Grading Policies for 8th Grade Science

Grading: grades will be based on mastery of USD Science Standards for 8th Grade.

In class we will use two kinds of assessments; Formative and Summative.

Formative Assessment; this type of assessment is for practice only. It will not be averaged for the report card.
Examples include but are not limited to the following;
• Daily work – warm up activities, some group assignments, practice problems, etc.
• Homework – Every Monday your child will write their homework assignments for that week in their planner. Please sign this and have your child bring it back on Tuesday. On nights that your child has homework it is due the next morning. On Thursday morning, all other homework assignments will be collected. These assignments must be completed in order to receive privileges such as Fun Friday and other events.These assignments are referred to in class as "Practice".

You will be contacted via phone, email or letter if your child is not completing assignments.

Summative Assessment; this type of assessment is those that “sum” or measure what your child has learned. A grade will be assigned to the work and goes in the grade book following several opportunities for the student to practice the skill or demonstrate an understanding of the concepts we learn in class. These assignments are referred to as "The Real Deal".
Examples include but are not limited to the following
• Pencil and paper test or quizzes.
• Labs – The student investigates a question alone or as part of a team. Students working on a team receive individual grades to show mastery of the idea being investigated.
• Performance task – The student will be asked to perform a skill such as properly using a balance.
• Presentation – Student presents material they have learned in the form of reports using power point, web sites or other forms of technology.
• Rubric – Rubrics are used on many summative assessments. The student is assessed on a number scale according to their achievement.

What are “The Essentials?”

The course of study in 8th Grade Science is one semester, which is divided into two marking periods with a progress check at mid-quarter. Students investigate four units during the semester. Each unit will focus on at least 10 content standards or “essentials” which are derived from the USD 250 Science Curriculum.

For each essential we identify an evidence base that will verify the student’s level of proficiency. An example is when we are working on an indicators relating to proper use of lab equipment and understanding density, students might explore buoyancy by comparing the mass, volume and density of an object such as a clay boat. They would then be required to complete an investigation into the density of sodas, in which they investigate why some cans float or sink. Finally they would need to pass a lab quiz in which they must measure, without help from a partner, the mass, volume and calculate the density of assorted solids and liquids.

On the basis of this evidence we assess each student’s performance on each content standard using the following “traffic lights”.
“Green”? (Mastery): the student consistently meets and often exceeds the content standard. The student, with ease grasps, applies and extends key concepts, processes, and skills for the grade level.
“Yellow”? (Developing): The student regularly meets the content standard. The student, with limited errors, grasps and applies key concepts, processes and skills for the grade level.
“Red”? (Beginning or below basic): the student is beginning to and occasionally does meet the content standards, or the student is not meeting them.

The final grade for the marking period is based on the aggregate level of proficiency displayed in the content standards (indicators). Green lights are worth 3 points, Yellow 2 and Red 1.
To receive an A, students need to master at least 90 percent of the required content, earning a minimum of 27 points. Students can achieve these points though various configurations of ‘lights”. A grade of B reflects 80 percent mastery ( a minimum of 24 points ), and a C reflects 70 percent mastery (a minimum of 21 points).

At the end of the unit the students take a test to verify their level of mastery in each identified content/skill area. If students do better than expected, the teacher updates their achievement profile with the “latest and best” evidence. If students fail to show mastery of previously mastered content, we interview them to provide them with additional opportunities to “show what they know” about the topic. If the interview reveals that the student has not mastered the material, we provide the student with additional practice and multiple opportunities to learn it. If a student does not master the content by the end of the marking period, the grade reflects this lack of mastery. But if the student masters the content by the end of the marking period, then the increase is reflected in the end of semester grade. The semester grade is the percentage mastery on all 40 “essentials” (indicators) and not an average of the two marking periods.

Click here to see an example of a "How am I doing?" sheet. Students keep this in their folders and refer to it as we hand back graded assignments.

Missing assignments and Makeup work.

It is extremely important for students to exhibit responsibility and submit assignments in a timely manner. We will keep records of student timeliness and report on the class behavior card sent home at each mid-quarter and nine weeks. Consequences will be assigned as we would for any other unacceptable classroom behavior. Direct parent contact may be necessary, especially if lateness is chronic. Students who are late with important assessment evidence (essentials) will be required to come in before or after school where they will receive both the assistance and time they need.

When absent from class students are responsible for work missed. They may turn in work when they return or arrange a time to come in before or after school to complete assignments. Usually students have the number of days they were absent to make up work.

If students do not turn in work they receive an ‘Incomplete’ (I) until they do so.
In Science we do not assign 0’s! An ‘I’ represents a lack of evidence that the student has presented to show what they have learned or mastered in class. The responsibility remains with the student to do so; we will provide as many opportunities as possible for them. If at the end of a grading period an I has not been replaced with a score it is reflected as an F on the grade card.

Extra Credit

Extra credit is given only when all essentials are completed. If a student wishes extra credit they may be given an opportunity to show an increased level of mastery on one of the essentials, if they improve so does their score.