Music Room Grading Policy
All students at Level Creek earn two grades in music. One is based on how well students perform a given task and the other is based on behavior choices and level of individual participation (effort). Every child in Grades 1 - 5 will be assessed in their ability to match pitch - I call it the "Singing Challenge." This happens almost every time your child comes to music class, and it helps me guide my grade-level singing warm-ups to address any strengths and/or weaknesses on a classroom level. Other performance assessments include, but are not limited to: steady beat, rhythm, solfege mastery (age-appropriate), music theory, music history, music reading, and instrument use, and in 4th and 5th grades, recorder competency (February - May). All performance assessments are evaluated on an E, S, N, and U scale (see below).
For students in Kindergarten, they are assessed on their ability to comprehend and master their grade-level Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) in music. This may be as simple as following musical directions, playing instruments appropriately, or actively participating in musical games and activities. Kindergarten students are also responsible for their behavior choices and their behavior is monitored every time they come to music class. Report cards will reflect this ability in the following way:
Excellent (E) - student achieves the task all or most of the time
Satisfactory (S) - student achieves the task sometimes or less than half of the time
- student chooses not to perform the task one time
Needs Improvement (N) - student chooses not to perform the task two separate times
Unsatisfactory (U) - student chooses not to perform the task at all
For conduct, your child is assessed in the following way:
Excellent (E) - student exhibits a high-level of participation, with
enthusiasm and excitement, follows directions
and contributes to music class, without being
prompted, needs little, if any, redirection
Satisfactory (S) - student exhibits a moderate level of participation,
with some occasional enthusiasm and excitement,
follows directions and contributes to music class,
with some additional reminders and/or prompts,
may make some occasional behavior choices that
need to be redirected
Needs Improvement (N) - student needs to be reminded to
participate on a regular basis, follow
directions and/or to contribute to class;
student makes poor behavior choices that
result in consequences, such as signing
the Behavior Notebook and/or sitting out from
group activities.
Unsatisfactory (U) - student does not participate, follow directions,
and/or contribute to class, even when reminded
or redirected to do so; student repeatedly makes
poor behavior choices that result in
consequences, such as signing the Behavior
Notebook, sitting out from group activities,
or alternative assignments.
All students at Level Creek earn two grades in music. One is based on how well students perform a given task and the other is based on behavior choices and level of individual participation (effort). Every child in Grades 1 - 5 will be assessed in their ability to match pitch - I call it the "Singing Challenge." This happens almost every time your child comes to music class, and it helps me guide my grade-level singing warm-ups to address any strengths and/or weaknesses on a classroom level. Other performance assessments include, but are not limited to: steady beat, rhythm, solfege mastery (age-appropriate), music theory, music history, music reading, and instrument use, and in 4th and 5th grades, recorder competency (February - May). All performance assessments are evaluated on an E, S, N, and U scale (see below).
For students in Kindergarten, they are assessed on their ability to comprehend and master their grade-level Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) in music. This may be as simple as following musical directions, playing instruments appropriately, or actively participating in musical games and activities. Kindergarten students are also responsible for their behavior choices and their behavior is monitored every time they come to music class. Report cards will reflect this ability in the following way:
Excellent (E) - student achieves the task all or most of the time
Satisfactory (S) - student achieves the task sometimes or less than half of the time
- student chooses not to perform the task one time
Needs Improvement (N) - student chooses not to perform the task two separate times
Unsatisfactory (U) - student chooses not to perform the task at all
For conduct, your child is assessed in the following way:
Excellent (E) - student exhibits a high-level of participation, with
enthusiasm and excitement, follows directions
and contributes to music class, without being
prompted, needs little, if any, redirection
Satisfactory (S) - student exhibits a moderate level of participation,
with some occasional enthusiasm and excitement,
follows directions and contributes to music class,
with some additional reminders and/or prompts,
may make some occasional behavior choices that
need to be redirected
Needs Improvement (N) - student needs to be reminded to
participate on a regular basis, follow
directions and/or to contribute to class;
student makes poor behavior choices that
result in consequences, such as signing
the Behavior Notebook and/or sitting out from
group activities.
Unsatisfactory (U) - student does not participate, follow directions,
and/or contribute to class, even when reminded
or redirected to do so; student repeatedly makes
poor behavior choices that result in
consequences, such as signing the Behavior
Notebook, sitting out from group activities,
or alternative assignments.
