#2ndaryELA Archive

#2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. We chat every Tuesday night at 8 pm EST using #2ndaryELA. We'd love for you to join us!

Tuesday October 16, 2018
8:00 PM EDT

  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:00 PM EDT
    Welcome! What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Oct 16 @ 8:00 PM EDT
    I’m Leslie from California and I teach 11th grade #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:01 PM EDT
    Hi! I'm Lisa and am your chat co-host along with @literarymaven I have been teaching Middle School In FL for 23 years and I blog here: https://t.co/T0SGs1rrCs #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:01 PM EDT
    Hi, Jill! #2ndaryela
    In reply to @JillCox_Teacher
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:02 PM EDT
    Welcome, Leslie! #2ndaryela
    In reply to @teachinELA
  • MellowEducator Oct 16 @ 8:02 PM EDT
    Hey! I'm Ashley from TN! I teach English 10 and APLit. #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:03 PM EDT
    Hi, Ashley! #2ndaryela
    In reply to @MellowEducator
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:05 PM EDT
    Q1: What are the requirements in your school concerning grades? #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:06 PM EDT
    A1: We must have at least 2 grades per week in the online gradebook. #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Oct 16 @ 8:07 PM EDT
    A1: The only requirement we have is to update our grades every two weeks as well as notifying parents of failing students #2ndaryELA
  • MellowEducator Oct 16 @ 8:07 PM EDT
    My school is on an A/B schedule this year, and we are required to have two grades per five days. We have been asked to have a variety of grades in each category so that one category doesn't skew grades. #2ndaryELA
  • MellowEducator Oct 16 @ 8:08 PM EDT
    My school is on an A/B schedule this year, and we are required to have two grades per five days. We have been asked to have a variety of grades in each category so that one category doesn't skew grades. #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:10 PM EDT
    Q2: Do you use standards based grading or something else? What does that look like? #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:11 PM EDT
    A2: We have been experimenting with standards-based grading, although it is not technically required. #2ndaryELA
  • MellowEducator Oct 16 @ 8:11 PM EDT
    A1 My school is on an A/B schedule this year, and we are required to have two grades per five days. We have been asked to have a variety of grades in each category so that one category doesn't skew grades. #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:12 PM EDT
    A2: Right now, we are on a points system and various assignments are worth various points based on the gravity of the assignment or assessment. #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Oct 16 @ 8:14 PM EDT
    A2: our school has no requirements for this, so everyone is different, which is messy and unorganized for parents and students #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:15 PM EDT
    Q3: How do you avoid taking grading home over the weekend? #2ndaryELA
  • MellowEducator Oct 16 @ 8:15 PM EDT
    A2 Though I am fascinated with standard based grading, my school does traditional grading. We do assignments that are weighted with different points. #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Oct 16 @ 8:15 PM EDT
    A2 part 2: My grade level decided on 40% for assessments, 25% quizzes, 25% HW/CW and 10% participation #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:16 PM EDT
    A3: I use things like Google Forms and Google Quizzes to get what I need from students. I also grade selectively. #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:16 PM EDT
    So what does that look like in the gradebook? Are the assignments listed as standards? #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @JillCox_Teacher
  • MellowEducator Oct 16 @ 8:16 PM EDT
    A3: I had honestly mastered that until this school year... Suggestions I have though: close your door during planning, don't grade everything, and grade classroom during class! #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Oct 16 @ 8:16 PM EDT
    A3: I make my prep a priority for grading. I also learned a long time ago that taking papers home does not = grading them, plus my kids think they are art papers to draw on #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Oct 16 @ 8:17 PM EDT
    A3: I also grade some assignments on completion (like warm ups), others on a quick assessment with little feedback, and others with in-depth feedback and spread those out so I’m not doing too many of the hard ones all at once #2ndaryELA
  • MellowEducator Oct 16 @ 8:17 PM EDT
    A3: I had honestly mastered that until this school year... Suggestions I have though: close your door during planning, don't grade everything, and grade classwork during class! #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Oct 16 @ 8:19 PM EDT
    Yes! I think one of the best things for me was having my first daughter before working as a teacher full time. I drew the line right away and have never gone back #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @MellowEducator
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:20 PM EDT
    Q4: How you do handle being challenged over grades? Do you offer extra credit? #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:21 PM EDT
    A4: I handle it on a case by case basis. In general though I have found that if parents are aware of assignments via a weekly email, I get A LOT less challenges. #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:22 PM EDT
