2007

Z: Your child was either absent or did not do the assignment or, there were 2 or more "no names" and they need to be claimed.

- it was not reflective of a sincere attempt (usually indicated by the random answers)

X: Student is excused (absent/not in room during session) (NOT extra credit)

- does NOT DIRECTLY affect their grade; its as if the assignment does not exist

> targeted and focused practice on the clickers. The student is welcome to make up the session to get that practice, but it is

All makes ups need to be scheduled by the student. They can discuss this with me either after school or via email. Make ups can occur during 5th period, break, lunch, after school or before school, or a combination of them.

* Please note that any late work accepted will be no more than 70% of the earned score.

ABSENCE
ASSIGNMENT	MAKE UP?	UP TO :	DUE DATE/PARAMETERS
Tests/Quizzes	yes	100%	Arrange on first day of return. All make ups must happen within the first week of return. After this, the make up test will progress in difficulty to balance the extra time,
Test/Quiz to improve score	no	N/A	Instruction, practice, review, homework and practice tests are provided. The students should utilize all resources and practice the concepts PRIOR to taking the tests/quizzes. Students show increased understanding as the year progresses as we use old concepts to solve new ones. Understanding becomes more evident with time. The most growth is seen in the final 1/2 of the 2nd semester as we combine, apply, and master the concepts. Sometimes, the "class" will be given immediate opportunities to improve their scores: 1. Multiple Choice: Students take the test, scores & correct answers are given immediately & students If the students score above an 85%, he/she can opt out of taking a different version the next day. Those that score below 85% or don't opt out, are encouraged to reflect on their responses, focus discovering their errors & the correct method to achieve the correct answer so their score can be improved the next day. If the student does not do this, he/she risks doing worse. The second score, better or worse, is logged. 2. Written Responses: Each problem will range in value from 2 - 20 points. After scoring, we will complete the test corrections together, with me modeling the correct method/answer. The students need to redo their incorrect answers on a separate sheet of paper, then submit their corrections & test that same day, for up to 1/2 credit of the remaining points of their incorrect answer. If the answer was worth 8 points but the student earned 2, after the corrections, he/she could earn 3 additional points to be added back into the test score.
Classwork	yes no	100% 70% X	YES: it is a Class Note or actual assignment. Anything NOT indicated by an "X". These MUST be made up within one week of your child's return. After this time, it is considered late. *NO: Student is excused "X." - it will not directly* affect their grade; its as if the assignment does not exist** This is targeted and focused practiced on the clickers. The student is welcome to make up the session to get that practice, but it is not required. Scheduling the make up is the student's responsibility.
Content	yes	100%	Arrange on first day or return.
Homework	yes	100%	Previously Assigned: Due on first day of return. Newly Assigned: Due one week from the student's date of return. After these times, it is considered late.

Z's, 0's or Low Scores
ASSIGNMENT	MAKE UP?	UP TO :	PARAMETERS
Test/Quiz to improve score?	no	N/A	If your child is present and does not put answers on their test or quiz, does not fill in bubbles on the Scantron, and/or does not enter their responses electronically, he/she is simply not following directions by choice or carelessness. If there is EVER any misunderstanding with the clickers, it is corrected immediately.
Classwork	yes no	70%- 100% N/A	YES: Student clearly lacked understanding of the directions, however, sincere initial effort MUST be evident. *The percentage allowed to be earned will vary based on the situation and the effort from the student.* NO: If your child is present and does not put answers on their test or quiz, does not fill in bubbles on the Scantron, and/or does not enter their responses electronically, he/she is simply not following directions by choice or carelessness.
Content	yes no	70% - 100% N/A	YES: Student clearly lacked understanding of the directions, however, sincere initial effort MUST be evident. *The percentage allowed to be earned will vary based on the situation and the effort from the student.* NO: the student did not put forth sincere effort to complete the task and possibly falls within the homework category below: Excuse, Format, Behavior
Homework	yes	70%	100% the student was prevented from completing the homework due to circumstances beyond their control. I merely need confirmation via email, note or phone that your child could not do it or bring it and that the fault was not theirs. I do not need to know the circumstances, that is not my business. I will trust you at your word, knowing you are in agreement that we are both working towards molding your child into a responsible citizen. 100%: Teacher Error I will make sure any work completed will be given its fair credit - sometimes it will turn into "extra credit"; based on each period - all students in that period will be granted the option for the same extra credit - all students need to complete the intended assignment; time will be extended if necessary 80%-100%: Student Error - Infrequent If the student makes an infrequent mistake, he/she can turn it in the next day for up to full credit. 70% : Excuse, Format, Behavior: * NOT DONE / DID NOT FOLLOW DIRECTIONS Did not do it at all, did the wrong page, incomplete, did not show grade level work, and/or is not in proper format * STOLEN BINDER I need confirmation from the front office, another teacher, or a note from home, otherwise,it will be considered late. * WORK WAS NOT OUT FOR CHECK OFF The students have 2 minutes from the late bell to take out their homework, and begin getting ready/working on warm ups. If their work is not OPEN AND VISIBLE when I reach their table and the student is NOT ACTIVELY taking it out, then he/she will receive a zero. In most cases, these students are wasting time. If the student is getting ready but has not taken their work out first, he/she will be warned once then marked as a zero the next time. Homework must come out first so I can check everyone off quickly.

