Grading%20System

IF YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO ACCESS YOUR STUDENT'S GRADES ONLINE, CLICK HERE!
 * Each of the three marking periods stands on its own - they are not cumulative. The student's final science grade is the average of all three marking periods. Students who fail science for the year may have to attend summer school or - if they are failing more than one subject - may have to repeat the year.**

**FOR EACH MARKING PERIOD:**
 * QUIZZES ARE WORTH 40% OF THE GRADE
 * Almost all of my quizzes are multiple choice - generally 20-25 questions.
 * Students are allowed to use a "cheat sheet" - a 3x5 index card filled with anything & everything the student thinks they'll need to be reminded of while taking the quiz. They are given the index card the class before the quiz & generally I go over with them an outline of what concepts we will be tested on. It is then the student's responsibility to fill out the card. Students must take the quiz whether they take advantage of the "cheat sheet" option or not.
 * The day of the quiz, before they take it, students do a "Jeopardy-style" review of the concepts in groups for rewards. Most of the Jeopardy questions & answers are directly from the quiz.
 * PROJECTS & LAB REPORTS ARE WORTH 30%  OF THE GRADE
 * Students will get at least one lab report & one project assigned to them each marking period. Nothing should be turned in in pencil. Lab reports should be in pen or typed. Projects depend on the medium - my projects range from creating a poster display of a scientist to making a 3-dimensional model of a virus.
 * Lab reports follow an experiment that we have done in class - generally after 1-2 weeks worth of observations. Most of the actual lab report is done in class - all students have to do is create a cover page & write/ type a "good copy" of the steps. Please see the Lab Report Requirements worksheet on the HOME page under Sept-Oct.
 * CLASS PARTICIPATION & HOMEWORK ARE WORTH 30%  OF THE GRADE
 * Class participation is determined by me, but I do have a student who records participation once a week so that I can judge my opinion against what they've recorded. Generally, the grade is given like this: 60 - your student never participates in class. I wouldn't know the sound of their voice if they didn't ask to go to the bathroom once in a while. 70 - your student participates once in a blue moon. 80 - your student participates about once a class. 90 - your student participates several times a class. 100 - your student is my "go-to kid". When everyone else is staring at me blank-faced, I can count on your student to further the conversation.
 * Homework is extremely important because it reinforces all of the concepts learned in the classroom. Please see the HOMEWORK page for more information on my homework policy.
 * EXTRA-CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES are always available but they are optional - it is up to your student whether or not they want to take advantage of them.

STUDENTS ARE GIVEN THIS GRADE RECORD TO KEEP TRACK OF THEIR GRADES AS THEY RECEIVE THEM IN CLASS. THEY (AND YOU) CAN ALSO LOOK UP THEIR GRADES IN E-SCHOOL. NO STUDENT SHOULD BE UNAWARE OF WHAT THEIR GRADE IS IN MY CLASS AT ANY TIME.