Setting Up the eSchool Grade Book Lesson 1:—Adding Categories

1. Click STAFF SCHEDULES >> PERSONAL SCHEDULES

2. Select the class you want to setup the grade book for by double clicking. 3. Click on GRADEBOOK 4. Select GRADEBOOK SETUP to begin defining your categories.

5. Click ADD A NEW CATEGORY

6. Define your categories and assign percentages and decide on your grading method. You can also assign each category a “color” to differentiate them.

For example, Tests, Quizzes, Projects 80%; Homework 20% (total must equal 100%)

7. Review the allowable grading methods. Recommendation: Averaging if unsure what to pick.

8. After you set up the grading categories and percentages, you can “copy” this setup to your other classes and quarters. This will be covered in a separate handout.

9. You have successfully set up your CATEGORIES.

EXPLANATION OF GRADING METHODS

Summation (allowable grades 0 - max. points) The grades are first multiplied by their individual multipliers(wt) and then added together. The resulting statistical total of the weighted individual grades. Example: score 75 wt. 1, 90 wt. 2, 84 wt. 3 SUM = (1x75)+(2x90)+(3x84) = 507

Raw Score to Percent (allowable grades 0 - max. points) The grades are first converted to percentage by dividing the grade by its max value. The individual percentage scores are then multiplied by their individual multipliers(wt.) and added together. The sum is then divided by the sum of individual multipliers and multiplied by 100%. The resulting grade is statistical mean of the individual weighted percentage grades.

Averaging/Summation Percentage (allowable grades 0 - max. points) The grades are first multiplied by their individual multipliers(wt) then added together to determine the number of points student earned. The max value for each grade then is multiplied by their individual multipliers(wt) to determine the number of points possible. Finally, the number of points student earned is divided by the number of points possible and then multiplied by 100%. The result of grade is the percentage of the individual grades. Example: score 40 out of 45 wt 1, 56 out of 60 wt of 2, 34 out 35wt. 1 S% = ([(1x(40)+2x(56)+1x(34)]/[(1x(45)+2x(60)+1x(35)])x100%=93.0

NOTE*: Assignment grade should be given within the range of 0 - max. Points of the each assignment.

Setting Up the eSchool Grade Book Lesson 2:—Adding Assignments

1. Click STAFF SCHEDULES >> PERSONAL SCHEDULES

2. Select the class you want to setup the grade book for by double clicking. 3. Click on GRADEBOOK >> GRADEBOOK SETUP 4. You should see your categories listed and they should total 100%. Find the chevron

on the right side of your screen and click it to open the area to create an assignment.

5. Click ADD NEW ASSIGNMENT (find the + sign on the left). 6. Name the assignment, assign it a maximum point value, include bonus points (can be added later if you

change your mind), determine a multiplier (counts as 2 perhaps), and include a DUE date. You cannot save unless you have a due date.

7. The last three boxes—Desc, Comment, Post On eSP?—are very important. DESC: The description is WHAT the assignment/quiz/test/hw may have been (page #, topic). Comment: Check this box if you want to tell the parent something via the portal. Example: John

was absent and must make up the test on Thursday, September 11. Post On eSP?—Check this box ONLY after you are ready to show the grade to the parent. You

may want to consider posting monthly to begin and more frequently as the year progresses.*1 8. You can add as many assignments as you like. Just remember to include the due date. 9. You have successfully learned how to add assignments. You can now begin to use your grade book!

* Parents are the only ones that can see the portal posting. Attached is a screen shot of what a parent may see in the portal.

Setting Up the eSchool Grade Book Lesson 3:—Adding Grades

1. Click STAFF SCHEDULES >> PERSONAL SCHEDULES 2. Select the class you want to setup the grade book for by double clicking. 3. Before you key in grades, set up your SORT options. Click on GRADEBOOK >> TOOLKIT 4. Read the sort options and decide what will work best for you. Recommendation: Ascending by sequence.

5. To enter grades, click on GRADEBOOK >> GRADEBOOK ENTRY and make sure you are in the correct

marking period.

6. You will see your students’ names on the left side, columns for CMPRA (cumulative marking period

running average), Absent, Tardy. To the right of these columns, you will see the “assignments” that you added and the category that they are assigned to.

7. To begin to add grade, just click in the cell that is below the assignment and to the right of the student. Just type in the numeric grade that the student received.

Left and Right Arrow Keys will navigate horizontally. (Tabs will navigate vertically) Running averages will now be displayed in the columns to the right of assignments. You can only add a grade (numeric) OR ex (exempt), med, excused.

8. There is NO SAVE BUTTON. Grades are averaged on the fly. Click REFRESH if you need to see changes. Congratulations! You have learned how to enter your students’ grades.

Grade Entry Shortcuts: When entering student grades, you can fill an entire column with the same grade. Enter the grade for the first student and click the down arrow to the right of the grade. The entire class will now have the same grade for that assignment. Use the eraser to delete ALL the grades at once. Repeat this step if you wish to again enter grades.

Setting Up the eSchool Grade Book Lesson 4:—Adding Comments

1. Click STAFF SCHEDULES >> PERSONAL SCHEDULES

2. Select the class you want to setup the grade book for by double clicking. 3. Double check to see that you checked the box to enable COMMENTS by clicking GRADEBOOK >>

GRADEBOOK SETUP and clicking on the chevron to allow you to view the individual assignments. 4. Just double check that the COMMENT box is checked. If you want a comment to be read by the parent in

the portal, you also need to check the POST ON ESP? box. If you don’t check this box, you are the only person that can see the comment you type into your grade book.

5. To add a comment, go back to the grade book by clicking GRADEBOOK ENTRY.

6. Right click in the cell that you would like add a comment. You can type up to 255 characters BUT be

careful to proofread. If you add a comment, a cute callout box is visible in the cell. Parents will see the comment in the portal.

What does the Portal Look Like? Visual Aid

1. After you have entered grades, a student’s grade book may appear as follows:

2. But how does this translate to the eSP Parent Portal? Take a look at a screen shot from an actual parent

account. You can see that there is a MARKING PERIOD GRADE of 79.8, the teacher name appears, and all the information you have in your grade book is VISIBLE to the parent. The description explains what the assignment is. You can also see the comment that was added.