Today I figured out how to properly weight the grades. The kids have two folders, one with their blog post grades, and one with their rubrics, objectives sheets, and personal progress trackers. 30% of their grade is my evaluation of their responsibility to work in class, their attitude, their participation, and how much French they are using. 30% is their self-evaluation of the same things. 20% is the actual work that they do, and the remaining 20% is their final project (exam).
Today we figured out grades. So far, we're in a range that I feel is much more appropriate than my former system of "on time and complete for full credit". While they "like" the blog, they aren't very good at sticking with it on a regular basis. Everyone has missed at least one. A couple of kids have done zero blogs, because they "forgot" or "didn't know they had to do it everyday".
Today I had four girls finish their work for the lesson in the unit, take the quiz, and then ask permission to make posters. They're drawing up all of the vocabulary and organizing them according to gender. This from kids who "just don't like learning".
I see a level of confidence in their language skills with the book work that they're doing that has never existed before. I also see a level of focus and dedication since they know that if they fail the quiz, they will have to re-do a massive amount of work in order to earn the right to take the quiz over.
I let them work on their own with headphones on, and they are downright industrious. The girls work faster than the boys, for the most part, and the class is separating itself into two groups, one advances, one works slowly and methodically.
Next week I will be recording for my grad program, and I will have the students work with the concept of identity, and how that shifts according to role and context. We will see how the "homme brun sympa intelligent drôle 21 ans" handles the "femme méchante, petite, bête, pénible 81 ans" at the café.
I think they will enjoy this role play. At least I hope so. For my part, I will be bringing donuts this Friday. As far as their work ethic and total turn-around goes, they've earned it!
