Table of ContentsAssignment: Educational Application of Word...........................................................................................1

Educational Concern....................................................................................................................................1

Letter to Parents/Guardians at the Beginning of School Year.....................................................................1

How Tests are Graded.............................................................................................................................2

How Homework is Graded.......................................................................................................................2

In Closing.................................................................................................................................................2

Sample Test.................................................................................................................................................3

Assignment: Educational Application of Word

Educational ConcernThe educational concern that I have chosen is an explanation of grading. I have addressed this by writing an email to explain to parents how I weight grades in my class. The tests are worth 80% of the grade and the homework is worth 20%. Since, I do not grade on a straight point system, many students and parents find it difficult to understand how to calculate their grades. The purpose of the following is to create an email letter to parents explaining how I assess student performance, i.e. how I grade homework and tests and how a grade is calculated. If the parents/students have a better understanding of the expectations and I expect student success will increase.

Letter to Parents/Guardians at the Beginning of School YearTo the parent/guardian of «First_Name»«Last_Name»

My name is Mr. Bedard. I will be your son/daughter’s Algebra 1 or Geometry teacher. I will explain and have included several audio clips throughout the following explain how grading is done in my classroom. In my classroom and in my opinion tests are worth substantially more than homework. Instead of grading on a straight point system I have weighted my grades. This ensures that the tests will always take up a certain percentage of the grade. Tests are worth 80% and homework is worth 20%. The overall test average will be multiplied by .8 and the homework average will be multiplied by .2. Both scores will be combined to get the overall percentage. This will give the students grade. For example the test average at the end of the marking is 84% and the homework average is 100%. So

( . 84⋅. 8)+ (1.00⋅. 2)=.872 this gives the student a B+ in the class.

How Tests are GradedThere are small mistakes in an algebra/geometry problem that can affect the final answer to the problem. For that reason each problem is graded with partial credit. This means the student might have the answer wrong but still receive four out of five points on that problem. The type of mistake affects the amount of points taken off. In an algebra and geometry classroom the process is the most important part of learning not the end result.

How Homework is GradedIn algebra and geometry you have to build off prior knowledge as you progress through the course. For that reason homework will not be collected the next day after it is assigned. Homework will be collected the day after a test. Tests are usually given on a Friday so homework will usually be turned in the following Monday as a weekly homework assignment. Homework will be out of 20 points for each weeks work. I will not grade on correct answers for problems. I will grade on completed assignments, work is being shown and there is no significant gap in the work. Although homework is not collected until after the test it is imperative that students finish the homework before the test. The majority of the test will be from the week’s homework. IF YOUR SON/DAUGHTER IS DOING POORLY ON TESTS, BUT IS RECEIVING 2O POINTS OUT OF 20 POINTS ON THE HOMEWORK THEN THAT MEANS THEY ARE PROBABLY WORKING HARD ON SUNDAY EVENINGS TO FINSH THE HOMEWORK AND THEY DID NOT DO ENOUGH DURING THE WEEK TO DO BETTER ON THE TEST. THEY MIGHT LOOK LIKE THE PERSON IN THIS PICTURE. THIS IS NOT AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE FOR ANYONE IN THE HOUSEHOLD. IF YOU FIND THIS BEHAVIOR TAKING PLACE LOOK FOR IT AND CHANGE IT EARLY TO GET THE STUDENT OUT OF BAD HABITS.

In ClosingI am very excited for the school year to begin and I look forward to working with you in any way possible to help your son/daughter reach their full potential. If you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact me. Email is the most preferable bbedard@catholiccentral.net. I have added a copy of a test I gave last year. I will continue to test using this style throughout the course of the year. I have attached audio files at the end of the directions for the test and at the end of problem 4 to better explain what I am looking for when grading.

Best Regards,

Brian Bedard

Name___________________________

Hour____________

Sample TestDirections: Show your work on all problems. Complete the problems you know how to do first; then come back and complete the rest. Every problem is worth five points, unless stated differently.

1. What is 54% of 180? 2. Determine the equation

whose roots are −53and 2

3. Is it possible for 150 people to pay $150 to attend a performance if adults pay $1.25 and children pay $.60? Explain.

4. Solve .−4(3 x+5)=−2(5−x )

5 Solve.18 x2−128=0

6. Solve.5 x−3(2 x−9 )=−11

7. Solve6 x2+7 x−3=0

8. If almonds sell for $1.20/lb and walnuts sell for $.75/lb, how many pounds of each must be used to make 45 pounds of a mixture to sell at $1.00/lb?

9. Solve.

2−|3x+4|≤−1410. Solve.2x+53

= 8+2 x4

11. Use Polynomial long division for the following. (10 x4−11 x3−42 x2+7 x+12 )÷(2 x+1 )

12. At a high school basketball game, students paid $.35 each and non-students paid $.50 each. There were 20 more students than non-students. If the total receipts were $75 how many tickets of each kind were sold?

13. Solve.3 x4

−1=5−x6

14. Solve.−3(2 x−4 )<−18

15. 32 is what percent of 160? 16. A store advertised a third off on everything. If a shirt was $24.75 what would Pat pay for the shirt?

17. Marco bought a car for $2500. If he wanted to make a 20% profit, what should he sell it for?

18. Graham got 80%, 76%, 89% and 94% on his first four tests. What must he get on the 5th test in order to have an 84% average?

19. If Snyder went 5 for 13 while playing baseball, what was his batting average?

20. Brian took his girlfriend out to dinner and the bill was $54.20. If Brian wants to tip 18%, how much should he leave?