Progress Reports
Please remember that these
assessments are progress reports- meaning that each student has
something to work up to! The Progress Reports are scored using
a 4 point scale. This is similar to the K-2 reports, however,
the criteria and items evaluated are a bit different from your
child's second grade report. Please remember that your child
is starting over on a clean slate and will be assessed based on
his/her individual progress for the third grade standards. I
consider myself a tough grader with high expectations. I
believe that each child needs to work toward something. I am
looking for each child to meet his/her own potential and grade or
assess accordingly.
1st Trimester
On your child's 1st Trimester
Progress Report, I anticipate that the scores will be their lowest
of the school year. On average your child should see mostly
2's and 3's. I rarely give a 4 unless a student has gone above
and beyond my own expectations. This is true for every area
except Science and Social Studies. I base the 4 point scale in
this area on overall participation and test/work average.
For the learner characteristics (behavior)
area, it was rare that I gave a consistently demonstrates.
I feel that unless the student has gone far above and beyond
my expectations, that this is an area that he/she can always improve
in. I would expect
almost every student to be at an often demonstrates across the
board. In some areas, such as
completes work on time, I give a lot of reminders (as it is still
the beginning trimester in 3rd Grade). I cannot see giving a
child a consistently demonstrates in an area where I have still
given ample verbal and written reminders. After the 1st
trimester, I start to give less and less reminders, allowing the
students to show their independent abilities.
In writing,
some of the areas have not been fully assessed. I want to spend time
on each trait, and some have not received as much focus as others.
This trimester, we have really been focusing on Ideas and
Organization. Many
students will find that they received a 2, and it is mostly because,
though we have touched on these aspects, we have not covered these
areas in depth at this point in the grading term.
We will be really looking at voice, word choice, conventions
(editing, revising, grammar, spelling) and fluency in the second
trimester. Everyone has
done a nice job so far in writing, and I look for even more good
things to come!
Overall, here is a brief look at
what each number stands for:
1. Very Little or No Progress
2- Some progress; teacher support
required; student is not independent
3- Progress; student is
independent some of the time; teacher support needed most/some of
the time
4- Progress, student is
independent all of the time; minimal or no teacher support needed
Please keep in mind that this is a
very brief look at the assessment scale. We have a book of
rubrics and criteria for each assessment aspect. Basically, in
order for a student to receive a 4 in the first trimester, he/she
needs to be completely independent.
2nd Trimester
For the 2nd Trimester, I expect
students to have mostly 3's, with more 4's and very few 2's.
For the Learner Characteristics, I expect students to have more
consistently demonstrates (on average, about half consistently
demonstrates and often demonstrates). During this trimester,
students experienced a lot more opportunities for independent
practice and work to show their progress. This should be
reflected on the Progress Reports.
3rd Trimester
With each trimester, the students
have more opportunities for independent practice and work as well as
the ability to show his/her own ability to be responsible.
Therefore, during the last trimester, I would expect a 3rd grader to
have a majority of 3's and 4's in the various subject areas and
mostly consistently demonstrates for the Learner Characteristics
section.
Other Assessments
For every term, I will send home or
share your child's progress through another form of assessments.
Assessments will be sent home after the individual units or at the
end of the trimester for you to see. These will help you to
see what your child's average grade may be if he/she were to receive
letter grades (as the students do in 4th grade). Rubrics and other
assessment tools will be sent home for certain projects or subject
areas as well.
If you have any questions or comments, please
don't hesitate to e-mail me.
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