Dear Parents,
    Third grade is the first year that your student will receive letter grades.  While your student didn't receive letter grades in first and second grade, it is important to remember that the +, /+, /, /-, and - do correlate with the A, B, C, D, and F letter grades.
    I calculate grades by counting class work and homework as half of the grade and tests as the other half of the grade.  For example, to determine your student's math grade, I will average the homework and class work assignments that I have entered in the grade book to get one math grade.  Then I will average all of his or her math tests to get a second math grade.  To get the final grade, I average the two grades.
 
 

Homework/Class work	Tests
92%	93%
89%	88%
100%	95%	Final Grade
94% (average of above scores)	92% (average of above scores)	94% + 92% = 186/2 = 93%

    I believe this is the most fair way to grade.  If a student happens to be a poor test taker, he or she can bring their grade up by working hard on their homework and class work.  This system also holds students responsible for getting their homework done and turned in.
    Please be aware that assignments that aren't turned in are counted as a 0% in the grade book.  Just one or two missing assignments can have a drastic effect on your student's grade.
    Since the whole point of school is to learn, your student is always welcome to redo any assignments that he or she would like a better score on.

                                                                                                                                            Sincerely,
                                                                                                                                            Pete Sprenger