Grading for Students

Most assignments, including all quizzes and tests, are graded on a point basis. This numeric score is recorded in the grade book. Those numeric scores are then turned into percentages for the purpose of grades on the report card.

Outstanding - 91% to 100%
Excellent - 81% to 90%
Competent - 71% to 80%
Unsatisfactory - 61% to 70%
Needs Improvement - 60% and below

[Blog note: The top ten percent is considered Outstanding, the next ten percent is Excellent and so on. Some teachers count from 90% up, but that's actually eleven percent. Also, students are not graded on a curve. A student's grade is a reflection of their performance, and is in no way influenced by the performance of any other student.]

On any given test, the number of correct points out of the total number of points can be converted into a percentage. For example, a grammar quiz has 16 total possible points. If a student gets 14 points correct, that would be 14 ÷ 16 = 0.875 = 88%. Many common scores and their corresponding percentages are listed on the back side of this paper. But for uncommon scores, students are free to divide the number they got correct by the total number possible. The quotient has to be represented as a decimal without a remainder, and then converted into a percentage.

I do not assign letter grades, i.e., A, B, C, D, and F, nor do I write the percentage of the student's score on the assignment. I merely record the number correct.

Most homework assignments are graded on a credit/no credit basis. If the student (A) completes the assignment, (B) turns it in on time, and (C) has properly marked the assignment with his or her name in cursive and student number, then credit is assigned. Otherwise, a no credit grade is recorded in the grade book.

Major writing assignments, i.e., narrative, response to literature, research paper, and persuasive essay, are scored using a number rubric. One example is below:
5 - Exemplary writing
4 - Adept writing
3 - Proficient writing
2 - Basic writing
1 - Rudimentary writing
I share these rubrics with students at the beginning of the assignment so that they are able to assess their own work and to clearly see what they need to do to improve their writing.

[Blog note: I did revise all of my writing rubrics last year and forgot to reflect that change on this paper. I brought all of the rubrics more in line with each other and simplified them. They all use a three-point scale rather than a five-point scale as above. However, I do sometimes score students with a 2.5 which would be equivalent to the 4 above or with a 1.5 which would be equivalent to the 2 above. In either case, these rubrics translate well to the grade book and report card as well as giving students feedback on their strengths and areas where they need to improve.]

There are only three grading categories on the report card: Needs Improvement, Competent, and Outstanding. If a student's cumulative grade for any particular subject, such as reading, falls as Needs Improvement or Outstanding, then I mark a check in the appropriate box on the report card. Within the Competent box, I will mark a check minus for Unsatisfactory, a check for Competent, and a check plus for Excellent.

For the Personal Responsibility grades: Follows directions, Demonstrates self-discipline, Works independently, Cooperates in a group, Completes homework, Completes classwork in timely manner, Shows neatness in work, Reflects on personal performance, and Sets social/academic goals, I ask students to assess themselves each quarter. This gives me an opportunity to see how responsible they think they are, as well as for me to give them feedback on how responsible I think they are.

Needs Improvement means the student is not meeting grade level expectations of performance. Students may demonstrate a limited understanding of the skill or concept.

Competent means the student shows an appropriate grade level expectation of performance. Students demonstrate a general understanding of the skill or concept in a consistent way.

Outstanding means the student shows a consistently high level of performance, clearly meeting expectations. Students demonstrate a deep understanding and/or sophisticated application of the skill or concept.

[Blog note: below is a summary and examples of some tests and how they are graded.]

Outstanding - 91% to 100%
Excellent - 81% to 90%
Competent - 71% to 80%
Unsatisfactory - 61% to 70%
Needs Improvement - 60% and below

Reading Test (10 points):
9.5 and 10 Outstanding
8.5 and 9 Excellent
7.5 and 8 Competent
6.5 and 7 Unsatisfactory
6 and below Needs Improvement

15 point assignment:
14 and 15 Outstanding
13 Excellent
11 and 12 Competent
10 Unsatisfactory
9 and below Needs Improvement

Spelling Test (20 points):
19 and 20 Outstanding
17 and 18 Excellent
15 and 16 Competent
13 and 14 Unsatisfactory
12 and below Needs Improvement

30 point assignment:
28, 29, and 30 Outstanding
25, 26, and 27 Excellent
22, 23, and 24 Competent
19, 20, and 21 Unsatisfactory
18 and below Needs Improvement