Fresh English: call it in

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Finishing up our McBride Letters

We have a number of things to do and talk about today. Make sure you read through this carefully.

Goal #1: Peer Review

Review your partner's letter for areas of strength and areas that need improvement.
Work to improve areas that need it. (Work together or separately)

Goal #2: Finalize your letter

Response letter to McBride is due BEFORE you come to class tomorrow
Finish it before you come to school tomorrow.

Goal #3: Calling in your response letter:

You must call in your letter.
Use the number posted in the classroom or use the "Call Me" button on this blog.
Read your letter to the voicemail.
Practice before you call.
Due by 9:00 PM Friday 1/16 for full credit
(This is the easiest grade to get all semester, people. Make it happen.)

Important things to know:

Your English journals will get graded sometime next week. Make sure they're up to date.
A study guide for the final can be found here. I will also give you a paper copy.
NaNoWriMo regrade requests will not be accepted after tomorrow.
Don't forget to bring us a copy of your published NaNoWriMo novel for extra credit! (You'll need to bring it before the final for it to count for this semester.)

Gradebook Explained

My grade book is on Power School for you to view. There are some things you need to know.

If you have a blank score or missing score that is not bad. Often scores are left blank when I do not grade an assignment right away. Sometimes blanks mean a student was absent for an in class experience. The point is do not panic about blank or missing scores.

Zeros however, are a real problem. Students get zeros when they do not turn in an assignment that they should have done. Zeros usually appear after I have asked the student several times to get the work finished. Students can sometimes undo a zero by turning in the work late. Some assignments can be regraded. See the button at the top of the blog to request a re-grade.

Often I do not enter many assignments until the end of the grading period when projects we have been working on for a few weeks become due. I try to enter progress grades every few weeks into the "progress category." Note that the progress category is only 10% of the total grade. Low scores on progress grades indicates that a student needs to improve their work before the final project is due.

Grade categories are weighted as follows:

50% Writing & Speaking (Essays, some in class assessments, and speaking assignments.)

40% Reading & Listening (Book reviews and reading progress and some listening assessments.)

10% Progress (writing draft grades, turning in required paperwork, some formative assessments)

Student grades are based on meeting grade level standard proficiencies. This is not a points or numbers game. There is no extra credit, but there may be additional opportunities to show proficiency.

I hope this will resolve some confusion. Of course if you have questions about grades please e-mail me.

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Thursday, January 15, 2015

Finishing up our McBride Letters

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