Grading Math Homework

11/20/2014 35 Comments

Grading Homework: A Four-Point System

System for Grading Math Homework in Middle and High School

Switching to this system made homework grades so much easier for me, so I thought I would share!

I grade math homework using a four-point system. In order to earn all four points, the work must be on time with every problem attempted and all work shown.

1.   First, I check if all problems are done (I just quickly walk around while students work on a warm-up). An assignment that is missing a few problems earns a 3/4 and a paper that is only halfway completed earns a 2/4.

2.   Then, I subtract an additional point if the assignment is late or the student did not show all work when solving. This means that if it was already only halfway done, and then the problems that were answered have no evidence of work, the assignment only earns a 1/4.

3.   Occasionally, I also will consider an assignment incomplete if the directions were not followed correctly (if they were asked to explain in complete sentences and did not, for example).

Examples:
-Complete, with all work shown, but late : 3/4
-Skipped the last few problems: 3/4
-Complete, but only showed work on half: 3/4
-Late AND skipped the last few: 2/4

I do allow students to fix up / re-do any assignment with a score of 2/4 or lower. However, they cannot earn a perfect score, because the revisions are late compared to a perfect assignment. An original score of 2/4 can become a 3/4 , which makes a big difference in the grade. This encourages students to go back and get the practice that they need instead of giving up.

I use the footnotes shown below in my gradebook. These have really helped make students accountable. Parents can see these online next to the score and are aware that the score was for one of these reasons, and not for lack of understanding.

Math Homework Scores in Gradebook with Footnotes

I: Incomplete
W: Did not show work
L: Late
D: Did not follow directions
M: missing

The footnotes make a WORLD of difference when I need to reference why a grade was what it was.

I also put a box in the gradebook for a date a student was absent. The grade can still be filled in afterward. This has really helped me keep track!

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35 Comments

Amanda K

6/22/2015 04:34:51 am

How do you relate the 1-4 grading scale to a percentage grade?

Math Giraffe link

6/22/2015 07:19:40 am

Hi Amanda,
At the end of the quarter, I add up the homework points each student has earned and divide it by the total possible. This homework grade becomes a portion of their overall math grade.
-Brigid

Teacher

4/23/2021 12:48:25 pm

1 is 25, 2 is 50, 3 is 75, 4 is 100

Helen Snow

7/27/2015 08:52:55 am

I love how you grade! This will be amazing for me next year! Once you've graded it, how do you go over problems? Do you go over every single problem or just the ones they asked? Can you walk me through it? Thanks!

Math Giraffe link

7/27/2015 09:49:28 am

Thanks Helen!
I think you will love this system. It really depends on the day. If the answers are easy to project, I put them up and have kids quickly check, then we pick a few to go over (usually their choice, but sometimes I choose one or two also). I try not to let this go on too long, since some kids got everything right and are ready to move on. I've saved the rest for the end of the period sometimes. Then we can split up based on who needs to go over more after the new lesson (see my video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RyqwKU_W74)

Dana

9/26/2015 10:39:35 pm

I wish I could use this system... but my district will not allow me to take off any points for being late (their grade should reflect their mastery of the material, not when it was turned in, blah blah blah). And I'm still not clear how to turn a 1-4 grade into a % grade. We work on a 100 point scale. But I do really like it!

Math Giraffe link

9/27/2015 08:23:25 am

Hi Dana,
That's so frustrating! I guess you will have to do a separate system to encourage students to turn in work on time. There are a few ways to convert it to a percent grade. I like to wait until the end of the quarter. Then, let's say there were 35 homework assignments (4 pts. each) and a student had perfect scores on most, but had 5 days that he earned a 3/4 for being incomplete. This student would have a total of 135 out of 140 possible points in the "homework" category of the grade. That is a 96.4% homework grade. You decide how heavily you want to give "weight" to homework in the quarter grade and go from there, adding in the quizzes, tests, etc.
I hope you can use parts of this strategy :)
Have a great school year!
-Brigid

Malissa

1/3/2016 10:37:58 pm

I love this idea! We, too, have to grade with percentages instead of pints, but I was thinking that I may covert the grade to something like below:
Homework score: 3/4 would equal a 75% in the grade book
(this percent system may be too harsh, so I may use the one below)
Homework score:3/4 would equal a 90% in the grade book

Just a thought I had and wanted to share! Thank you for posting this awesome way to grade homework!!

