• How is my child being graded in Music?
     
    Parents of elementary students sometimes have questions about the way grades are assigned in Special Area Classes, including Art, Music, Physical Education, and Library.  There are only three marking indicators used to reflect student progress in these classes.  These letter grades do not reflect an accumulation of points or the more traditional grading methodologies used in other core subject areas.  They reflect a cumulative evaluation of skills and exercises over the course of the grading period.  The marking indicators are:
     
    S = Strength
    P =  Approrpriate Progress
    N = Needs Improvement 
     
    Students are assessed in music class weekly for Behavior/Participation, and periodically throughout the grading period for skills (beat/rhythm, singing, playing instruments, and written work).  Below are the grading rubrics for each category:
     
    Behavior/Participation Rubric 
    S  The student exhibits respect for others, participates actively in class, and has impeccable behavior.
    P The student is usually actively involved and has good behavior most of the time.
    N  The student can be uncooperative at times and needs frequent teacher supervision.
     
    Beat and Rhythm Rubric (Skill) 
    S   The student always maintains a steady beat and performs rhythms independently of the class.
    P   The student usually maintains a steady beat with guidance and performs rhythms with guidance.
    N   The student sometimes maintains a steady beat and/or has difficulty performing rhythms.
     
    Singing Rubric (Skill)
    S   The student sings on pitch confidently and effortlessly with a group and/or solo.
    P   The student usually sings on pitch with guidance.
    N   The student sometimes matches pitch, but may sing too low/high most of the time, or does not sing at all.
     
    Instrumental Rubric (Skill)
    S   The student plays current pieces near perfection, only tiny mistakes using recorder, percussion , or Orff instruments.
    P   The student plays current pieces using recorder, percussion, or Orff instruments well and is progressing with some guidance.
    N   The student attempts to play current pieces using instruments, but misses many notes or rhythms because of lack of knowledge, attitude, or ability.
     
    Written Grade Rubric (Skill)
    S   The student follows directions, is on task throughout project/activity, completes work in a timely and accurate manner with minimal teacher prompting/guidance.
    P   The student completes work accurately with some teacher prompting/guidance.
    N  The student attempts to complete work, but inaccurately because of lack of knowledge, attitude, or ability 
     
     
    Elementary Special Area teachers assess students in two basic categories: Skills and Participation/Behavior.  Based upon a student's abilities in each of these two categories, teachers assign one of the three marking indicators above to reflect his/her progress.  In the Tyler Gradebook, letter grades cannot be processed.  Therefore, these percentage values are automatically associated with the marking indicators by the Tyler system: 
     
    S = 90%
    P = 80%
    N = 60%