Welcome back from what I hope was a relaxing and energizing winter break. I know some of you stayed in Madison, traveled home to Spain, visited sunny California, spent time at cabins and enjoyed the snow(?) up north, and many spent quality time with friends and family. Now we're back, and ready for a wonderful 2015!
For those of you who have felt as though you're experiencing the Disillusionment Phase of beginning teachers, the good news is that soon, very soon, you will begin to feel the Rejuvenation Phase (see this article). This month can be challenging as we are faced with more assessments, limited time, cold weather, less sunlight, and looming report cards. Beginning in February, we have 2 months of relatively uninterrupted instruction and an opportunity to conference with families again in March. It is a beautiful part of the school year when distractions are minimized and you get to do what you came here to do: teach our children!
But, first, we need to be successful in January. Here is what to expect.
Important Dates for January
- Now - the grading window is open and you may enter grades.
- Monday, January 19 - no school - Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday
- Friday, January 23 - end of Quarter 2. Early release for students so teachers can complete report cards.
- January 28 at noon - the grading window closes and you may no longer enter grades.
- January 30 - report cards go home with students
Grading Window
- You can work on grades and comments now! Report cards take a long time; don't wait until the last minute.
- How do I enter grades? When you log onto Infinite Campus, there is a section titled "Grading" on the home page. There are links for Entering Scores, Comments, and Concepts, as well as video instructions for entering grades. Use these resources, and ask teammates if you're unsure. Remember to save your work!
Assessments
- You will likely need to assess students in order to have updated information for report cards. Check with your IRTs, team members, and principals about specific school information so you know what assessments to complete.
English Language Learners
- Do you have English Language Learners who speak a language at home that is different from the language in which you're teaching? Check with your school for deadlines for these students' comments. The Bilingual Resource Specialists at your schools will translate comments, and the due date for these particular comments may be earlier than January 28.
Standards-Based Grading
- We grade students based on their achievement of the Common Core State Standards. These are end-of-the-year standards, so we have Grading Guides to help us figure out how to give grades in January. You will need this resource to complete report cards.
Grading Scale
- We grade students using a scale of 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 for each standard.
- 4 Advanced: Exceeds expectations for grade level at this quarter
- 3 Proficient: Meets expectations for grade level at this quarter
- 2 Progressing: Meets some expectations for grade level at this quarter
- 1 Emerging: Not yet meeting expectations for grade level at this quarter
