8th Grade Writing Instructions from Instructional Design and

TOPIC: 2010-2011 GRADEBOOK GUIDELINES
AUDIENCE
8TH GRADE WINTER DISTRICT WRITING PROMPT
8TH GRADE TEACHERS
This document outlines procedures for creating a specific ‘Winter Prompt’ grading category for the subject ‘Writing
Standards’. Creation of a category will allow for assignment level grade entry. We understand that not all teachers
use Gradebook for assignment level detail and may instead enter an end of quarter grade for Writing Standards.
Below are some general guidelines for teachers that currently leverage assignment level grade entry using the
Gradebook.
1. How do teachers assign weighting to different assignments?
 Prior to assignment entry, teachers must create categories. The ‘Winter Prompt’ will be a category. In the
screen shot below, you will find that each category can be assigned a specific weight (homework, class prep,
exams, etc). Although Gradebook has a default weighting system, teachers can modify those defaults as
needed.
 The district recommended weight for the ‘Winter Prompt’ category is 50%. Please consult with your local
Chief Area Officer to determine if your area requires a different weight.
IMPORTANT Notes:
Teachers must define a ‘Winter Prompt’
category BEFORE adding assignment level
detail.
The total of all category weights MUST
equal 100.
NOTE: Deletion of a category will result in
the removal of any assignments that have
been associated with that category.
2. Using the Persuasive writing rubric to grade a piece of student work, would a teacher enter in a
percentage, point value or letter grade?
 Teachers have the option to use grades,
percentages, or points but should apply the
selected option consistently. Screen shot I,
to the right, depicts an example using
percentage with the numeric display option.
If the teacher normally enters grades in
Grade Book using a letter value, Gradebook
will automatically assign a percentage to
that letter grade based on the preprogrammed grade distribution scale.
Updated Winter 2010-11
Screen Shot I: percentage
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Grade Book rolls up all four quarter grades to
an average in order to determine an end of
year final letter grade.
Screen Shot II: letter grade
Screen Shot III: points
Overriding Marking Period Grades
Teachers wishing to override the calculated grade MUST
do so BEFORE final submission at the end of the marking
period.
Steps for Grade Override
Go to the ‘Verify Gradebook’ page. Enter the desired
marking period grade for the student in the ‘Override
Cycle Avg.’ Click Update to save your changes. Once this
is complete, you can follow the regular instructions for
final submission of grades.
 For additional details on Grade Book setup and grade calculation, visit:
http://impact.cps.k12.il.us/downloads/Elementary_Grading_Scale_and_Conversion.pdf
 For questions or instruction on Gradebook configuration, please contact the IMPACT Support Team
at (773) 553-3925. Select option 2 for IMPACT. (Hours of Operation: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
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