To:
From:
Date:
RE:
Geometry Students and Parents
Name:_____________________________
Ms. Bitar
February 2, 2015
Changes in assessments and grading for 2nd semester
In order to enhance student learning in the 2nd semester, geometry courses will have a new focus
on learning goals, often called “Standards Based Grading”. This is a new approach to learning,
not just a different way of grading. In short, it means that the course is divided into several
learning goals and students work with me and their peers to master AND retain each goal. For
example, a learning goal we just did in class was, “I can reason with slopes and length to
determine the exact nature of a figure.” Each unit has approximately 6 - 10 goals such as this
example. We want to ensure that students will:
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

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be aware of the individual learning goals for the course
know which goals they are mastering or improving
know which goals they still need to improve
earn a grade that is a directly measured by their mastery of each goal
Students will be continually aware of their progress on each goal by recording all scores on a
“Learning Goal Tracker”. In order to improve in a goal or demonstrate retained mastery, goals
will be continually reassessed during class. Also, students are able to retake learning goal
quizzes during my office hours, as many times as needed to improve. In order to retake quizzes
outside of class time, students must revise and complete designated practice sheets and put forth
effort during class time. There are two major changes that students need to keep in mind as we
start the new semester:
1) A student’s retake score on any given goal replaces the last score, even if it is lower. The
reasoning here is that the grade is based on the student’s ability to demonstrate consistent
mastery, not just one-time mastery. If you are not able to repeat your success, then you have
not truly mastered the goal.
2) Unit Exams will no longer be used to assess a student’s mastery at the end of a unit. At the
end of a unit, students will retake quizzes on his/her weakest goals and goals most relevant
for future units. Students that have not mastered goals by the end of a unit can continue to
practice and retake quizzes up to one week before final exam week in June. A cumulative
final exam will still be given at the end of the semester.
These changes require a modified grading policy. Please see the back for the specific grading
categories. Again, our main goal is for students to learn more effectively, be assessed more
meaningfully, be more self-conscious of their strength and weaknesses, and more pro-active.
If you have any addition questions, concerns, or comments please let me know via email at
ccleary@cps.edu. Please sign below, to acknowledge you have read the new policy.
I have read and understand the changes to the geometry grading policy. Please sign.
Student______________________________ Parent/Guardian:__________________________
Category
Learning
Goal
Mastery
Weight
60%
Description
Students will be continually assessed and reassessed on individual learning goals to
determine if they have mastered each goal.
These assessments will usually be short
quizzes. Each goal will have its own grade.
Quizzes will usually include the most recent
goal(s) AND earlier goals to determine if
students have improved or retained mastery
on previous goals.
Quizzes will be frequent (at least once a
week) and unannounced. Students should
complete homework/practices to be ready to
show understanding at each class meeting.
Cumulative
Assessments
POWS
10%
10%
Small group or partner review assessments
will be done near the end of each unit to
reinforce the weakest areas and encourage
peer tutoring.
Short individual Tests or projects may be
given if needed to show mastery.
POW (Problems of the Week) are assigned
at the beginning of the week and due one
week later. POW’s will usually be selfassessed
Homework will be assigned in each class to
provide students with an opportunity to
practice goals taught in class and to prepare
for assessments. Homework will be checked
frequently, but it is not part of the grade.
Final Exam
10%
Class
Participation
10%
Final exam will be cumulative at the end of
each semester with multiple choice and free
response sections.
The class participation grade will include:
a) Warm-ups
Grading
Graded on correctness and process of work
shown. Points are earned for partial work, but
no points for answers only.
Quizzes can be retaken multiple times until
mastered, up to one week before semester exam
week.
Progress on each learning goal will be recorded
on a “Learning Goal Tracker” for each unit.
Students are expected to record their quiz
scores and retake scores for each goal in order
to be more aware of which goals have not been
met, yet.
The grade for each goal is measured by the
most recent grade, NOT the highest grade.
Graded on correctness and process of work
shown or explained.
POW’s can be turned in late, if they are well
done, for 10% deduction each day late.
Therefore, POW’s more than 10 days late will
not be accepted.
Homework will be reviewed for completion,
and self evaluated for understanding.
Graded on correctness and process of work
shown
b) Exit Tickets
a + b) Graded on completion or correctness. If
tardy or absent from class without a
valid excuse, students will lose points
for the warm-up or exit ticket
c)
c)
Participation in cooperative group
work
Graded on effort, enthusiasm, level of
participation in cooperative groups