Grading Policy

Updated Sep 2021

 

All courses share the same grading policy/system.

 

COMPORTMENT: 10%

Class comportment is the effort portion of the student's grade. As this is a Business class, students are taught what will be expected of them in a college or work environment, and are expected to demonstrate these behaviors, including (but not limited to):

• Minimizing distractions within student control
  - Stay off your phone
  - Not doing work for other classes
  - Save personal grooming for another time
  - Devices in work area that aren't needed for
    class are turned off, including:
    + Televisions
    + Game consoles
  
• Punctuality, which starts with arriving on time and includes prompt transition to "learning mode"
  - Having a notebook and pen ready without requiring
    a daily prompt/request
  
• Being respectful to others and themselves, staring with actively listening (and not talking while others, including the teacher, are talking)
• Making appropriate eye contact
  - On Zoom, this means:
    + camera NOT pointed at wall, ceiling, etc.
    + room sufficiently lit so you are visible
    + your face is fully visible
  - In class, this means:
    + clearly focused on the teacher, the presentation, etc.
• Making constructive contributions to discussion
  ("class participation") and being an active member of a positive learning environment
• Focusing on the task assigned
• Staying on task
• Helping others (when appropriate)
• Paying attention
  - not requiring things to be repeated
  - responding promptly when called on
  - following directions
  
• Use of school- and business-appropriate language
• Practicing soft-skills
  - like saying "hello" and "goodbye"
  - like saying "please" and "thank you"
  - working well with others
  - practicing other soft skills that will help
    lead to success in life and career

All students start with 15 out of 20 points (75%) and this score will be adjusted, up or down, as the marking period progresses based on teacher observation. Just coming in, doing your work, and leaving will likely result in no change (that is, you stay at 75%). 

 

Note that consistently choosing to distract others and/or themselves will cost effort points, and may result in disciplinary action.

 

Class Comportment Rubric

Students concerned about maximizing the "CC" grade should print and complete this document, then bring it to an extra help session to discuss.

 

ASSIGNMENTS: 90%

The results component of the student's grade includes:

• Assessments (e.g., "tests" and "quizzes")
• In-Class assignments
• Homework completion
• Projects, presentations, etc.

Each assignment's point value varies based on its importance, time allotted, etc. For example, a short/simple assignment might be 10-30 points, while a major "test" might be 50 or more points; projects requiring extensive time may be worth even more. Not all work is graded, but assume it is so to avoid getting
"caught short."

 

Basic assignments are usually graded:

• Outstanding (100%):
  100% complete; all directions followed well;
  all requirements met
• Satisfactory (75%):
  Partially incomplete; some directions not followed
• Unsatisfactory (50%):
  Substantially incomplete; directions not followed
• Missing (0%):
  Nothing submitted or negligible completion

Short projects are usually graded:

• Check ++ (100%):
  Excellent. 100% complete; all directions followed well; all requirements met; perfect (or nearly so)
• Check + (85%):
  Very good. Mostly complete; directions followed mostly; most requirements met; minor errors
• Check (75%):
  Average. Fairly complete; directions not quite followed
• Check - (65%):
  Passing. Incomplete; directions poorly followed; major issue and/or several smaller issues
• Check -- (50%):
  Minimal effort. Does not warrant passing score but better than nothing; enough data to gauge some understanding
• Missing (0%):
  Nothing submitted or truly negligible completion

Students are encouraged to ask questions when class time is provided, via Schoology, or during extra help. Students should not expect teacher to be standing by to provide assistance at all times and/or just prior to deadline. Students may generally help each other but work is always to be the student's own. See the PHS Student Handbook (or this, from MIT).

 

Tests

Theme/chapter tests are online and utilize the Quia system. This enables a great deal of flexibility and eliminates lost/missing papers, etc. It also enables students to test in tight quarters (i.e., computer lab) with each student receiving a different version of the same test so as to maximize test integrity. It also allows for item analysis which is incorporated into instructional development.

 

All Theme tests are, in most cases, mathematically equalized to 50 points each, regardless of the number of questions. Questions' point values may vary depending on the question type and complexity. 

 

COURSE GRADES

In accordance with PHS/District policy, course grades are calculated with the following weights:

• 5-CREDIT CLASSES (except AP® courses)
  FOUR marking periods @ 22.5% each
  + final exam/project @ 10%
• 2.5-CREDIT CLASSES
  TWO marking period @ 45% each
  + final exam/project @ 10%
  

In any case, the final marking period AND the final exam/project scores are recorded and calculated as-earned (from 0 to 100). Other marking periods are recorded as-earned but calculated with a minimum grade of 50.