    A4: I do not give extra credit as an assignment. I give EC for winning a game or for answering an extra question. #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Oct 16 @ 8:22 PM EDT
    A4: I always make sure all students and parents sign the syllabus at the beginning of the year with the statement: I agree to these policies and will uphold them to ensure my student is held accountable. #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:23 PM EDT
    I do that too, but they still want "exceptions". #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @teachinELA
  • teachinELA Oct 16 @ 8:23 PM EDT
    I agree, it is usually something that needs to be done individually, and it doesn’t happen too often. However, I always make sure I communicate with my admin to make sure I am never going into anything alone #2ndaryela
    In reply to @SpanglerMiddle
  • greenbean_reads Oct 16 @ 8:23 PM EDT
    I’m Samantha, and I teach 8th grade in AL. Sorry for being late to the party!! #2ndaryela
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:23 PM EDT
    Welcome, Samantha! #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @greenbean_reads
  • greenbean_reads Oct 16 @ 8:24 PM EDT
    A1: We must have one grade per week. At least 5 major and 4 minor grades per nine week period #2ndaryela
  • teachinELA Oct 16 @ 8:24 PM EDT
    Since we do everything on computers, I give everyone a 1 time pass for “tech failure” but after that, they know that unless they can prove that I made an error, what they got is what they get. I also post everything on Google Classroom and my class website for parents #2ndaryela
    In reply to @SpanglerMiddle
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:25 PM EDT
    Q5: Share grading tips and tricks that you use to “work smarter, not harder”. #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Oct 16 @ 8:25 PM EDT
    Do you get to determine what counts as major vs. minor? #2ndaryela
    In reply to @greenbean_reads
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:26 PM EDT
    A5: When grading longer pieces of writing, I grade for one or two elements only using a rubric. #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Oct 16 @ 8:26 PM EDT
    A5: I do a sorting activity every once in awhile. On paper, I can walk by and evaluate students based on numbering the correct answers and then keeping that list in my pocket. On the computer, I color code and can see them all as a thumbnail without opening each doc #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Oct 16 @ 8:27 PM EDT
    A5: We build up to our essays with double entry journals where students find and embed quotes on one side, then analyze on the other. It helps me see the quotes and analysis they will use in their essay ahead of time, so essay grading is faster(and better usually) #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Oct 16 @ 8:28 PM EDT
    A5: I create a comment bank on Google Classroom or using https://t.co/rXu65UKVPq, then I just type or copy and paste in frequently used comments to prevent me from typing them over and over again #2ndaryELA
  • greenbean_reads Oct 16 @ 8:28 PM EDT
    A2: We do not do standards-based, but I do like what it would look like in a middle school setting. I think it would do wonders for their level of being in control (as they believe they are) and it would show growth a more consistent way. I like it! #2ndaryela
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:29 PM EDT
    We have to have one text-based essay per quarter. So yes, a lot of grading there but for other things, I try to ask questions to get to te heart of the matter with ans. on Google Forms. #2ndaryela
    In reply to @JillCox_Teacher
  • GCS_English Oct 16 @ 8:29 PM EDT
    I like this iteration a lot! Keep up the good and important work! #litanalysis #2ndaryela
    In reply to @eakennard
  • teachinELA Oct 16 @ 8:29 PM EDT
    A5: Sorry so many! I have students highlight key parts of their essays like thesis, topic sentences, quotes, etc. so I can see if they understand what those things are as well as easily read the focal points of whatever standards we set as goals #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:29 PM EDT
    Do you not use other numerical or letter grades? #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @JillCox_Teacher
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:30 PM EDT
    Thanks so much for joining us tonight #2ndaryELA nation! Remember we keep the conversation going all week long at our Facebook Group and we'd love for you to join! https://t.co/JGbfk4VpYG
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:31 PM EDT
    Here's a sneak peek at next week! You can even get a reminder with @RemindHQ by clicking here: https://t.co/deccXtXXFJ #2ndaryELA
  • greenbean_reads Oct 16 @ 8:33 PM EDT
    A3: I work an after school program, and while the students are reading, I grade assignments. I also do short quizzes and summative assessments instead of long, formative assessments most of the time. OR I come back to the school Saturday mornings! 😢 #2ndaryela
  • SpanglerMiddle Oct 16 @ 8:35 PM EDT
    Just say "No" to Saturdays! My school is not open on the weekends so that is never an option for me. #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @greenbean_reads
  • greenbean_reads Oct 16 @ 8:42 PM EDT
    A5: rubrics are life. I try to use them for everything, and it’s easier for the students to follow! They know why their grade is whatever it is instead of just guessing why points were deducted. #2ndaryela
  • greenbean_reads Oct 16 @ 8:47 PM EDT
    A4: everything I do is very cut and dry, so no surprises or issues with admin or parents 🙌🏾. Our district does not allow extra credit or bonus points, but if a student received a failing grade, they are allowed to retest. #2ndaryela