Up until now we've had little workbooks that I used to pull grades for science and SS out of. This year though I've decided to do a more hands-on approach to these 2 subjects, and I can't think of any way to grade his work, other than satisfactory, unsat, etc. However, my HS association requires letter/number grades at the end of the year. How should I go about coming up with a number/letter grade when I'm not doing quizzes on it?
What about taking the project and coming up with point values for each section. 10pts for handwriting, 20pts for creativity, etc. Then just give a point value for each individual section, add them up and turn them into a letter grade.
well if he makes a volcano (for example) you give it a point value say 50 and then if he took his time and did it well and it worked you give him 50 points, if he rushed it but it still worked you take off the number of points you think taking his time and doing a good job was worth and give him that grade. I do this often with the boys, we have mapping exercises and time line for history. I give them 15 points for every map they complete properly, and 10 points for every timeline figure they do well and place on the timeline. Our science doesn't really have quizzes, but when we do an activity I have them give me a little narrative on the activity and what they learned. If I see they paid attention and got it then I give them full point value.
Maybe I could figure out something along these lines... it'll take some thinking on my part, but I believe that might work. Thanks!!
No problem. I remember in high school I had a teacher who would come up with three questions that she required to be answered by each project. If we answered the questions we got 10pts, if we didn't we got 0 pts. It was a one or the other situation. Maybe do the same thing?
Are you planning on have write ups done? You can create a general lab report or get them on line. It could list what you did, what do they think will happen, what happened and then even a place to draw a picture. You could then use a rubric to come up with a grade. I could be based on effort, completness of report, neatness and even an oral explination. Have each part worth 5 pts for a total of 20 pts. That should be an easy way to give them a grade (and you can be a leinent as you want with the requirements). Now that being said if this is just for your homeschool association then you can just pull a letter or number out of the air based on how well you think they did. If they are learning and not complaining give them an A. Who is to tell yo otherwise.
I like what's already been said. Points for doing the project. Points for answering questions about it. And also, make it look like a science fair, where you have the project, but you also have to have a very short explanation of what it is, why you did it, how you did it, etc. Get writing & understanding points for that. Serves another purpose, too... take pix of the project and keep only the write-up. That way your house isn't overflowing with projects by the end of the year.
http://www.teacherweb.com/SC/LadysIslandMiddleSchool/Gannon/thecheckrubric.doc This is a great little rubric that can be used for any assignment.
