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.  You will be made aware of your child's current reading level, math test average, social studies test average and spelling test average.  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). At the end of the year, you will see a comparison to the beginning of the year assessments your child took (math pre/post test, beginning/ end of year writing prompt and the diagnostic spelling test.  

If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to e-mail me.

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