we complete throughout the year.

This assessment does not count as a report card grade. It is a state assessment.

If you have any questions, please reach out. I am happy to help!