Del Mar Middle School Assessment and Grading Policies and Practices “Grades should never be about affirmation, validation, or compensation. They’re communication, that’s it. Undiluted, unfettered by anything else. Clear, honest communication. They are more useful, more valid, more reliable.” - Rick Wormeli
The Purpose of Grades: To provide students, parents, and staff with honest and clear communication about how a student is performing in a class.
Del Mar Middle School grading practices and policies. Four clear learning levels: Beginning, Approaching, Proficient, and Advanced.In the Del Mar grading system, each learning level has a clear definition and performance criteria. Teachers will input IE (Insufficient Evidence) when they do not have sufficient evidence of student learning. The grade will be adjusted when evidence of student learning is presented. (Teachers should not include zeros in grades.)Habits of Learning are separate from academic grades.Teachers will not reduce grade due to late work.Teachers will not give extra credit.Teachers will not use points or percentages in giving feedback.Report card course descriptions will explain whether standards are trimester or year-longFeedbackFormative assignments and assessments are to provide practice and feedbackSummative assessments make up a majority of the student’s academic grade.ALMA updated bi-weekly; including Habits of LearningFeedback in and out of ALMA student-friendly, aligned to learning levels (link levels)Habits of learning are documented bi-weekly in ALMA.
OutcomesStudents will understand their relative strengths and identified areas of improvement in each disciplineALMA gradebook and report cards communicate a true understanding of the student knowledge and skills (academically and behaviorally).