Grading Policy

This course has been designed to build independence in reading and writing strategies. Students will be expected to master five core skills that address the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts. Those skills are as follows:

Show your thinking while you read- Students will be expected to annotate texts while reading.

Analyze a text- Through reflection and discussion, students will be expected to understand the inner workings of text- including the literary elements.

Make inferences- Students will develop the confidence to make educated guesses about meaning and idea.

Utilize evidence- In discussions and in writing students will be expected to back up what they say with evidence from the text.

Utilize a writing process- From prewriting strategies to publication, students will be expected to workshop their writing to find a process that yields the best results for themselves.

To complement those five skills, there will be five types of assessments on which a student's grade will be based.

The 5 key assessments -

      • Classroom Participation/ Notes

      • Reading Assignments

      • Recursive Writing Activities

      • Formal Discussions

      • Formal writing assignments

These activities will be organized in a layered Curriculum Model worth the following percentages of each quarter's grade.

C-Layer Classwork - 65%

  • Whole class readings, notes, discussions, recursive writing activities

B-Layer Homework - 25%

  • Reading Assignments, Recursive Writing Assignments

A Layer- 10%

  • Formal Discussions, Formal Writing Assignments

Assessment in a time of COVID-19

This year, in consideration of the diverse needs of students, I will be modeling the course in a form of a “Layered Curriculum”. This type of curriculum features a strong focus on differentiation. Below you will find more information about this model.

Highlights of a Layered Curriculum

Choice- Layered curriculum is all about choice. Students choose from a list of activities each day. These activities satisfy the requirements of the course and allow students to express themselves in the ways that are most comfortable for them. By giving students choice, they are more motivated to complete the activities.


1 on 1 Learning- A hallmark of a layered curriculum is the 1 to 1 instruction. Since students have chosen their tasks individually, they will receive instruction that is tailored to their needs every day.


Learning and Accountability- Layered Curriculum is student-centered. The teacher is not the dispenser of knowledge but the facilitator, mentoring students as they reach for their goals.


What does a Layered Curriculum Unit Look Like?

A Layered Curriculum is a 3-layered model of differentiated instruction. The first layer (C-Layer) is general knowledge. In the next layer (B-Layer), students apply what they learned in C-layer. Lastly, in the A-Layer students think critically as they answer the essential questions of the course in writing.


C- Layer Basic Knowledge:

In the C layer, students are assessed on their basic knowledge of the topic. Normally, students will have 3-4 choices for each C Layer assignment.

Examples of C Layer Activities Include:

  • Read a chapter, complete literature circle assignment

  • Create a poster, Comparing and contrasting two topics.

  • Complete a worksheet.

  • Write a short biography of an significant figure.

  • Write a speech/Present to the teacher about a topic.

  • Create a Chart of the causes/effects of a certain topic.

  • Watch a video/Write 10 things learned from video

  • Watch a video/Answer questions about video.

How will it be graded?

Most of the C-Layer is graded through oral defense. It's not about students completing assignments but learning something. So I will ask questions regarding the assignment and based on the answers I will award the points earned in the assignment.

Example: Literary Point of View : I will ask the student to identify the point of view in 4 passages worth, each worth 2 points (8 points total)

The B layer:

The B layer builds on work done in the C layer. Students apply what they've learned to new tasks. Creativity is put at the forefront in this layer.

Examples of B-Layer assignments:

  • Write a short story, poem or memoir.

  • Research a topic and create a brochure.

  • Act out a scene from the book.

How will B-Layer assignments be graded?

Rubrics. Students will be presented with rubrics for most assignments in this layer. The assessment will be assignment-specific and students will have access to that information before they choose to undertake it.


A-Layer

In the A-Layer students think critically about the essential questions of the unit and write essays that encourage reflection upon the work done in the C and B layers. In this layer, students will be tasked with incorporating evidence into their writing to support their ideas.

Example A-layer assignments

  • Which story was the best?

  • How can memoirs shape our understanding of critical moments in history?

How will A- Layer assignments be graded?

Rubrics will be made available to students.


Sample Pacing of a Layered Curriculum Unit.

Day 1 - Lecture (15-20 minutes)

Layer C Assignment 1. (Complete 1 of 4 assignments)

Day 2- Lecture (15-20 minutes)

Layer C Assignment 2. (Complete 1 of 4 assignments)

Day 3- Lecture (15-20 minutes)

Layer C Assignment 3. ((Complete 1 of 4 assignments) )

Day 4- Lecture (15-20 minutes)

Layer C Assignment 4. ((Complete 1 of 4 assignments) )

Day 5- C Layer Work Day

Day 6-7- Layer B Assignment

Day 8,9,10- Layer A Assignment