 

The following have not been modified for the current school year (disregard for now; placeholder at this time):

 

This sheet can help determine what a final course grade might be under different scenarios - just copy it to your own Google Drive so you can edit it (do NOT request permission to edit). Detailed directions are on the sheet itself). It works for any 2.5 or 5 credit class at PHS.

 

This site has a good calculator for converting grades to a 4.0 (or 4.5 or 5.0) scale for college, etc.

 

LATE WORK

Assignments are announced in class, posted to the class Assignments page, and reminders provided in class and via Schoology updates. All assignments can be completed on any Internet-connected device (though desktop/laptop are preferable). Therefore, extensions will only be granted under truly extenuating circumstances and solely at teacher discretion. Most "projects" are submitted via Schoology; it's the student's responsibility to maintain access (e.g., not forget login/password).

 

Examples of reasons that will not result in extensions include (but are not limited to): 
"I didn't know", "I forgot", "I had to work late", "I had work to do for other classes", "this is just an elective", "I don't read the reminders", "I played soccer all weekend", "I had to clean my yard", “I was on vacation”, "I had to do chores", "I thought I submitted it but didn't", etc. (all of which have been offered by students).

 

Lack of access to technology is often cited as a reason/excuse for not getting work done; I offer more than ten solutions to this problem on my Success page. As of March 2020, students can also contact a Dean or Counselor to obtain an iPad and/or Internet connectivity. This Tech Tips Sheet has been shared several times to help those with wifi and other tech issues.

 

* * EFFECTIVE 23Dec2020 * *

 

Do Now: Generally due within 5-10 minutes of being assigned (hence Do NOW, not Do LATER).

 

Classwork: Generally due by end of scheduled class time unless otherwise indicated; late work NOT accepted.

 

Homework/Other: You have four choices...

1. Complete and submitted before deadline:
   Full earned credit/no "late fee"
   
2. Complete and submitted <24 hrs late:
   Full earned credit minus "late fee" of 10 percentage points (one full letter grade)
3. Complete and submitted 24+ hrs late:
   Full earned credit minus "late fee" of 35 percentage points (still passing if starting with 100)
   
4. Significantly incomplete and/or not submitted:
   NO CREDIT

Accommodations may be made in special/extenuating circumstance.

 

EXTRA CREDIT

"Extra credit" [work] is NEVER an option to make up for regular assignments that were not attempted/completed/
submitted.
See "Resources & Success Tips" for more information and here for a touch of humor.

 

MAKE-UP WORK

Students will be allowed to make up work in accordance with the PHS Student Handbook. With teacher permission, some assignments may be re-done and re-submitted (usually requires meeting w/teacher for extended feedback). Per the Student Handbook, it is the student's responsibility to meet with the teacher immediately on return to negotiate due date(s); failure to do so may result in a grade of "M" (= missing assignment, which is calculated as a zero). Furthermore, I will teach well over 200 students this year; I simply do not have the bandwidth to chase down young adults who miss assignments. It's on you to re-arrange your work/sports/social schedule to make up missed tests/work.

 

COMMUNICATION

Students are encouraged to be proactive and contact the teacher regarding makeup assignments/assessments, arrange extra help, etc. Remind and email are checked regularly. Please do not message me through Schoology.

 

TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES

Now that all students have school-issued iPads, all assignments require use of the Internet in order to develop 21st century research skills and technical & informational literacy. Please see "Access to Technology" on the SUCCESS page of this site.

 

OTHER RESOURCES

FREE use of computers, including printing and Internet access is widely available - see SUCCESS page for a comprehensive list.

 

Of the courses I teach, only AP Macroeconomics utilizes a textbook; all other courses' materials are free and online, shared with students via Schoology. Students are expected to access/use these resources frequently. Students may choose to purchase supplemental resources (e.g., books, study guides), but this is optional.

 

USE OF ELECTRONICS IN CLASS

School-issued iPads or student-provided laptops can be used in class for for class-related activity. At no time should students be using social media, texting, or making/receiving calls during class. At the very least, these behaviors are rude and distracting; at worst, they may contribute to cheating or other serious infractions. Chronic offenders may be referred to the grade-level Dean, in accordance with the "Cell Phones/Electronic Devices" section of the PHS Student Handbook.

 

At teacher discretion only, students may listen to music during project-based learning. This will be clearly communicated; the default is no music/earbuds/phone use.

 

The Student Cellphone Addiction Is No Joke

DON'T LIKE YOUR GRADE?

Spend time reading - REALLY reading - the SUCCESS page, then complete the Student Success Inventory below and bring it to an extra help session: