Algebra 1 - Grading Policy & Practices
2014 – 2015
Grading Practices
A student’s grade is recorded based upon the mastery of each learning target for any designated unit. Each learning target is derived from the new Common Core Standards for Mathematics.
Every unit/chapter will have a specific amount of targets that students will attempt to master. Each learning target will focus on a certain skill that I will formatively assess throughout the duration of the lesson. Once students have given proof that they have achieved their goal of obtaining that mastery, I will provide a summative quiz per individual learning target. Quizzes are not provided until I am confident that my students can perform with great success on each quiz.
At the end of every unit/chapter, students will prepare for a summative test that pertains to every learning target for that unit/chapter. Students will be given two opportunities to prepare for their summative test.
The first day of preparation will be a study guide that will have examples from each learning target that they can practice. This study guide allows student to gauge “where they are” in a comfort level for each individual target. The following day I provide students with a practice test example. I combine this practice test with a “Learning Target Checklist” that locates specific items on the practice test with its corresponding learning target. Now students will fill out their checklist, they will checkmark the targets they understand completely, they will identify items they understand but not completely comfortable with as “ok,” and for items they are still confused on they will identify those targets with a question mark. On their practice test, any item that have labeled with a question mark, I ask them to circle those problem numbers. Any item they labeled with “ok” I have them square those problem numbers. Finally, any item they labeled with a checkmark, students will not mark those examples. Once our checklist is completed, now students can see how confident they feel about this test by comparing the marks they created. While in class, students will start working on examples they have marked with a circle first, ensuring they get assistance on targets they are struggling the most with, then working towards those marked with a square.
The goal of this day is to provide students with as much assistance, whether with their peers or with me, to correct any misunderstandings and clarify any final questions they may have before attempting the summative test the following day.
Grading Scale (Percentage Based)
90+
80 – 89
A
B
70 – 79
60 – 69
< 60
C
D
F
Grades will be made up into 3 categories.
Projects/Homework/Quizzes
Unit Tests
Final
Example
20%
60%
20%
Projects/HW/Quizzes – 200/300 = 66.7% * 20 = 13.3
Tests – 500/600 = 83.3% * 60 = 50
Final – 80/100 = 80% * 20 = 16
Add the three totals to get 79.3 which is the overall percentage for the class. The student would receive a C for the class.

Make Up Assessments
Any quiz that has a score below a 90% can be made up and improved upon before the current Unit Test is completed. Any student who is absent from a Quiz or Unit Test will be given 1 week to make up missed assessments.
Students have to schedule a time with me to make up their assessment. Available times currently are before school (7:30), after school, or during activity period. Since a student did not master the targets during the first summative quiz/test, I want to give them a tutoring session before they attempt a retake.
Any student who is absent can get their make up work easily by going to the Rowan County Website and visit my teacher page: http://www.rowan.kyschools.us/olc/teacher.aspx?s=961
NO STUDENT CAN RETAKE A UNIT TEST
Unit tests are summative and there will no retake option once a student as completed that assessment.
Extra Assistance
Almost all of my formative assessment is done in the classroom. Most of the practicing of problems is done within the classroom as well. The classwork my students complete is a practice set that allows them to perfect the targets I teach. If I do not feel confident that students can complete or finish a practice set on their own, then I will not assign homework. Homework will be an extension of the current lesson.
Online assistance can be easily found in this class using a few methods. As I mentioned before, you can use my classroom website as a resource. From that website, I have a section where there is an active blog that students primarily use the night before a test. Students post questions to the blog and I answer them starting at 8:00p.m. the night before the test. Students can also follow me @MathMagicianRC to tweet questions from the homework or study guides. I will also try and post instructional videos over current content as well, but YouTube and Khan Academy are excellent resources that student can get assistance from any of our learning targets.
The goal is for your child to succeed . I will provide for them every opportunity for them to do so. You may also email me any time (I check it countless times daily and it is linked directly to my iphone so I will get notifications when emailed) or you may call me at home any time.
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I have read and understand the grading policies and practices in Mr. Helterbrand’s classroom. Any grade received after my child has taken the final exam is considered to be final.
Parent or Guardian’s Signature: _____________________________________________ Date: _________