MS Sunday Funday--Grading Math HW

***1st official MS Sunday Funday blog of the school year!! Better late than never!!***

This is my first year teaching in 45 minute classes versus the 90 minute block classes I started out my first two years with so I'm still trying to find a better way to tackle homework. Here is what I got for ya! 

I'll start with what I used to do which was pretty simple and typical--
90 minute block classes:

• Go over HW in depth together each day
• Students graded as we went over 
• I collected grades afterwards
• HW was 15% of the grade
• I always accepted late work up until the end of the six weeks, but for partial credit depending on whether it was acceptable work or "crap" work :) 

I totally could have done so much more with my 90 minutes, but didn't know as much back then. Oh how you miss what you had when it's gone! :)

45 minute classes:So this is how my year has gone with homework:

I started the year off doing the typical homework at home type set up and would go over HW in class the next day. Students either get a 100 for completing the HW with their work shown or an "M" for not having it the day we went over it or not having it complete. I haven't taken HW grades on actual performance because there is just not enough time for me to really grade everything. I let the students turn in their HW late up until the last day of the six weeks for full credit--hoping that this will give them more motivation in actually doing the practice.  I don't accept the work if it is not done to the students full potential and my expectations. The kids struggle with these expectations at the beginning of the year, but learn to give their best the first time as the year goes on. 

I started flipping my classroom about a month ago and absolutely LOVE IT! I still grade HW (now in class practice) based on completion, but I am able to actually give my kids feedback and really monitor that they are doing the assignment correctly w/ correct work. I'm able to quickly look through and circle items they need to go back and look at, etc. It's awesome and I am not talking/lecturing the entire time. BORING! Their HW is now what I call "Flip Notes" and I grade that based on completion in a 0% category--more so for their parents to see whether or not they are doing what they are suppose to at home. I give a 100 for doing the flip notes at home and bringing them to class on the assigned date and a 90 for doing them after they were due, just so I can keep track of who is doing them at home v. in class. 

So that is what I currently do, but I am always changing/looking for better ways to improve my class system and structure. Any feedback would be awesome. I can't wait to read what everybody else has going on in their rooms. There are some 8th grade math teachers at my school that use a point system for grading HW, but I haven't really got a clear view of how it works. I will see if I can get them to blog about it! 

Happy Spring Break!  :)