Q: How do you assess student progress?
A: Grades are based on a standards-based grading policy. In class, students will complete a combination of formative and summative assessments. Formative assessments work as practice. Homework, classwork, or class discussions that allow students to practice the skill or progress their learning are all forms of formative assessments. Formative assessments build up to summative assessments. Students are not penalized on learning the standard by formative assessments, rather they are encouraged to try and possibly fail as opposed to not trying at all. Typically, formative assessments will appear in the grade book as exit tickets (ET) or historical background (HB). They do not count towards a student’s overall average directly. Unit exams, quizzes, and large projects are all summative assessments. Summative assessments demonstrate student’s mastery of the standards after they have practiced the skills and standards. Students are encouraged to retake or revise summative assessments if they struggled to demonstrate the mastery expected. This is learning! Redos are usually scheduled for after school or during lunch/recess on specific dates that will be announced in class, posted on our board, and shared on Google Classroom. We will keep track of graded assessments in class so that students are aware of their progress. At the end of the quarter, they review their scores and help determine the appropriate grade based on the average of their scores.
Q: What skills can help my student succeed?
A: 8th grade Social Studies standards require students to consistently inquire, think critically, evaluate sources, use evidence, communicate, and solve problems while exploring North Carolina and United States history. Skills such as reading comprehension, argumentative writing, and forming/defending ideas are all skills that will help students succeed in this course.
Q: What does my student's grade mean?
A: Each standard is assessed separately, and each assessment is graded on a scale between 0 and 5. Here is what the number really means:
5: Your answers reflect that you know the content or skill and you demonstrated your knowledge at an excellent level. Not only did you demonstrate your knowledge, you also demonstrated that you can incorporate other content or skills in your assessment. Your answers are compelling and insightful.
4: You know the content or skill and have demonstrated it as a grade appropriate level. You need to provide more detailed support for your answer to earn mastery.
3: You demonstrate superficial or mostly literal understanding of the content or skill. You are still learning and working to obtain a deeper understanding of the skill. You may have answered a question, but didn’t provide details to support your answer.
2: You have attempted to show that you know the content or skill but the information you presented is only partially correct or demonstrated a minimal amount of knowledge. At this time it would be good to come in for extra help or review and possibly redo assessments to show that you have mastered the content
1: You attempted to answer the question, but your answers showed no knowledge of the content or skill. At this time it would be good to reevaluate your participation in class and ask for help. I may ask you to stay after school or visit during lunch/recess so you can review the material and redo assessments.
0: You have not attempted to show that you know the content; you have turned in no work showing any evidence of knowledge. At this time it would be good to reevaluate your participation in class and ask for help. I may ask you to stay after school or visit during lunch/recess so you can provide me with more evidence.
Q: Where can I find my student's grades and assignments?
A: Student grades can be found in PowerSchool. The front office staff at Roland-Grise is happy to assist any guardians who need help accessing PowerSchool. If a student is missing an assignment as indicated in PowerSchool, they will find the assignment in Google Classroom, as well as instructions on how to complete the assignment.
Q: What does the score in PowerSchool mean?
A: Student grades are entered in PowerSchool as a means for parents to track performance, assignment completion, and progress with redos. A student having a 4 in PowerSchool does not equate to a percentage grade, it is simply a means for parents to track performance. Percentage grades are determined at the end of the quarter through the following method:
100% - You earned a 5 on all assessments. You have truly mastered the content.
95% - You scored mostly 5s on your assessments. (more than 80% 5s)
90% - You scored an almost even amount of 4s and 5s on your assessments.
85% - You scored mostly 4s on your assessments. (more than 80% 4s)
80% - You scored an almost even amount of 3s and 4s on your assessments.
75% - You scored mostly 3s on your assessments. (more than 80% 3s)
70% - You scored an almost even amount of 2s and 3s on your assessments.
65% - You scored mostly 2s on your assessments. (more than 80% 2s)
60% - You scored an almost even amount of 1s and 2s on your assessments.
55% - You scored mostly 1s on your assessments. (more than 80% 1s)
50% - You have not submitted any evidence to assess your work.
Q: How can I best support my student at home?
A: Checking PowerSchool consistently is a great way to keep on top of assignments. Students are able to turn in assignments throughout the grading period each quarter at no late penalty. Students may also redo summative assessments, although this requires a conference with me beforehand to schedule the redo. Ensuring your student is completing all formative assessments, submitting all summative assessments, and redoing summative assessments when necessary will lead to success.
Q: What is the best way to contact you?
A: I respond to email best, and usually within 24 hours. My email is samuel.unrue2@nhcs.net. If it is an emergency, I also have a Google Voice number that I check often: (910) 367-5829