Comments on: Teachers: Should I give weighted or unweighted grades for a middle school math class? http://www.clintsmallband.org/middle-school-math/teachers-should-i-give-weighted-or-unweighted-grades-for-a-middle-school-math-class Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:42:59 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: senoritaboston http://www.clintsmallband.org/middle-school-math/teachers-should-i-give-weighted-or-unweighted-grades-for-a-middle-school-math-class/comment-page-1#comment-1856 senoritaboston Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:38:59 +0000 http://www.clintsmallband.org/middle-school-math/teachers-should-i-give-weighted-or-unweighted-grades-for-a-middle-school-math-class#comment-1856 I teach middle school Spanish and I weigh my grades. Tests/Essays are 30% Quizzes 35% homework 20% class participation 15% My students know this and we discuss ways to improve grades- for example, I give at least one vocabulary quiz per week, so by studying for these simple quizzes, it helps with their grades. Also by always doing homework, they're assured a decent grade.<br><b>References : </b><br> I teach middle school Spanish and I weigh my grades. Tests/Essays are 30% Quizzes 35% homework 20% class participation 15%
My students know this and we discuss ways to improve grades- for example, I give at least one vocabulary quiz per week, so by studying for these simple quizzes, it helps with their grades. Also by always doing homework, they’re assured a decent grade.
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]]> By: Huerter0 http://www.clintsmallband.org/middle-school-math/teachers-should-i-give-weighted-or-unweighted-grades-for-a-middle-school-math-class/comment-page-1#comment-1855 Huerter0 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:07:59 +0000 http://www.clintsmallband.org/middle-school-math/teachers-should-i-give-weighted-or-unweighted-grades-for-a-middle-school-math-class#comment-1855 Participation's always been a grey area for me. Most sources I've seen say don't do it, but now I teach Spanish, so it is essential that my students practice speaking. In a math class, I'm not 100% convinced that's a necesary category. As far as unweighted so the hard workers can still pass with decent grades, it depends on how you check homework. Is it just completion or accuracy? Accuracy will take a long time to grade, but if you base it on completion, allowing them to squeak by by just appearing to try is not doing them or their later teachers any favors. Personally, I have been happier when homework counted less, but then I also had quizzes separate from tests, and sometimes those were project-y type things. I know my Algebra teacher had us do some creative things with number sets in visual form, and I'd wager there are more math-y projects out there if you're worried about people test anxiety. I would go with weighted, I think.<br><b>References : </b><br> Participation’s always been a grey area for me. Most sources I’ve seen say don’t do it, but now I teach Spanish, so it is essential that my students practice speaking. In a math class, I’m not 100% convinced that’s a necesary category.

As far as unweighted so the hard workers can still pass with decent grades, it depends on how you check homework. Is it just completion or accuracy? Accuracy will take a long time to grade, but if you base it on completion, allowing them to squeak by by just appearing to try is not doing them or their later teachers any favors.

Personally, I have been happier when homework counted less, but then I also had quizzes separate from tests, and sometimes those were project-y type things. I know my Algebra teacher had us do some creative things with number sets in visual form, and I’d wager there are more math-y projects out there if you’re worried about people test anxiety.

