Report Card Grading
We grade students on the scale from 1 to 4. The year is divided into three reporting periods. At the end of each reporting period a student receives a report card with his/her grades for each subject. At Nestle we grade students at the end of each reporting period according to the following rubric.
| Grade | Description |
| 4 | A student works at an advanced level. A student demonstrated a more in-depth level of thinking and reasoning in his or her work. All work has been completed accurately, consistently, and it was turned in on time. (Students who get a four usually receive an average of 90% or higher on their grade report) |
| 3 | A student works at a grade level. He or she completed most of the work on time, and it was done well in most cases completing the minimum requirements for the assignments. (Students who get a three usually receive an average of 70% -89% on their grade report) |
| 2 | A student works below a grade level. The work was not completed on time. A lot of assignments were missing or incomplete. (Students who get a two usually receive an average of 40% -69% on their grade report) |
| 1 | A student is failing the standards of the assigned grade level. Very few assignments are completed. A students demonstrated little or no participation during the lesson. A one in math, reading, or writing automatically triggers a possible retention. If it happens, a teacher will hold conferences with the parents and try to remedy the situation. (Students who get a one usually receive an average of 0% -39% on their grade report) |
Class Grading Policies
Our class grading system throughout the reporting period is more detailed than the one above, but it is basically the same.
Students receive grades of 1, 2, 3, or 4
| Grade | Description |
|
4
|
Work needs to be turned in on time in order to be eligible for a four. |
|
3+
|
Work needs to be turned in on time in order to be eligible for a three plus. |
3 |
Students who get a three usually receive 80% – 89% on their assignment, which means that the assignment is completed with some mistakes. |
|
3-
|
This is a very low three that indicates that a student is in danger of receiving a two if he/she does not put more effort in his/her work. |
|
2
|
Students who get a two usually have 40% -69% completion score on their assignment. |
|
1
|
Students who get a one usually have 0% -39% completion score on their assignment. |
Other Scores
You may notice other scores in the grade book, as well.
| Score | Description |
 |
Extra Credits are extra points that are given for extra work that a student submits in a timely manner. Extra credits are not guaranteed for every assignment. I let students know when extra credits are available. For example, students receive extra credits for completing the winter vacation packet. In the grade book these scores are usually recorded as +3 (3 extra credits) |
 |
Incomplete assignment; it receives a grade of two. |
 |
Missing assignment; this is definitely the worst score that a student can receive, it will give a student 0 points. A few missing assignments make it very difficult to correct the situation with the grade at the end of the reporting period. I must note that a missing assignment is given for the work that I physically did not see in the stack of assignments turned in to me. The assignment may be completed and stored in a student’s desk in school or at home, but if it is not turned in to me, it becomes a missing assignment because I did not get a chance to grade it. |
| Note from the teacher: I frequently hear students saying, “But I turned it in!” or “I know I did it.” In this case I usually say that I am very sorry but the assignment is missing because I physically did not see it. If I cannot see it I cannot grade it. Students frequently choose to do the assignment again and they tell me later that they found it in… well, the list of places is very long… It is ok with me as long as the assignment is completed. Sometimes students forget to write their names. Papers with no names go in the ORPHAN BOX in the classroom. I remind students to check it, and if they find the missing assignment, they need to write their name on it and put it in the LATE ASSIGNMENTS BOX. Please consider it a courtesy. In Middle School and High School papers with no names are discarded. | |
 |
Excused; this score does not affect the grade at all, it is just a note for me and for a student as to why he/she does not have a grade on this day. |
 |
Turned in late; this does not mean a low grade, it is just a note that also reminds a student that it might be one of the reasons why the assignment did not qualify for a four. |
 |
Absent; this score does not affect the grade at all, it is just a note for me and for a student as to why he/she does not have a grade on this day. If a student was absent on the day of the test or some other important presentation, I will mark it as mi, which is a one in the grade book. All tests need to be made up on the student’s time, and all presentation must be delivered sooner or later. |
 |
Did not attempt; this score does not affect the grade; it explains why a student did not receive extra credit when extra credit was offered. For example, I gave students a vacation packet, and said that students will receive extra credit for completing the packet. It was optional like all assignments for extra credits. Johnny did not complete it, and he received DNA that does not affect his score, but explains what happened. |
 |
Did not pass; this score does not affect the grade; it explains why a student did not receive extra credit when extra credit was offered. If Johnny did complete the packet, but did it with 50% accuracy which means that half of it was wrong or not completed at all, he will receive DNP which does not affect the grade but explains why he did not receive extra point. |
What Is Graded
- Homework
Yes, homework is sometimes graded especially if it is a writing homework. Every homework assignment needs to be completed to the best of a student’s abilities as if it will be graded. But I usually tell the students, which assignments will be graded.
- Work in Class
It is very important for me to grade a student for participation. Discussing ideas is the true meaning of education. A paper or bubbling in the answers on the test are sometimes just the evidence of good guesses… We have students who do not always do homework due to various circumstances in their lives; we have students who are very poor test takers. I let them earn a grade for thinking and discussing topics during the lesson, and this grade is just as important if not more, than any other grade they will earn during the reporting period.
- Assessments
All tests and District assessments are graded. If a student is absent on the day of the test, they will have to make up later during recess or after school.
- Long Term Projects
Long term projects, such as book reports or other presentations, are graded with a rubric that is usually a part of the packet that explains the assignment. Many presentations are graded by the students. Their opinion counts. I grade the writing part of the assignment. I use a rubric as well.
- Writing
The following assignments usually receive a grade in the grade book.
- Writing to the prompt
- Assessment writing
- Writing as a part of the project
- Writing on the blog (online writing)
- Homework short writing
- Quick writes in class
- Creative writing
Online Grade Book
In our class we use Jupiter Grades as an online grade book. Access to Jupiter Grades, as well as web hosting for this web site, is my personal purchase. The link is provided on the classroom web site. Parents and students receive the instructions on how to log in and register in the beginning of the year. They can access their child’s grades at any time!
Besides that, parents and students receive grading reports in their e-mail once a week, usually Monday night. The grading reports go to the registered e-mail. That’s why it is very important that you register for the grade book updates in the beginning of the year. It is very important that I have your e-mail address on file.
If the parents request the paper version of the grade report, or I do not have their e-mail on file, I will send a copy of the grading report with the child. It will be your child’s responsibility to show you the report. The benefit of the e-mail is that you do not depend on your child to show you the report. It will always be there in your mailbox on Mondays.
I strongly recommend to bring the report to a parent teacher conference. The site has a mobile version that will allow you to view it on the phone as well.