Today students have brought home their composition books. These books are used for daily responses to topics which are on the board each school day. The responses are bell work, which is done first thing each morning. Typical topics at the beginning of the year include items such as asking students to write four complete sentences about their favorite vacation and explain their choice, or write four complete sentences about their favorite after school activity and explain their choice. This year so far there have 17 different topics and required responses. Students were informed that these responses would be used as a spelling grade, a language grade, and a writing grade. Students were notified on Tuesday 9/18 that the books would be collected for grading purposes on Friday 9/21. The responses are homework each day if they are not finished at school. Students are encouraged to keep up to date in their responses. There will be no rewritingregrading entries as students need to concentrate on upcoming entries.
Please review your child’s responses with him/her. The grades listed on the page of the final entry will be used towards their report card grades for the first marking period. We will continue to work in the composition books throughout the year. The spelling grade was based on correct spelling of fifth grade level words. The language grade was based on correct punctuation and capitalization at the fifth grade level. The content grade was based on complete entries. Entries which were only one sentence were not scored as these entries did not fulfill the 3 or 4 sentences requested by the written and verbal directions. Students with 10 or more of the 17 required responses were given full points as this is the time of year when routines are being learned.
Please sign the composition books and make sure your student brings it back to school tomorrow.
Leave a Reply