We grade with letters in 3rd, 4th and 5th, 'E' stands for Exceeding grade
level expectations, 'S' stands for Satisfactory and is meeting grade level
expectations, 'N' stands for Needs Improvement and is a bit below grade
level expectations, 'U' stands for Unsatisfactory and is not meeting
grade level expectations. The corresponding numerical grade with your
child's letter grade does not justify their academic performance. We hope
you will bear with us as we grade your students using the E, S, N, and U.
Specials is an area that reflects a very broad range of knowledge and
abilities and the letter grades are just an indicator of concept understanding,
attention and focus in the subjects being taught. It is very hard to actually
measure creativity, ability, and understanding, so please be reassured
that you have a normal child in the normal grading range. We certainly
are happy to be teaching these new concepts to your children but stressing
over a specials grade isn't healthy or productive for any of us.
Generally, all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade art students who are working at a
satisfactory level are making an 'S', students who are a bit under grade
level may be in the 'N' area, and students who have excelled the grade level
expectations may receive an 'E'. In any 9 week grading period, students are
continually learning new concepts and performing the state art TEKS and the
Round Rock ISD standards in art. A student may make a satisfactory grade in
one 9 weeks working on concepts they are learning and in another 9 weeks the
same student could make an exceptional grade in concepts they are very
confident in, then return to a satisfactory level when new concepts are
introduced. We expect most students to fall into the 'S' catagory, actually
about 90% of our students are at grade level. The other 10% are above and
below.
Kinder, 1st and 2nd graders are graded with numbers. A child progressing at
grade-level should be receiving a 2 in art. The grading scale indicates a 2
is mastery of the current concepts being taught, the student is working well
and managing supplies as expected, and is curious and interested in learning.
In K, 1st and 2nd grades, a 2 usually means the same thing each 9 weeks, as
concepts change your student learns new things and is graded on those new
ideas. If they continue to grow in their overall understanding, they can
expect to continue to make a 2, indicating a steady progression of
learning. A grade of 3 indicates your child has mastered all concepts and
is ready to move on to another level of learning...advanced projects or
another grade level for instance. If your child receives a 4, they are very
talented and their excellence is notably outstanding.