If 1 assignment, worth 1 point, is under a 10% weighted, if missing, it will pull the overall grade down by 10%!!!

A's will go down to a B, B's to a C, so on and so forth, all for ONE assignment worth ONE point.

Reflects your child's capability of the concept taught and practiced in class, then tested on with zero assistance.

Reflects your child's capability of the concept in class, based on concepts recently taught, then tested in class with zero to minimal guidance as needed.

This includes class notes, concept practice/clicker sessions (should never be lower than 85% since it is teacher guided), any assignment done at school either

Miscellaneous assignments such as projects, review assignments, extra credit, some online quizzes, anything that does not fall into a classwork, test, quiz or

This does not "directly" impact the student's overall grade, but there is a definite correlation between a homework grade and the overall grade.

- Regardless of the max points assigned for the task, it needs to be set at "0" in the grade book in order for it to properly be reflected as "Extra" credit. If the student earns a 0 or does not do the EC, then an X will be entered; it does not mean they were excused, but that they opted not to do it and/or did not qualify for it. It will not hurt nor help their grade. Anything entered will help the overall grade.

* turned in on time! Unless otherwise noted, it is due 2 school days from when it is assigned.

*TEN POINTS: the student did the work as instructed, showed all work, and that work was logical

- points are deducted for problems NOT ATTEMPTED or for NOT FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS

If space is empty, I cannot tell if they did not attempt it or if they were stuck.

- accuracy is by "spot checking"; I target specific problems (not all) to see if the methods/solutions are accurate

- keeps the students focused on not only doing the work, but working on getting it right.

- generally an informal assessment to gauge more specifically how the class is doing, but is not a "quiz"

The variation of scoring is to ensure students don't focus on just one aspect. EVERY element above is essential for success in math.

The work being shown is not the GRADE LEVEL work I need them to practice. The work I am mostly getting is the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of numbers, and decimals. The work I need to see is the conceptual process we would presently be studying. I have included an example below. The same is required for 7th graders - although the work required is more difficult. I have used colors to help differentiate the steps, but I do not require your child use colors.

Other common issues with homework, found in both 6th and 7th grade. Some students are...

Most of the time, the work is not legible, too small and its laid out like a jigsaw puzzle and I can't tell which problem is what. Recent efforts are being improved in this area! :)

Since there is "stuff" on their paper it appears they did the homework, when in reality, they are only 1/3 of the way done.

This leads to either doing the problems incorrectly throughout, or, they write down random answers that have nothing to do with the problem.

* copying the odd answers from the back of the book without attempting to do it first, or not attempting to do it at all.

Since they are not going through the process of trying to understand it, they have not worked out the incorrect methods on the odds, so the odds will be right but the evens will be wrong.

All "explanation" responses need to be in their own words - not written in text book language...needs to be similar to summarizing a story.