bbcovert@juno.com

If there is one issue that can tie a homeschooler’s stomach in knots, it is the grading issue. At what grade level should grades be given? What standard should we use for grading? How does it work, and perhaps the most important question--why? Why should homeschoolers include grades in their homeschooling environment? 

To grade or not to grade, that is the question. Some of you don’t have a choice. Your state or your accountability organization requires you to keep records that include grades. Some of you may have a spouse who, unsure of homeschooling, desires concrete proof of its success through the use of a grading system. If so, the why question is already answered for you. The rest of us may either refuse to grade our children’s schoolwork for personal reasons, or else give in to grading simply because “everybody does it.” Two of the best reasons I know for issuing grades are to have a record of each student’s work in the event your homeschool is called into question, and to have a transcript available in the event your child(ren) enters a traditional school. We may intend to homeschool through high school, but there is no guarantee that we’ll have the opportunity or ability. Stuff happens. Plans change. It’s good to be prepared for anything. 

Having said that, I must confess that I haven’t consistently graded my children’s work. As long as they were elementary-school-aged (and nobody was breathing down my neck), I didn’t deem it necessary. (It’s not necessary for kindergarten, since the material presented in kindergarten is for exposure, not mastery.) Had I been forced by circumstances to enroll them in a traditional school, they would have gone to the appropriate grade level for their ages. All of that changes, however, when children are of high school age. Because mine are currently middle schoolers, this seemed like a good time to get used to grades and the grading process. Therefore, this past year I worked harder to issue grades. I also sought professional help -- I’m the conscientious sort who needs to know that what I’m doing, I’m doing correctly! 

The Standard Grading Scale looks like this: 

93-100% = A

85-92% = B

79-84% = C

70-79% = D

69-below = F 

I have a problem with that scale. Among other things, it’s not as easy to grade as a 10% grading scale. But I worried that if I didn’t follow it, somehow I was “cheating” by giving my children an unfair advantage over other children. I was so relieved to learn that my fears were unfounded! 

First, we’re doing harder, more in-depth work! We finish all the problems in the book, and during discussions, participation is mandatory--no one gets to hide in the back of the classroom and doodle. Second, we do our schoolwork even on days when we have field trips. We don’t get all the breaks that occur in traditional schools--library time, p.e. class, guest speakers, rallies, puppet shows, and other things that take away from the daily learning schedule. (Yes, we do go to the library and enjoy the YMCA and play sports, but not on “school” time.) We are determined to get in our 180 days of schooling by covering each lesson! (In our case, even after we complete our 180-day school year, I still want to finish any workbook or project that is left over.) Beyond that, we don’t give extra credit, and we can’t grade on a curve. So by all means, we can give our students a break with the 10% grading scale and not feel guilty.  

Recommended Grading Scale: 

90-100% = A

80-89% = B

70-79% = C

60-69% = D

59-below = F 

Another thing that teachers do that I was unaware of is to drop a student’s lowest scores in each subject for each grading period. That’s something else to keep in mind. 

The work to be graded is what you may have expected: tests, quizzes, reports, and projects. You may also grade verses if your curriculum includes a Bible class. You may also include workbook pages - the ones that your child does independently, not the ones that are for practice and done with your guidance. However, you don’t have to grade everything!  

To grade projects, you may choose to break your 100 points down. Content could be worth 50 points, creativity could be worth 25, neatness might be 20 points, with the last 5 points for timeliness. You will determine the actual breakdown.  

You will want your tests to count more than the other assignments. To arrive at the final grade for the period, write each test score twice and all other scores once. Divide by the number of scores listed, and you’ll have a number to transform into a letter grade! 

Finally, make sure you have a place to record your grades. You can, of course, buy daily lesson plan or grade books. Some are made specifically for homeschoolers. You can also make your own of a simple note pad. Since you are the teacher, you can do this your way! 

Summertime--for those who don’t homeschool year-round--is a great time to re-tool for the fall semester. Take time to make your decisions. Ask God for wisdom. Prepare to have the best year ever! 

Happy homeschooling!

Copyright 2004  by Brenda B. Covert