I try to use these terms to define the differences in the long list of tasks students complete each day. Assignments are graded and will go into School Max. Activities are instructional and are not graded. Activities could include  viewing YouTube videos, Flocabulary, BrainPop Jr., or Go Noodle dancing, singing, and participation. They can also include classroom discussion, drawing pictures, completing the interactive notebook, and art integration projects. Completing activities will give students the information and skills needed to pass the graded assignments and assessments. 

Every student will have the opportunity to earn grades that reflect his/her ability to demonstrate learning outcomes and be graded only in accordance with their achievement on material or information based on specified learning outcomes and approved curricula. The bell curve will not be used as a basis for determining student grades.  Grades will be based on summative assessments and the completion of formative and practice assignments. 

Grades 2 – 5: The grades eligible for use on assignments, assessments, and report cards are A, B, C, D, and E.

A = Excellent progress at the level of instruction indicated 90 – 100% 

B = Above Average progress at the level of instruction indicated 80 – 89% 

C = Average progress at the level of instruction indicated 70 – 79% 

D = Below Average progress at the level of instruction indicated 60 – 69% 

E = Unsatisfactory progress (failure) at the level of instruction indicated below 60% 

PGCPS Elementary teachers are required to enter a minimum number of grades each week, two (2) grades for the major subjects taught for at least 30 minutes a week. This includes all the subjects I teach; 

Reading, Oral and Written Communication, and Social Studies. 

1. All assessments are eligible for one resubmission if the first submission was turned in by the due date.

2. The higher grade is the grade of record. The lower grade is recorded as a "Note" and not entered into the grade average.

3. All work is due 5 school days prior to the end of the quarter. 

4. The lowest grade is a 50% with good, faith effort. If less than 50% the actual grade is recorded in the Note section. (A.P. 5121.1 p.6).  "Good faith effort is evidenced by the student displaying persistence, striving for accuracy, time on task, and/or trying an alternative method to solve a problem (which may not be accurate). It is also a display of thinking as a student works to sort through ideas, apply context or figure out how to solve problems. If a student does no work on an assignment, the teacher shall assign a grade of zero."

5. Mrs. Nimmons names the assignments after how the assignments are graded; Accuracy, Participation, and Completion. The second part of assignment titles is a brief description of the lesson.

   1. 1. Accuracy assignments are graded traditionally when the teacher marks the number correct divided by the number of questions to get the average correct. 

      2. Completion assignments are simple to grade. The get 100% for 100% completed or a 50% for anything less than 100% completion. Students either do or don't do the work. 

      3. The participation grades are the easiest to grade. Students usually get the full 100% if they can give the teacher five minutes of focused attention on a task, even if students did not complete the task. 

6. Mrs. Nimmons' assignments are out of 100 points. When she wants an assignment to get more or less weight than other assignments, she changes the Assignment Categories in School Max. The assignment categories and weights for all classes except Health. 

Assessments 40% 

Class Work 35%

Independent Assignments 25%

Grading Categories & Weights

Assignment Titles

I title the assignments after how the assignments are graded; Accuracy, Participation, and Completion. The second part of assignment titles is a brief description of the lesson.

Grading the Assignments