Semester grades by CGUHS https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7 en-us 2018-03-12 18:08:43 UTC 2025-11-21 18:20:23 UTC hello@padlet.com Someone please explain WHY we do use 40/40/20? Because we always have is not a reason. Total points more reflective of a semester's performance, it does not confuse anyone at quarter, and simply, it makes sense. https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241047203 2018-03-12 18:19:12 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241047203 40-40-20 https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241047445 In Math, we have a rolling 40-40-20 where we have the 40-40-20 system but we constantly adjust their quarter grade based on their test re-take. This way, someone is not punished for a poor start and is not constantly trying to play catch-up for starting off slow and trying to pass at the end.]]> 2018-03-12 18:19:27 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241047445 Total points is a much more accurate reflection of student progress. This is validated in many educational leadership circles. When a system like 40-40-20 is used it penalizes students for mistakes that were made weeks or months in the past. That is not a system that I can advocate for. https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241048351 2018-03-12 18:20:55 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241048351 I prefer total points by a long shot. https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241048903 2018-03-12 18:21:43 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241048903 I like it as is https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241049543 2018-03-12 18:22:42 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241049543 https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241052960 This should be a district level conversation so all students are on the same grading policy in our united district.  ]]> 2018-03-12 18:27:40 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241052960 40-40-20 https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241058322 I think the idea of separate grades for both quarters makes sense because it gives the student the best chance of seeing the error of their choices and allows for mistakes in the beginning of a semester to not only be corrected but also minimized. If you feel that doesn't make sense then consider that most courses are year long, but the grades are still divided into semesters. Imagine the student who has dug him/herself into a hole in August and September and he/she would be trying to extricate him/herself from that hole until April. Not much incentive to make the corrections...

]]> 2018-03-12 18:35:27 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241058322 I am unfamiliar with "total points". Does that mean that grades are not broken into quarters? So you're running grades like college? I've always felt that breaking the grading into quarters with a final at the end was the easiest way for students to handle the long time from Aug to Dec andJan to May. It gives students a fresh start at the beginning of each quarter. https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241066293 2018-03-12 18:48:07 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241066293 maldrich2 https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241069115 I'd like to keep it the way it is. If we change it to total points, I'll have some students wanting to turn assignments from August in in December. Maybe if I didn't deal with Freshman? Or if I was tougher on accepting late work.]]> 2018-03-12 18:52:35 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241069115 I prefer semester total points. They still get their quarter grades - that doesn't change. I do not like how a student can have a 100% for 3rd quarter, screw up the first assignment 4th quarter, and drop to an F for the semester. Explaining to both parents and students that we have a 40/40/20 weight on grades makes that one assignment equal to an entire quarter's worth of work...for the time being. https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241070819 If I want something to carry more weight, I can simply make the assignment worth more points!]]> 2018-03-12 18:55:33 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241070819 With a total points approach the teacher can still apply a weight to the final exam that makes it more valuable than a standard assessment. Also, there is much less confusion with regard to the grades that get so out of whack when we change quarters https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241070844 2018-03-12 18:55:36 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241070844 I think the benefit of having the 40-40-20 set up is that students have accountability sooner. With a quarter grade that really matters, students work harder to maintain grades. We see the slump that happens in the middle of the quarter. I think that slump would be much worse if grades "didn't matter" for months at a time. https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241071104 2018-03-12 18:56:08 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241071104 What is best for students? https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241071411 Is either better for the student?
I've taught with district policies for "Have something in your syllabus" which could have included total points and with 40-40-20.  I'm not sure I've seen a significant impact either way on the student.  I do think it is good if everyone follows the same policy, school-wide and district-wide.  The first week of the 2nd and 4th quarters are hard for the students, if they have not been educated as to what the impact of missing an assignment is.  

]]> 2018-03-12 18:56:41 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241071411 Going to total points does not mean that you would have to accept an assignment from August in December. You wouldn't. It means that the penalty for the zero does not continue to hang over the student due to the rigid structure of 404020. https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241071940 2018-03-12 18:57:34 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241071940 Another Article https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241078015 2018-03-12 19:09:33 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241078015 With the 40/40/20 we don't really "start over" at the new quarter. Their semester grade is still there, and someone at a 20% before break is still at 20% total after break. I think a clean point system is easier to understand than 40/40/20, and will be better for students and parents. https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241080444 2018-03-12 19:14:33 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241080444 I am no math person but whether you do it 40/40 or 80 at the end, is it that much difference? Seems to me how much you weight an assignment has a bigger impact. Hold them accountable for each quarter. https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241090627 2018-03-12 19:35:27 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241090627 I prefer semester totals. If a kid has a super low grade at the end of the quarter, he knows no matter how well he does next quarter, he can never pass the semester. Totals give the kids hope that they can actually turn their grades around. kkastilahn https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241100723 2018-03-12 19:58:48 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241100723 https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241133143 We need to use the same grading system per district department. If a total point system is used, district departments need to determine common point system for assignments.  All classes across district should have common standards, assessments and grading policies. ]]> 2018-03-12 21:40:36 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241133143 maldrich2 https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241136330 Can you use a Total Points system with weighted grades? 

]]> 2018-03-12 21:54:19 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241136330 Total points system, please. This approach will reflect the overall body of a student's work better. https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241156198 2018-03-12 23:45:23 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241156198 Total point system. https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241440788 2018-03-13 15:29:19 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241440788 I like total points because of the impact one assignment can have the start of 4th quarter and the start of 2 quarter. It makes athletes eligible who really aren't because they failed 3rd quarter and with one assignment in 4th quarter are now passing. The opposite also happens in which a student has passed 3rd quarter but bombed the first assignment in 4th quarter and causing them to be ineligible. Several teachers have mentioned that it really doesn't effect grades that much in the end. If that is true, then at least going total points for the semester gets rid of that inequitable time when the quarters change. https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241642689 Even if we went to total points, teachers can still weight their grades through Power school. 

]]> 2018-03-13 21:43:51 UTC https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241642689 How does the total point system effect grading on improvement? I like to consider improvement and it seems to me a slow start can't be overcome with the total point system. rtennyson1950 https://padlet.com/ttrigalet/h5ryeolxeud7/wish/241864292

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