HOMEWORK ZAP = Zeroes Aren't Permitted
Homework and projects are important and must be completed. Choosing not to do assignments is not an option;
or, at least, not an option without consequences. The natural consequence for not doing your work is having to
do it, but at a time and place not necessarily of the student's liking.
Late homework will be accepted - however - the teacher has the right to set deadline dates for when homework
can be turned in because the genuine learning opportunity has expired. When a student turns in homework, it
should be because they are interested in learning and not just points.
Homework is a form of formative assessment and, as such, it will not be included in the calculation of the final
academic topic grades. It will be included in the citizenship grade. BUT, bear in mind that homework IS tied directly
to course academic goals. Students who do their homework will be rewarded with higher scores on summative
assignments. Grades will reflect how well students know the material.
ASSESSMENTS
There are a limited number of topics and leveled performance expectations that students will be tested on. If a
student is not successful on the initial assessment, we will provide opportunities for students to learn from their
mistakes. They will be able to demonstrate knowledge at a later time.
The opportunity to reassess comes with conditions. Students must earn the 2nd chance by completing
assignments, working on computer tutorials, or doing additional work with aides or small groups.
The reassessment score will replace the score from the earlier attempt and will not be averaged with it. Again,
grades will show how well a student knows the material at the end of the grading period.
ASSESSED STANDARDS
All assessed topics are "High Priority Standards", meaning that they are knowledge and skills that have:
1. Endurance - they will last beyond a class period or course
2. Leverage - they cross into many domains of learning
3. Readiness - they are important to subsequent content or courses
LEVELED PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS
Each topic assessment will have two scores - one for the number correct, and one for the difficulty level the student
was able to complete correctly, or proficiently. We will employ a 0-4 Proficiency Scoring Scale. The scores mean:
0 = Even with help, the student shows no understanding or skill.
1 = With help, the student shows a partial understanding of some of the simpler details and processes and some of
the more complex ideas and processes.
2 = The student shows no major errors or omissions regarding the simpler details and processes, but they have
major errors or omissions regarding the more complex ideas and processes
3 = The student has no major errors with any of the information and processes taught. This is the BENCHMARK
score.
4 = In addition to a Score 3, the student shows in-depth inferences and can correctly do applications that go beyond
what was taught.
BIG PROJECTS
It's time to kill the "semester killer" - the heavily weighted assignment that can deeply affect a student's grade.
Projects will be assigned to allow students an opportunity to communicate their ideas and process to the class, but
these assignments will only be worth as many points as a "normal" homework assignment.
Homework and projects are important and must be completed. Choosing not to do assignments is not an option;
or, at least, not an option without consequences. The natural consequence for not doing your work is having to
do it, but at a time and place not necessarily of the student's liking.
Late homework will be accepted - however - the teacher has the right to set deadline dates for when homework
can be turned in because the genuine learning opportunity has expired. When a student turns in homework, it
should be because they are interested in learning and not just points.
Homework is a form of formative assessment and, as such, it will not be included in the calculation of the final
academic topic grades. It will be included in the citizenship grade. BUT, bear in mind that homework IS tied directly
to course academic goals. Students who do their homework will be rewarded with higher scores on summative
assignments. Grades will reflect how well students know the material.
ASSESSMENTS
There are a limited number of topics and leveled performance expectations that students will be tested on. If a
student is not successful on the initial assessment, we will provide opportunities for students to learn from their
mistakes. They will be able to demonstrate knowledge at a later time.
The opportunity to reassess comes with conditions. Students must earn the 2nd chance by completing
assignments, working on computer tutorials, or doing additional work with aides or small groups.
The reassessment score will replace the score from the earlier attempt and will not be averaged with it. Again,
grades will show how well a student knows the material at the end of the grading period.
ASSESSED STANDARDS
All assessed topics are "High Priority Standards", meaning that they are knowledge and skills that have:
1. Endurance - they will last beyond a class period or course
2. Leverage - they cross into many domains of learning
3. Readiness - they are important to subsequent content or courses
LEVELED PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS
Each topic assessment will have two scores - one for the number correct, and one for the difficulty level the student
was able to complete correctly, or proficiently. We will employ a 0-4 Proficiency Scoring Scale. The scores mean:
0 = Even with help, the student shows no understanding or skill.
1 = With help, the student shows a partial understanding of some of the simpler details and processes and some of
the more complex ideas and processes.
2 = The student shows no major errors or omissions regarding the simpler details and processes, but they have
major errors or omissions regarding the more complex ideas and processes
3 = The student has no major errors with any of the information and processes taught. This is the BENCHMARK
score.
4 = In addition to a Score 3, the student shows in-depth inferences and can correctly do applications that go beyond
what was taught.
BIG PROJECTS
It's time to kill the "semester killer" - the heavily weighted assignment that can deeply affect a student's grade.
Projects will be assigned to allow students an opportunity to communicate their ideas and process to the class, but
these assignments will only be worth as many points as a "normal" homework assignment.