Grading Expectations 2009/2010

Save me!  Please copy and put me in your binder so that you can refer to me whenever necessary.

A maximum number of points will be given to each assignment based on the amount of time, effort, and energy expected to be expended on the activity in order to do a quality job.  The grade on any assignment can be easily calculated by dividing the number of points earned by the total number possible for that assignment.

    Example: 20 pts. earned on a paper that is worth 25 points is calculated by dividing 20 by 25.
    20
    25   = 80% or a B -

The following grading scale is based upon the above calculations:

100-90% =    A    Superior quality  (All directions carefully followed, well above average expectations and parameters of assigned work throughout.)

89-80%    =    B    Above average (All directions carefully followed, high quality product and work is neat and above average throughout)

79-70%    =    C    Average  (All directions carefully followed, All minimum requirements are satisfactorily met and work is neat and well done throughout.)

69-60%    =    D    Below average (Most directions followed but not all required elements are present (incomplete) and/or overall quality of work is inconsistent/poor.)                                                                   
59-0%    =      F    Unsatisfactory (Several required elements are missing/directions are not followed or work is of poor quality.)

Note: Incomplete work is not satisfactory/average and earns grades below "C" but is better than a "0" so turn in your work !

Since one of our primary goals in Middle School is to promote student responsibility, no late daily work will be accepted for full credit unless the student has been ill and has an excused absence from the office.  All homework is due at the beginning of the (first of the three humanities core) periods. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the teacher upon his/her return to school (before or after class) to arrange for make-up work for make-up work including missed tests.  Work and tests missed/ not made up will be recorded as a zero and remain as such until the student makes the work/test up.  Unless the student was extremely ill, he/she should have contacted a study buddy regarding homework/look online for information and should turn the work in on the day following the absence.  Any work done for an OCIS (Off Campus Study Contract) must be turned in the first day the student returns to school.

Major assignments such as projects, reading response journals, writing assignments, etc. not completed on time will receive up to 60% of the project's earned grade if turned in later on the due date or the next school day.  However, if the assignment is turned in after that time, but one week before the quarter report card cutoff date, the student will receive 50% of the earned grade.  If late work is not turned in one week before the end of the reporting period, the assignment will earn a zero.

If a student fails to turn in a test immediately after testing (as instructed), the test will receive a zero.  Any/all student caught cheating or plagiarizing will receive a zero on the test/assignment, a U in citizenship for that grading period, and a written discipline referral (in accordance with district policy) placed in their school file. Please, the district is serious about this and therefore, so are we.

The student's full name, date and subject must be on all work.  Papers turned in without a complete/legible heading will result in a reduction of points for that assignment when the owner is identified and a lower effort grade.  Unclaimed work will be posted for one week and then thrown out. Assignments/tests are returned to students when all of the tests/assignments are turned in/made up and graded. This is done during class if the class is cooperative, otherwise, they will be available after class for students to retrieve.

Please, it is the students responsibility to organize and save all of their work this year.  Since many finals/tests are comprehensive and cover the entire semester and/or year to date, your old work will be needed to review.   Always double check your graded work.  Should a question or concern arise about an assignment or grade, students should make an appointment  to speak (politely) with me after class (bring your work with you to the appointment).