There are two different types of grades at Hurricane Intermediate: Academic and Effort. This is how I use these two types of grades in my class.
Academic Grades
Students will earn points toward their academic grade by showing me that they understand the concepts that we are learning in class. All post tests and quizzes will be on the academic grade. Reading letters earn academic points, as will some other class assignments that show skills or knowledge needed in language arts. Sometimes students can earn academic and effort points on the same assignment--effort points for completing the assignment and academic points for showing understanding.
Effort Grades
Students will earn effort points by acting appropriately and participating in class. Students also earn effort points by completing in-class assignments. If a student is absent, it is important that he or she makes up the assignments we did while he or she was gone.