Participation Redecision 2010

So after typing up my class handouts and deciding on percentages for participation I went reading through the blog-o-sphere/listserve universe and stumbled across several interesting ideas. One of the threads discussed one teacher's issue with a student who does no homework and yet scores 95% on her tests. In my opinion if he can score a 95 on the test without doing homework then the homework seems to be pretty useless and the student obviously needs greater challenges.

Anyway, some other teacher replied back and the topic went to the fact that grades should reflect what the student is actually learning. I realized that my participation grade is kind of the same deal. If a kid doesn't participate but can score well on tests then aren't I doing the same thing? Well sure you know the material but you didn't jump through my hoops so I will add some punitive damage to your grade so I feel better. I think the better choice is just to require participation through class management rather than by some subjective grade being imposed.

Looks like a rewrite is in my future.

What to do?

So here I am on the eve before I report back to work. Tomorrow is normally the day I begin copying all the items for the first day with kids. On those sheets is the grading policy.

Yeah. I've been thinking about this since the beginning of July and still have not come up with anything. Obviously with modeling class discussion is a big part of it. How should I grade that? I know myself. I am not a good record keeper. I can't make a tally mark every time someone speaks. So what should constitute an 'A'? Because of this I am hesitant to make participation a huge grade but it should definitely be included.

Add that to the normal war I have waged with myself for the last 13 years of points vs. percentages for grades and it will undoubtedly be a late evening.