Grades in Mr. Olson’s Class
I will be using a 4 point scale to measure student’s level of understanding of the material. I am categorizing the
leaning into 4 main areas:
Conceptual Understanding & Procedural Fluency – 40% of overall grade
“Students can explain and apply mathematical concepts and interpret and carry out mathematical procedures with
precision and fluency.”
Students will be assessed on various mathematical skills and concepts such as; solving linear equations and
inequalities, applying appropriate strategies to re-write expressions in equivalent forms, Graph linear equations and
inequalities, etc. At the end of the unit when the concepts are developed / reviewed students will earn scores ranging
from 1 – 4. If student is at level 2 or below at that time, they will have the opportunity to do additional study to learn the
material and raise that target score to a level 3 within a reasonable amount of time.
Problem Solving – 20% of overall grade
“Students can solve a range of complex well-posed problems in pure and applied mathematics, making productive use of
knowledge and problem solving strategies.”
Students will be given opportunities to apply their learning on a range of problems throughout the semester.
Scoring will be based on the student’s demonstration of applying learning and appropriate strategies to solve the problem.
There will be 6 – 8 problem solving tasks scored throughout the semester. The student’s overall score for this portion of
their grade will be based on the most recent evidence.
Reasoning and Communications – 20% of overall grade
“Students can clearly and precisely construct viable arguments to support their own reasoning and to critique the
reasoning of others.”
Students will be given opportunities to communicate their reasoning and/or critique the reasoning on others on a
range of tasks throughout the semester. Scoring will be based on the student’s explanation and demonstration of their
thought process and rationale on each task. There will be 6 – 8 tasks scored throughout the semester. The student’s
overall score for this portion of their grade will be based on the most recent evidence.
Modeling and Data Analysis – 20% of overall grade
“Students can analyze complex, real-world scenarios and can construct and use mathematical models to interpret and
solve problems.”
Students will be given opportunities to use graphs, tables and equations to model real world situations and then
interpret those representations to solve problems on a range of tasks throughout the semester. Scoring will be based on
the student’s use of multiple representations and interpretations on each task. There will be 6 – 8 tasks scored throughout
the semester. The student’s overall score for this portion of their grade will be based on the most recent evidence.
Homework – 0% of overall grade
An important part of learning anything is completing the practice necessary in order to be successful when the time comes
for the performance or assessment. First semester I found that several students were not completing assignments and
thus not performing well on the assessments. This semester I am posting homework completion scores in Skyward as a
means of keeping parents in the loop as to how well their student is doing in terms of completing assigned work.
Scoring criteria is:
4 - ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE AND WELL DONE
3 - ASSIGNMENT MOSTLY COMPLETE (ONE OR TWO QUESTIONS NOT COMPLETED)
2.5 - ASSIGNMENT MOSTLY COMPLETED BUT MISSING DETAILS AND/OR HAS INCORRECT RESPONSES
2 - ASSIGNMENT PARTIALLY COMPLETE
1 - MINIMAL AMOUNT OF ASSIGNMENT COMPLETED
0 - ASSIGNMENT MISSING / NOT TURNED IN
LEVELS OF UNDERSTANDING
Level
4
3
Quick
Meaning
Highly
Proficient
Proficient
Student Speak
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I totally get it!
I could teach someone else.
I can explain why it works.
I know exactly what to do.
I use correct notation and vocabulary.
I can use it to solve problems I’ve never
seen before.
 I’ve mastered it.
 I get it most of the time.
 I can do it myself, but still have some
questions.
 I can do problems like the ones I’ve seen
before.
 I can justify my solutions to problems,
and get them right most the time.
 I use correct notation and vocabulary
most of the time.
Description
Solid grasp of the concepts, procedures,
notation, and communication.
Justify my solutions and demonstrate conceptual
understanding
Work typically shows
 Accurate answers with justification.
 Clear communication.
 Conceptual understanding.
 Application of learning.
Descriptors: Mastery, Thorough,
Comprehensive, Excellent, Cohesive, Advanced
Reasonable grasp of the concepts, procedures
and notation; yet lacking in communication,
accuracy, conventions or efficacy.
Work typically shows
 Accurate or near accurate answers
 Mostly clear communication
 Ability to solve routine problems
requiring multiple steps.
 Ability to organize data and make
observations.
Descriptors: Proficient, Satisfactory
2
1
Developing
Minimal
 I’m getting there!
 I’m almost there, but can’t quite do it
myself.
 I get it when you do it.
 I still have lot’s of questions.
 I get more complex problems when you
do it, or when you help me.
 With my group, I get the answers right
most of the time.
 My use of notation and vocabulary is OK.
 I can remember basic facts, or use
algorithms or formulas with some
assistance.
 I don’t get it yet.
 I don’t understand the examples.
 I have seen those words and symbols
before but I don’t know them or use
them.
 I need a lot of help!
 I’ve seen you use basic facts, algorithms,
or formulas but I don’t know them or use
them.
Work shows signs of developing understanding.
Work typically shows
 Inaccurate answers, with some signs of
understanding
 OR Correct answers with no supporting
work.
 Use of basic facts and skills,
 No application or conceptual
development.
 No/little communication
 Some connections with previous
knowledge
No real understanding is shown
Work typically shows
 Consistently inaccurate answers with no
supporting work.
 No/little communication
 No/little connections with previous
knowledge
Grades in Skyward
Skyward does not currently have the categories listed above, so I have assigned my categories to these skyward
categories:
Procedural fluency and Conceptual understanding
↔
KTH - Knowledge / Theory
Problem Solving
↔
PRW - Problem of the Week
Reasoning and Communication
↔
PRES - Presentation
Modeling
↔
PROJ - Project
The scores you see in skyward are all based on the 4 point scale, so the highest “percentage” a student can
achieve is a 4%. Scores for individual tasks and assessments will not be posted on Skyward as it tends to clutter and add
confusion since they are presented based on dates not categories. I will post a score for each of the concepts and
procedures as well as the most current scores for Problem solving, Reasoning & Communication, and Modeling. I will do
my best to update these scores in a timely manner but encourage students to keep track of their scores on individual tasks
and assessments so they are more aware of their levels of understanding on each target and category. Letter grades are
based on the following scale:
Letter Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CF
Range
3.5 – 4.0
3.35 – 3.49
3.20 – 3.34
3.00 – 3.19
2.85 – 2.99
2.75 – 2.84
2.50 – 2.74
2.35 – 2.49
0.00 – 2.34