Homework, Grades, and Back to School Night

This week the 5th grade classes will be working on deepening their understanding of multi-digit multiplication.  Each student is entering this unit at a different place, so the focus and progression for each student throughout this unit will be based on each individuals needs.

The 6th grade classes this week are wrapping up our work with LCM and GCF and exploring how prime factorization can be used to find these.  We will be moving into some work with the distributive property of multiplication and order of operations this week and next.

Homework
If you are checking your child's gradebook in Schoology (they have a password and Tom Drake will be distributing parent passwords in early October) you will see that scores are based on a 4 point scale.  Homework is meant to be either review or practice.  Below is the scoring system we will be using for homework assignments with the corresponding criteria.

1-Did not complete homework
2-Finished homework late or incomplete.  A 2 could also mean the student shows little thinking/notation.
3-Finished homework on time with clear and concise notation.
4-All of 3 and goes above and beyond what was assigned.

Homework for both 5th and 6th grades for at least the next few weeks will be on xtramath.org and is working toward multiplication fact mastery.  This will remain homework for each individual until all math facts are automatized and recalled within 3 seconds.


Grades
Grades will appear this year on a scale of 1-4 as well based on mathematical topics.  As students become more proficient with a skill or topic, their score should reflect this.  As we move through the next few weeks a category called proficiency will appear in the Schoology gradebook.  Each unit focuses on students becoming proficient with different concepts and skills.  The goal for being proficient with a concept or skill will be a 3.  As a general scale, the following will apply.
1-The student's understanding of the concept or skill is emerging.  This might include many inaccuracies, inefficiency in solving, or a fragile understanding of the topic.
2-The student is developing understanding of a concept of skill.  The concept or skill is being developed, but more work toward becoming efficient and flexible might need to be done.
3-The student's understanding of the proficiency is established.
4-The student's has a broad and deep understanding of the proficiency and has extended his/ her thinking.

There will not be a final grade in which the proficiencies are combined as a percentage.  There will be, however, separate categories for work habits and work completion.

As a math team our intention is to give students and parents more information about the specific strengths and struggles for each student, as well as help guide specific instruction for individuals based on their current level of understanding.

I am excited to be moving in this direction, as it puts more focus and emphasis on each students growth as a person and a learner, as well as empowering each child to focus on individual growth.  I will continue to post information on this topic in future posts.  As always, if you have any questions feel free to contact me at eeley@wwsu.org, and don't forget about back to school night this Thursday.