Homework & Grading
Homework:
Your child works very hard all day at school-- I ask a lot of them and expect them to be present and engaged from the time they walk into our classroom in the morning, to the time when they walk out to go home in the afternoon. Therefore, it is important for their mental and physical well-being that evenings and weekends are not bogged down with tons of homework. Studies show that this is not an effective instructional method. It is important that students have this time to spend with families, try extracurricular activities, and just PLAY! Don't underestimate the value of free play to foster creativity!
That being said, learning DOES NOT stop when they leave the school building! There are many things that should be happening at home to practice skills and allow your child to learn while at home. Here are some suggestions that I believe would be the best use of your child's time:
Grading:
Third Grade, Fourth Grade, Fifth Grade students earn numerical grades on a 0-100 scale.
A = 100 - 90
B = 89 - 80
C = 79 - 70
D = 69 - 60
F = 59 and below (not passing)
Redo/Retake
According to District Policy (EIA Local), “a classroom teacher shall provide students a reasonable and fair opportunity to retake or redo failing work.” In our elementary schools, the focus is on reteaching to provide the student an opportunity to learn the objective and demonstrate an understanding of the concept. This reteaching will occur within 10 days, and corrections may be made to improve a grade up to a 70%.
Number of Grades per Quarter
District Policy (EIA Local) states that grading guidelines shall ensure that grades reflect a student’s relative mastery of an assignment and that a sufficient number of grades are taken to support the grade average assigned. Elementary teachers will take a minimum of seven grades each quarter in each core content area (reading, writing, math, science, social studies).
Grading Categories (weighted):
Classwork/Daily Grades 70%
Assessments 30%
When calculating a nine-week average for a content area, no single grade will count more than 30% of the total average. No two grades will count more than 50% of the total average.
Late Work:
Our goal is for students to learn concepts being presented in class, regardless of the work being late. No points will be taken off for late work, but will be noted "late" in Home Access.
Makeup Work:
It is the joint responsibility of the teacher/student/parent to arrange for make-up work. Teachers should promote this practice with students. Under normal conditions, you should allow one day for make-up work to be turned in for each day of school missed.
Home Access: I encourage you to set up your Home Access account as soon as possible. This will allow you to track how your child is doing in class by subject. On Home Access, you can view your child's grades and see if he/she is missing any assignments. Click on this link to Home Access. I recommend checking your child's grades on Home Access at least once a week.
Progress Reports/Conferences:
A progress report will be sent home during the fourth week of each quarter. A teacher shall request a conference with a student’s parents at the end of a nine-week period if the student’s grades are not passing. Parents and teachers may request a conference at any other time for other academic or behavioral concerns. Parents are able to view grades at any time through the Home Access Center. Click below:
Home Access Center Website
Thursday Folders:
Each Thursday your child will also bring home a Thursday folder (Elsa England Folder). This folder will contain your child's graded work and important notes from the school and PTA. Please take the information out of the folder on Thursday night and review it with your child. Any work that has received below a 70% can be redone and returned with the grading period for up to a 70% in the grade book. Thursday folders should be returned the next day on Friday of each week.
Your child works very hard all day at school-- I ask a lot of them and expect them to be present and engaged from the time they walk into our classroom in the morning, to the time when they walk out to go home in the afternoon. Therefore, it is important for their mental and physical well-being that evenings and weekends are not bogged down with tons of homework. Studies show that this is not an effective instructional method. It is important that students have this time to spend with families, try extracurricular activities, and just PLAY! Don't underestimate the value of free play to foster creativity!
That being said, learning DOES NOT stop when they leave the school building! There are many things that should be happening at home to practice skills and allow your child to learn while at home. Here are some suggestions that I believe would be the best use of your child's time:
- READ, READ, READ! Read a variety of genres and for a variety of purposes. This should be enjoyable for students, and can be a social, family-bonding activity as well! Help them find books, websites, or articles about topics that interest them, or something they wondered about earlier in the day. Students should be reading at least 20 minutes each night.
- Math Superstars - I am strongly recommending that all my students complete the math superstars worksheets and turning them in WEEKLY. Parents need to click HERE for the 3rd grade Math Superstars worksheet and print the worksheet out for their child each week. Complete and turn into classroom teacher by Friday. Math Superstars begins the first week of October.
- Practice math facts on a daily basis (approximately 10 minutes a day) using flash cards, Xtra math (login sent home), or any other math games online (see my Math Links). Students should practice addition, subtraction and multiplication facts for speed and accuracy.
- Join one of Elsa England's extracurricular learning opportunities! Chess, Reading Bluebonnet books for library voting parties, Student Council, UIL Academic activities/contests, and other clubs. Keep your eyes and ears open for these awesome opportunities that are always free and available for your child.
- Give your child responsibilities around the house (ex: set the table, feed the pets, lay out clothes for the next day, prepare snack and water bottle for school the next day, help put dishes away, collect laundry and bring it to the laundry room, etc.). These are non-academic and may seem trivial, but students who have responsibilities at home are more likely to be responsible and independent at school!
Grading:
Third Grade, Fourth Grade, Fifth Grade students earn numerical grades on a 0-100 scale.
A = 100 - 90
B = 89 - 80
C = 79 - 70
D = 69 - 60
F = 59 and below (not passing)
Redo/Retake
According to District Policy (EIA Local), “a classroom teacher shall provide students a reasonable and fair opportunity to retake or redo failing work.” In our elementary schools, the focus is on reteaching to provide the student an opportunity to learn the objective and demonstrate an understanding of the concept. This reteaching will occur within 10 days, and corrections may be made to improve a grade up to a 70%.
Number of Grades per Quarter
District Policy (EIA Local) states that grading guidelines shall ensure that grades reflect a student’s relative mastery of an assignment and that a sufficient number of grades are taken to support the grade average assigned. Elementary teachers will take a minimum of seven grades each quarter in each core content area (reading, writing, math, science, social studies).
Grading Categories (weighted):
Classwork/Daily Grades 70%
Assessments 30%
When calculating a nine-week average for a content area, no single grade will count more than 30% of the total average. No two grades will count more than 50% of the total average.
Late Work:
Our goal is for students to learn concepts being presented in class, regardless of the work being late. No points will be taken off for late work, but will be noted "late" in Home Access.
Makeup Work:
It is the joint responsibility of the teacher/student/parent to arrange for make-up work. Teachers should promote this practice with students. Under normal conditions, you should allow one day for make-up work to be turned in for each day of school missed.
Home Access: I encourage you to set up your Home Access account as soon as possible. This will allow you to track how your child is doing in class by subject. On Home Access, you can view your child's grades and see if he/she is missing any assignments. Click on this link to Home Access. I recommend checking your child's grades on Home Access at least once a week.
Progress Reports/Conferences:
A progress report will be sent home during the fourth week of each quarter. A teacher shall request a conference with a student’s parents at the end of a nine-week period if the student’s grades are not passing. Parents and teachers may request a conference at any other time for other academic or behavioral concerns. Parents are able to view grades at any time through the Home Access Center. Click below:
Home Access Center Website
Thursday Folders:
Each Thursday your child will also bring home a Thursday folder (Elsa England Folder). This folder will contain your child's graded work and important notes from the school and PTA. Please take the information out of the folder on Thursday night and review it with your child. Any work that has received below a 70% can be redone and returned with the grading period for up to a 70% in the grade book. Thursday folders should be returned the next day on Friday of each week.
