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.