Parents and Students,
I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. I certainly did. I really enjoyed teaching this last week. The curriculum is moving along nicely, and the students shared their first differentiated projects. You kids are very creative. I have corrected all the work from last week and posted it on Jupiter Grades. Just about everything your child does in class is counted for grade. Looking at the grades will give you a very clear idea of how your child functions on a daily basis. I am very dedicated this year to improving the students' study habits. I want them organized and focused. I want them to use their time wisely and know how adjust their work schedules to get everything turned in. I want them to keep the quality of their work up. Tests and larger projects are worth a great deal more than daily practice. Also, if the assignment has a note attached that says "Graded for Completion", it means that they get full credit if they do it and turn it in. It was probably corrected in class, so, even if they were incorrect on some or all of the work, as long as it was corrected by them and turned in they get full credit. If your student received a zero, then I did not get the work. Remember that all late work is reduced to 70 percent. On one hand, since everything is scored, then the total number of points will be quite high come reportcard time and one missing assignment does not have to devestate a grade. On the other hand, if your child has difficulty getting work turned in regularly, it will have a negative effect on the grade, come report card time. I have several papers without names and will institute a "no name box" on Monday. If your child is missing work, he/she may want to look there. It will be considered late. If your child was absent, the grade book will consider their grade a zero. However, they can make that work up for full credit. The students and I will discuss on Monday ways to help students who are missing assignments. I have some ideas but I want to hear theirs. I consider this a "Student Centered" class, and I want their input. The differentiated projects have begun and they are fantastic! Students have written their own objectives, planned a pathway to follow, completed the project, then they reflected on what they have done and graded it on a rubric with the scaled score they have decided on. Awesome! (Although, I still get final say on the grades.) The projects will be a grade in whatever subject area it was focused on. This last project was Reading Comprehension. The next will be math, prime and composite numbers. This next will will have a Science Test for 5th Graders on Friday. They already have a study guide. On Monday, I will make sure it is fully completed in class. They do not get to use the study guide on the test, they must use it to study. The first 6th grade math test is currently scheduled for Tuesday the 13th of September. Fifth grade will begin Chapter 11 in math, working with area formulas. I will begin posting a "tentative" homework schedule each weekend. There is always the possibility for change, but it should give you and idea of what is coming up. Have a great week everyone. Mrs. McElroy |
In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet. LinksArchives
August 2014
|