Clusters, Topics, and BOEs…OH MY!

Parent University September 16, 2014

Six Guiding Practices for Grading

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6.

A consistent 4-point grading scale will be used.

Letter grades, derived from the 4-point scale, will be based solely on achievement of course/grade level standards. Student participation, work completion, and ability to work with others will be reported separately using the “DMPS Citizenship and Employability Skills Rubric.” Scores will be based on a body of evidence.

Achievement will be organized by standard/learning topic and reported as a scale score. Cross topic scale scores will be converted to a letter grade for the course.

Students will have multiple opportunities to demonstrate proficiency.

Accommodations and modification will be provided to students with special needs.

Standards Reality

6 th Grade Math 29 Standards 6-8 Science 26 Standards

Total Standards with just the core: 129

6-8 Social Studies 33 Standards 6 th Grade Literacy 41 Standards

First Level for Parents

6 th Grade Math 7 Reporting Clusters 6 th Grade Social Studies 11 Reporting Clusters 6 th Grade Science 6 Reporting Clusters 7 th Grade Literacy 9 Reporting Clusters

Employability Skills

• • • • Academic Conduct – Prepared, on time, accepts responsibility Work Completion Working with Other Students Working with Adults

SRG Hierarchy of a Course Grade

Definitions

Unit: The overarching content that will be taught for a specified time period. • • Examples: Elements of Text – 10 weeks What is an American?

– 6 weeks

Definitions

Cluster: This is the educational “big picture” idea that matches with the Iowa Core Curriculum • • Example: Analyzing Textual Evidence Behavioral Sciences

Definitions

Topics: These are the individual puzzle pieces that come together to create the cluster. Topic scores are averaged together to create a reporting cluster score.

• • Examples: Questions, Inference, and Interpretation Individuals and Societies

Definitions

• • •

BOEs: Bodies of Evidence

Individual assessments that show student skill level for each topic Are not factored into the grade UNTIL teacher makes professional judgment based on evidence student has provided IB Assessments will be located in this section as well • • Example: Memoir Writing What is an American? Essay

How is a grade determined for a course?

Reporting Cluster #1 Converted to a letter grade: Topic #1

BOE

A = 3.00 to 4.00

B = 2.50 to 2.99

C = 2.00 to 2.49

D = 1.50 to 1.99

F = Below 1.50

Reporting Cluster #2 Teacher Professional Judgment Topic #2 Infinite Campus Calculates Reporting Cluster #3

Q & A

• Handouts are grade level specific • Summary of the Recording Clusters and Topics for each subject area • Feel free to contact administration or teachers with any additional questions you think of at home! 