Grades

The grading process for students in grades K-2 is quite different than the process for older students.  Young students cannot yet complete large quantities of work, so percentage grading doesn't work well for them.  The reason is that, if a First Grade student completes 5 math problems dealing with telling time and misses only 1 problem, the student would be given an 80% which would be a "B". 

To more accurately score younger students, teachers use a variety of methods of collecting information that shows the students' abilities.  Some of these methods are:  One-to-one hands-on testing in which the teacher sits with an individual student and has the student show knowledge in an area; Simple teacher observation of student abilities; Some short paper-pencil testing; Assessments that use technology (computers) with programs that give verbal instructions; Assessments such as DIBELS and Adam's 50 to show reading ability and growth.