Report+Cards

=FYI-The Basics=

//What grading system is used in fifth and sixth grade? //

In fifth and sixth grade, students are graded by an alpha elementary system: Averaging.
//What subjects are graded with this system? //

The subjects that are graded with this system are reading, language, spelling, math, social studies, science, and health.
//What system is used to grade the other areas? // ====The rest of the grades use either a rubric system or a modified rubric system. Subcategories are turned from percents to rubric grades using a modified rubric. Rubric grades are E=exceeds, M=meets expectations, I= Is developing, N= Needs improvement, and x= Not evaluated==== //How long is a term? //

The Boise School District uses semester grades; thus, second quarter grades are averaged with first quarter grades and fourth quarter grades are averaged with third quarter grades.
//How are the final grades determined? // //What is the benefit of composite grading? // //How does it work? // =Modified Rubric Conversions:= E = 90%-100% M= 70%-89% I= 60%-69% N=59% and below
 * I use composite grading. This means that each subcategory under a subject is weighted and assignments are entered into each of these subcategories.. These categories are then averaged in order to attain the subject grade.
 * Within subcategories, assignments are also weighted. For example: A concept skill page will have a single multiplier, a weekly quiz or culminating assignment usually has a double multiplier (This is the same as having two of the same grade: A 100% with a double multiplier will be worth two 100%. Large projects such as the culminating essay for the explorer report, for instance, has a triple multiplier, while steps along the process are single multipliers.
 * Composite grading is a more informative way of grading. It means that those subcategories are not just the teacher's general feeling about how a child performs in a specific area; it indicates statistical information about a student's performance. You may notice that these subcategories may vary more than what you have seen in the past. This helps us, the parents, the student, the teacher and the learning community, know what the student's strengths and weaknesses are. It verifies and pinpoints issues, bringing them to the forefront and providing data that may be needed for accelerated and remedial interventions.
 * This type of grading system is more complex than a teacher __simply__ dumping grades into a subject area. An observer can't __simply__ add up the string of grades and divide by the value. What is happening is that a student is getting a percentage of a percentage: this is a math lesson in itself. For example if your child receives a 90% on a concept page, your child has received 90% of 40% (The weight of the subcategory for Concepts) toward the math grade. However, if your child receives a 90% on a mad minute, it is worth 90% of 15% (The weight of the subcategory for Basic Facts). 90% of 40% is 36 compared to 90% of 15% which is 13.5.
 * When the grade book program converts to the report card program, subcategory percentages are converted to rubric grades. The subcategory percentages are calculated according to their weight to determine the overall subject grade.

=Weighting of Composite Grades:=

Reading Weights:

 * Subcategory || Weight || Examples of Assignments in Each Category ||
 * Effort || 15% || Logs and Blogs ||
 * Word Identification || 20% || Phonics, Syllabication, Word Patterns, and Affixes ||
 * Vocabulary || 20% || Definitions, Context Clues, Word Origin Stems ||
 * Comprehension || 30% || Questions and Answers, Graphic Organizers and Visuals, Summaries, Discussions, and Retellings ||
 * Oral || 15% || Fluency, Read Aloud, Readers' Theater, and Presentations ||

Language:

 * Subcategory || Weight || Examples of Assignments in Each Category ||
 * Effort || 10% || Shurley Notebook and Dailies ||
 * Oral Expression || 15% || Oral Presentation ||
 * Written Expression || 25% || Sentence Structure and Development, Paragraphing, Essays, Poetry, Essay, Prose, Flexibility and Application of Various Writing Styles ||
 * Word and Sentence Form || 20% || Grammar, tenses, complexity,and variety ||
 * Punctuation || 20% || In Writing, In Lessons, and Capitalization ||
 * Handwriting || 10% || Agenda, random samples, Includes organization of written information, and presentation of written materials. ||

Spelling:

 * Subcategory || Weight || Examples of Assignments in Each Category ||
 * Assigned Words || 60% || Tests and Assigned Spelling Work ||
 * Written Work || 40% || Written Samples including Random Samples ||

Math

 * Subcategory || Weight || Examples of Assignments in Each Category ||
 * Effort || 15% || Concept Notebook ||
 * Understands Concepts || 40% || Tests and Related Practices ||
 * Basic Facts || 15% || Mad Minutes: Weekly Quizzes, practices, and related activities ||
 * Solves Problems || 15% || Application of Problem Solving Strategies, Guided Discovery, Story Problems, ||
 * Calculates Properly || 15% || Algorithms, Solve Practices, ||
 * Depending on the quarter, mad minutes are graded differently. Please look for specific information about this on the mad minute page under math in this wiki.

Social Studies:
= =
 * Subcategory || Weight || Examples of Assignments in Each Category ||
 * Effort || 10% || Notebook and binder ||
 * Content || 90% || Geography, History, Economics, Government, Culture ||