Grading Policies
4 Exceeds standard
3 Meets standard
2 Approaches standard
1.9 Standards not met yet
0 No effort shown
The 4-point scale is unrelated to percentages and GPA. It is a system where every grade a student receives is graded in the same way (receiving a score of between 1.9 and 4), which should make it easy for a student to know what level of understanding they have reached. However, grades are posted on official transcripts as letter grades. Please refer to the following document to help you better understand how standards-based grades relate to the letter grades you see on student transcripts.
Science Grading Reference Sheet
Standards-based Grading is a Research Base Best Practice
Evaluation Breakdown
75%- Summative- showing understanding of content at end of unit-
final assessments and projects
25%- Formative- check-ins throughout unit-
notebooks, labs, daily work, home practice
Late Work and Absences
The majority of your grade in this class comes from showing understanding of grade-level learning standards. This means that the only way a zero will appear in the grade book is if no effort is shown or an assignment in not turned in at all. The purpose of your grade is to reflect what you are able to do in science therefore, missing work can be submitted up to the final turn-in date each semester for credit.
Because we are a lab-based class and nearly everything we do cannot be done at home, it is imperative that you are in class each day. If you must miss class, home practice is not given ahead of time. Upon your return to school after an absence, you will need to come see me to ask what you missed and what you are responsible for making up. When you complete a missed lab or any work you missed while absent, be sure to TURN IT IN. If you complete missed work/labs, but do not turn them into me, you will not receive credit.
Because we are a lab-based class and nearly everything we do cannot be done at home, it is imperative that you are in class each day. If you must miss class, home practice is not given ahead of time. Upon your return to school after an absence, you will need to come see me to ask what you missed and what you are responsible for making up. When you complete a missed lab or any work you missed while absent, be sure to TURN IT IN. If you complete missed work/labs, but do not turn them into me, you will not receive credit.
Extension Opportunities
Extra credit is not possible in a standards-based classroom. This is because final grades are based on what you actually understand about the science content being addressed during daily lessons. This means that the best way to improve your science grade is by doing well on summative assessments and final projects. If you are still dissatisfied with your grades, you can look for Extension Opportunities. Extension Opportunities are projects or activities that are based on grade-level standards and will help you better understand or extend your knowledge of topics we are also covering in the classroom.