Math Giraffe link

1/6/2016 12:17:29 pm

Thanks, Malissa! :)
Great thoughts. You can easily convert the percentages as needed. Thanks for sharing!
-Brigid

Chris

5/23/2022 02:10:14 pm

In some grading systems you can count the assignments as points instead of percentages. So, each homework assignment would be out of 4 points. In the end, the homework category would total to the percentage of points each student earned divided by the total number of points possible. I believe this is how I will tackle this next year.

Qimatima

1/4/2016 04:43:54 am

Sarah

5/23/2016 08:40:39 pm

I saw earlier in the comments that you turn the points into a percentage grade at the end of the quarter, but how can students and parents check progress and missing assignments throughout the grading period?

Math Giraffe link

5/24/2016 03:33:08 pm

Hi Sarah,
I've always had an online gradebook program that students and parents can log in to see grades updated. I like to update them weekly online but I also have still kept a paper gradebook for recording it each day. Then it just takes a few minutes to sit down on a Friday and enter any updates or changes.
- Brigid

Bill

8/23/2017 06:48:00 am

What online gradebook do you use?

Math Giraffe link

8/23/2017 08:45:50 am

Hi Bill,
http://easygradepro.com/
Thanks so much!
Have a great day!
-Brigid

Shellye

7/8/2016 09:47:48 pm

I like this system and do something similar, but I would like to hear how much weight you give homework, tests, etc. I'm always looking for a "better" way..:)

Math Giraffe link

7/11/2016 08:46:49 am

Hi Shellye,
Yes, I have found myself constantly tweaking it too, always looking for a better way. I like to weight tests more. I've liked something like 20% Homework, 20% Notebook, 35% Tests, and 25% Quizzes for middle school, and then shifting the Tests to 40% in high school (decreasing the notebook grade as I want them to be accountable on their own and get less credit for it at that point). Thanks!
- Brigid

Shannon

8/1/2016 11:12:54 am

Oh, how I wish I could grade homework! We're only allowed to assign grades to homework if we actually mark it, and who has time for that? Instead, I check for completion, and each completed unit earns a 0.5% bonus added to their final exam. A lot of my grade 12 students indicated to me this year that the possibility of bonus marks was a big motivation to complete homework on a regular basis.

Math Giraffe link

8/1/2016 07:53:22 pm

Hi Shannon,
Wow that is tough that you cannot give points for it. Awesome way to make it work anyway. I love the idea of motivating them with final points as an incentive. That's perfect :) Thanks for commenting!
-Brigid

Emily

8/10/2016 12:07:11 pm

I am curious what grade and planner book you use. Is it a general one given out by the school, and online system, or one you have purchased elsewhere?

Math Giraffe link

8/12/2016 02:16:35 pm

Hi Emily,
I have tried a few different ones but my favorite was a Catholic school one that had the gradebook and planner all in one. (Good News brand maybe?) I type and paste in the lesson plans anyway from my own formatted spreadsheet, so the biggest thing to me is the gradebook included, and lots of lines so I can skip spaces and have two rows per student whenever possible (more room for footnotes, adjusted scores, etc. Thanks so much!
-Brigid

Dennis Jim Gregorio

9/11/2016 10:50:06 pm

Hi there,

In relation to that 4-point system, how can we grade the completed homework with wrong answers?

Thank you.

Math Giraffe link

9/12/2016 05:05:32 pm

Hi Dennis,
The students just self-check their own work and ask questions to clear up any confusion. You can do this aloud, or by displaying the answers with a projector, or by having students show their work at the board as you go over and check it. The grades are based on completion only since it's their first attempt with the new lesson's problems on their own. Thanks! Have a great year!
-Brigid

Emily

3/2/2017 06:18:01 pm

Hi there! Thanks for explaining your grading system! I'm wondering if you require students to check their work?

I generally require corrections on homework, but y students are making too many mistakes and growing tired and frustrated with corrections (and I'm tired of checking and rechecking).

