Grading/aR
Grading
Students will receive grades in the following categories and points will vary based on assignment/project:
Reading (Literature/Informational, etc. activities)
Writing (various forms)
Language (Grammar and Vocabulary)
Speaking and Listening
Participation
AR
*For larger assignments and projects a rubric will be provided in advance!
Grading Scale
90-100 = A
80-89.99 = B
70-79.99 = C
60-69.99 = D
59.99 and below = F
*Students should be checking their grades frequently in Aeries and feel welcome to come and see me if they have any questions, concerns or feel that there might be an error ASAP!
*Per district policy HONORS students must earn an 80% or higher at each semester to remain in honors
AR
Accelerated Reader (AR) Requirements
2023-2024
ELA 7 CP/H
(Check the section for your level)
ACS uses the AR program to encourage the development and continued growth of independent reading. Students should be reading for approximately 20-30 minutes each day and are provided with 15 minutes of SSR most school days to read their AR book. Please support your student with independent reading by checking in with them regularly regarding what they are reading, helping them with time management strategies to prioritize reading/not procrastinate, etc. Students must complete the following requirements; AR is worth 10% of the student’s overall grade each quarter.
7CP students:
Must read (and pass the AR quiz for) one fiction book of at least 150 pages each quarter
Signed and completed yellow slip(s) are due Thursday, April 25th (4/25)
The grade earned on the AR quiz will be the AR grade for the quarter.
Core curriculum or Lit Circles novels are not eligible for AR - see my website!
May read (and pass the AR quiz for) one additional book of at least 150 pages for extra credit
The signed yellow slip for extra credit/a replacement book is due by Friday, May 17th (5/17)
An extra credit book option can be used to replace a low AR fiction or nonfiction quiz grade
Must read (and pass the AR quiz) one nonfiction book each semester (minimum of 100 pages).
The grade earned on the nonfiction quiz will go into Aeries as a separate assignment.
Students must bring a signed yellow slip in order to take the nonfiction AR quiz.
If you met this requirement in Quarter 3, you don’t need to do it again for the rest of the year. If you are unsure, check with Mrs. E or on your RenLearn account.
7H students:
Must read (and pass the AR quiz for) two fiction books of at least 150 pages each quarter
Signed and completed yellow slip(s) are due Thursday, April 25th (4/25)
The grade earned on the AR quiz will be the AR grade for the quarter.
Students may read one book for this requirement as long as the book is at least 300 pages
Core curriculum or Lit Circles novels are not eligible for AR - see my website!
May read (and pass the AR quiz for) one additional book of at least 150 pages for extra credit
The signed yellow slip for extra credit/a replacement book is due by Friday, May 17th (5/17)
An extra credit book option can be used to replace a low AR fiction or nonfiction quiz grade
Must read (and pass the AR quiz) one nonfiction book each semester (minimum of 100 pages).
The grade earned on the nonfiction quiz will go into Aeries as a separate assignment.
Students must bring a signed yellow slip in order to take the nonfiction AR quiz.
If you met this requirement in Quarter 3, you don’t need to do it again for the rest of the year. If you are unsure, check with Mrs. E or on your RenLearn account.
QUARTER AR DEADLINES
First Quarter: Tuesday, October 24th
Second Quarter/Semester #1: Tuesday, January 23rd
Third Quarter: Tuesday, April 9th
***Fourth Quarter/ Semester #2: Tuesday, June 4th***
Students can check AR progress by logging in to their account. Follow the directions below:
Log on to the AC Stelle website
Click on Menu and choose Offices option and then choose Library Media Center
Click on the blue house/ Home Connect
Enter student username (first 5 letters of first name, first 5 letters of last name, last two digits of student ID, last two digits of year born) and password (7-digit student ID).
Students will be given yellow slip(s) at the beginning of each quarter; they MUST be turned in for the fourth quarter by Thursday, April 25th. I do not censor books; your signature is consent to read the book. With your permission, students are allowed to make changes to their selected book(s) and add an extra credit slip/replacement quiz slip until Friday, May 17th (approximately one month - not including non school days - prior to the deadline). After this time, no changes or additions will be made. If a student desires to change a book after they have chosen it, they should come to discuss it with me during office hours prior to the change deadline. Late passes are not accepted for the AR deadline! No exceptions!
Book Titles that are Not Allowed for AR
Outside/independent (AR) reading is to encourage students to read novels and texts outside or independent of the regular curriculum. Therefore, core curriculum novels are not acceptable for AR. This means that the core novels and texts read in middle school classes- past, present, or future - are off limits for AR. If a student chooses a book on this list, they will not be allowed to take the AR quiz and will earn a 0 for AR for that quarter. Some of the unallowed titles are:
The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 - Christopher Paul Curtis
The Breadwinner - Deborah Ellis
Look Both Ways - Jason Reynolds
Freak the Mighty - Rodman Philbrick
The Pearl - John Steinbeck
Ghost Boys - Jewell Parker Rhodes
The Giver - Lois Lowry
The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton
Nothing But The Truth - Avi
Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
Restart - Gordon Korman
All American Boys - Jason Reynolds
Taking Sides - Gary Soto
The Other Boy - M.G. Hennessey
One True Way - Shannon Hitchcock
****No LATE PASSES will be accepted for AR! The deadline is the deadline, so please plan ahead. This is an English Department school rule!