Dear CHAT Writing 1 Students & Parents,
I've just finished calculating the grades for the Spring semester,
and you will be finding them in your inbox by the end of the week. As tutors, these are suggested grades
for you as homeschooling families to consider.
For those who are new to my classes, let me share my thoughts on
grades. As I homeschooled, I didn't give my children grades. I felt
that grades were far too subjective. I taught my own children for
mastery. We didn't proceed with a topic until they were ready no matter
how long that took.
Letter grades are a funny thing. For some students, it
becomes the only motivation for doing well. For some, it becomes a
measure of their worth as a person or as an academic learner. I
personally don't like these "side effects" of the grading
system. On the other hand, grades can be a valid reflection and reward
for working hard, being diligent, and understanding the materials.
When teaching students to be good writers, I give a lot of
consideration for growth and improvement. Each student has a starting place;
over time I look for him or her to learn the mechanics of grammar, good writing
techniques, and analytical thinking skills.
For this class, I gave points for attendance, participation,
short assignments and longer essays. We also did a few grammar
exercises. I tend to be an "easy
grader" and like to see my students encouraged to do their best. For this class, the final drafts were graded
using a rubric that divided the papers into the following categories: focus, content, organization, and mechanics.
Each student (and parents) will receive an e-mail
with percentages and suggested grades for this semester. I will also attach a printout from Engrade
that lists each assignment. I’ve
seen each student improve with each paper. Good Work!
Blessings,
Tammy Prichard