Because Math builds, I do want them to learn from their mistakes, but I also don't want to kill them with corrections. What would you recommend?

Math Giraffe link

3/3/2017 04:41:02 pm

Hi Emily,
Yes, I do. It looks different each day, varying from just a quick check where I display / project the answers to a more complete review at the board. Here are some ways that work well for checking and going over the work: http://www.mathgiraffe.com/blog/going-over-math-homework
I like to mix these strategies up to vary it depending on the lesson.
Thanks!
-Brigid

sandy590

5/14/2017 04:46:00 pm

Just wondered how Slader and Photo Math have influenced your grading methods... Our high school students cheat most of the time. My HW is worth 10% and tests are worth 55%.. just curious

Math Giraffe link

5/15/2017 08:48:21 am

Hi Sandy,
Since homework is not graded for accuracy, those shouldn't affect it too much - they can use that as a tool, but the homework is for their own practice, so if they just copy from it, they will be accountable and will struggle on the test.. Don't allow phones during graded work, like quizzes and tests... I love this idea where theyhave to turn in their phone when they walk in https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/7a/6e/d3/7a6ed3b53ebf224e23c2e631139ff4e9.jpg

Adina

9/24/2017 12:58:35 am

How long do you go before late work isn't accepted? Do you ever count homework a student completed after absent as late? I love this grading system, and I will try to adopt it with my smaller classes to see how it works. I have a hard time going around in the beginning of class because I have to move classrooms between classes. Just wondering how big your classes are. Mine are between 10 and 26 students, and I cannot see myself doing this in my class of 26.

Sandy Stevenson

9/24/2017 09:50:41 am

I easily do this with the class of 28 it takes me about three minutes to walk up and down the isles. The students have their papers out they know to flip back-and-forth I glance and they know that if they have a question on a number in particular they just tell me the numbers as I walk by and those problems they request I work on the board.

Math Giraffe link

9/24/2017 01:58:51 pm

Yes, it really is quick if you follow this. I've done it with as large as 32 in a class. If it's hard to walk around, you can have them drop it at the front table and just grab the stack, run through it spending about 2-3 seconds on each page, and then have someone redistribute them.

Andrea McAndrews

5/8/2018 02:40:30 pm

Re: Noting which HW problems to review....
I have had students write chosen problem number on the board as they enter, adding a check mark if the number is already there. If time is limited the check marks help with "triage".

Sandy

11/18/2020 09:35:47 pm

All late work must be turned in by the review day for the test. One late grade gets full credit everything else 50% off

joel link

11/18/2020 01:55:02 pm

wow

Laurie

8/7/2023 09:37:43 pm

I like the idea of your 4 point grading for homework! I am encouraged with what I have been reading on your blogs. Thank you!
Question: You mention that you allow students to redo/finish incomplete homework assignments, but if you go over the homework wouldn't they get the answers and work at that time? How do you justify giving them points for recopying the homework that you've just gone over?
The past couple of schools that I have worked at do not accept late Math homework for that very reason.

Math Giraffe link

8/8/2023 10:59:39 am

Hi Laurie,
I am so glad it's helping you! :) Thanks so much for commenting. Great question. Yes, but the right answers are in the back of the book for half of the problems anyway. It's usually more about showing work and asking questions. The goal of going over the answers in class is a quick check as well as a chance to clear up misconceptions and confusion about any types of problem they are still having trouble with. I also do understand not accepting it late - that also makes sense. I support that some schools are doing that. I think you can go either way as long as you check the work and not just the answers. If a student does that more than once or you suspect them of just copying someone's work, you can have them explain their work and catch that fairly easily if they just copied. They also can do that the first time around too - I've definitely caught kids copying a friend's homework in the class period before math class too in another room even when it's not late. It also makes for a good opportunity to talk about integrity. I've also done it where I make them sit inside my room during a study hall or lunch period where I watch them catch up on late work. Usually it's for kids who have a pile up of late work (tends to be repeat offenders) and so it comes with a big one-on-one conversation and some supervision when they come in to catch up on late work. :)
I hope this helps as you strategize your plans for the year!
Have a wonderful school year,
Brigid

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Grading Homework: A Four-Point System

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