I would go with weighted, I think.
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]]> By: swim_chic07 http://www.clintsmallband.org/middle-school-math/teachers-should-i-give-weighted-or-unweighted-grades-for-a-middle-school-math-class/comment-page-1#comment-1854 swim_chic07 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:31:59 +0000 http://www.clintsmallband.org/middle-school-math/teachers-should-i-give-weighted-or-unweighted-grades-for-a-middle-school-math-class#comment-1854 As a sixth grade math teacher I do weight grades. I don't make it so they fail if they don't pass their tests but I want my students to also realize that tests are important. I weight 60% tests and quizzes and 40% homework / participation. I feel this is the best way to get a balance of their work. I have some students who hate doing homework but can ace a test. I have some students who work hard on their homework but struggle on tests. I just want to give them all a chance to succeed. Good luck with whatever you choose!<br><b>References : </b><br> As a sixth grade math teacher I do weight grades. I don’t make it so they fail if they don’t pass their tests but I want my students to also realize that tests are important. I weight 60% tests and quizzes and 40% homework / participation. I feel this is the best way to get a balance of their work. I have some students who hate doing homework but can ace a test. I have some students who work hard on their homework but struggle on tests. I just want to give them all a chance to succeed. Good luck with whatever you choose!
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]]> By: jen12121980 http://www.clintsmallband.org/middle-school-math/teachers-should-i-give-weighted-or-unweighted-grades-for-a-middle-school-math-class/comment-page-1#comment-1853 jen12121980 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:11:59 +0000 http://www.clintsmallband.org/middle-school-math/teachers-should-i-give-weighted-or-unweighted-grades-for-a-middle-school-math-class#comment-1853 I teach upper elementary. I do not weight assignments in general. I give equal weight to tests, homework, classwork etc. To ensure that students are showing mastery I do three things: 1. I give unit tests which I do weight by counting them twice on report cards. 2. When I give a test and a student fails, I work with them separately and give a new test that covers the same material. 3. I give student projects that include activities where students must demonstrate knowledge of the objectives I choose.<br><b>References : </b><br> I teach upper elementary. I do not weight assignments in general. I give equal weight to tests, homework, classwork etc. To ensure that students are showing mastery I do three things:
1. I give unit tests which I do weight by counting them twice on report cards.
2. When I give a test and a student fails, I work with them separately and give a new test that covers the same material.
3. I give student projects that include activities where students must demonstrate knowledge of the objectives I choose.
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]]> By: Julia http://www.clintsmallband.org/middle-school-math/teachers-should-i-give-weighted-or-unweighted-grades-for-a-middle-school-math-class/comment-page-1#comment-1852 Julia Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:59:59 +0000 http://www.clintsmallband.org/middle-school-math/teachers-should-i-give-weighted-or-unweighted-grades-for-a-middle-school-math-class#comment-1852 Well, I'm no teacher, but I am a high school honor student. In my opinion, you should use a total points system. It gives students a chance to work hard. My English teacher uses this system. It helps students in a way because if they do all of their homework, but didn't score so well on tests, then they would at least pass with a C. Weighed systems tend to confuse the students when progress reports come out, and adding extra credit would be just a pain. My junior high teacher uses the weighed system and her desk was just packed with parents' letters of complaint. Using an unweighted system not only helps the student, but also makes the job for the teacher much easier. I hope this helped you resolve your question.<br><b>References : </b><br> Well, I’m no teacher, but I am a high school honor student. In my opinion, you should use a total points system. It gives students a chance to work hard. My English teacher uses this system. It helps students in a way because if they do all of their homework, but didn’t score so well on tests, then they would at least pass with a C. Weighed systems tend to confuse the students when progress reports come out, and adding extra credit would be just a pain. My junior high teacher uses the weighed system and her desk was just packed with parents’ letters of complaint. Using an unweighted system not only helps the student, but also makes the job for the teacher much easier. I hope this helped you resolve your question.
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]]> By: Lana http://www.clintsmallband.org/middle-school-math/teachers-should-i-give-weighted-or-unweighted-grades-for-a-middle-school-math-class/comment-page-1#comment-1851 Lana Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:41:59 +0000 http://www.clintsmallband.org/middle-school-math/teachers-should-i-give-weighted-or-unweighted-grades-for-a-middle-school-math-class#comment-1851 I used to always weight grades because I didn't want their grades to be inflated by homework. In a math class, if a students doesn't pass any tests, shouldn't they fail? Because let's be honest, most teachers grade homework mainly for completion. Regardless of your reason for weighting, if you want students to be able to figure out their grades, or if you're working in a neighborhood where parents are really vocal, weights can really be confusing. It's amazing how many people can't do or understand percentages and weights! Because of that, I recently switched to just figuring the grade out of total points.<br><b>References : </b><br> I used to always weight grades because I didn’t want their grades to be inflated by homework. In a math class, if a students doesn’t pass any tests, shouldn’t they fail? Because let’s be honest, most teachers grade homework mainly for completion. Regardless of your reason for weighting, if you want students to be able to figure out their grades, or if you’re working in a neighborhood where parents are really vocal, weights can really be confusing. It’s amazing how many people can’t do or understand percentages and weights! Because of that, I recently switched to just figuring the grade out of total points.
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